Thanks to Sahara’s creative eye and clever wit, her work resists ceremonious academic airs ... This thesis is not just a kind of Dear John letter to the world of white academia; it’s a farewell letter too ... Sahara is so open that her words feel like a diary — yet even in this presumed safe space, she’s still mindful of being too honest ... Moments of mirth are outweighed by the despair Sahara hides from everyone in her life.
Chukwu has written an extraordinary coming-of-age novel, with a fascinating protagonist and a tone that is just right for her material. The book’s dark atmosphere is enhanced by the presence of the author’s own black-and-white illustrations.
An exhilarating work of experimental metafiction ... An electrifying read that’s meant to disrupt and disturb; as a result, it can be deeply uncomfortable and disheartening. Yet despite the novel’s sobering subject matter, it is not devoid of hope or humor.
Inventive ... The nicknames and party scenes grow somewhat wearisome; the plot doesn’t soar until a tragedy brought on by the university hospital’s negligence. Still, in energy this is reminiscent of Luster and Queenie.
