Under The Udala Trees

A young girl comes of age in the 1960s during the Nigerian Civil War in this powerful debut novel inspired by Nigerian folktales.

Winner, 2016 Lambda Literary Award, Best Lesbian Fiction

A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice

One of NPR’s Best Books of 2015

“If you’ve ever wondered if love can conquer all, read [this] stunning coming of age debut.” —Marie Claire

Ijeoma comes of age as her nation does. Born before independence, she is eleven when civil war breaks out in the young republic of Nigeria. Sent away to safety, she meets another displaced child and they, star-crossed, fall in love. They are from different ethnic communities. They are also both girls. But when their love is discovered, Ijeoma learns that she must hide this part of herself—and there is a cost to living inside a lie.

Inspired by Nigeria’s folktales and its war, Chinelo Okparanta shows us in “graceful and precise” prose (New York Times Book Review), how the struggles and divisions of a nation are inscribed on the souls of its citizens. “Powerful and heartbreaking, Under the Udala Trees is a deeply moving commentary on identity, prejudice, and forbidden love” (BuzzFeed).

“Here is writing rich in the beautiful intimacies of people who love each other—and wise about the importance of holding onto those precious connections in a world that is, more often than not, dangerous and cold.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)