Mayowa and the Sea of Words

Mayowa promised her parents she would never jump on a book again. She was told not to ask her Grandad about book jumping either – even though she knows he does it too.

But when her parents take a trip abroad and she stays with Grandad for a summer, she discovers the secret, mysterious power contained within books and embarks on an adventure filled with danger, political intrigue and a battle of morality.  

The first in an exciting trilogy, Chibundu Onuzo’s book bristles with the power of books and reading. It integrates elements of fantasy, magic and mysticism with more hard-hitting topical issues around refugees, political polarisation and racism.

The story is laced with quotations from a variety of classic and contemporary literature, which serves as a great advertisement for wider reading.  

Mayowa is a strong, barrier-breaking and richly developed protagonist complemented by a diverse range of characters, including powerful voices from women of colour and the refugee community.

Despite the serious nature of the topics raised by this book, Onuzo’s brilliant writing style shines through in the engaging and humorous text – with excellent use of footnotes to add interest. A perfect book to spark debate about the power of language in society.