From Africa to America in NoViolet Bulawayo's We Need New Names

NoViolet Bulawayo, born and raised in Zimbabwe, is making a splash with her debut novel, We Need New Names.  The work has already been included in the Man Booker Prize longlist (look for a future post on the list) , making her the only African writer up for the award this year.  Reviews of have been spectacular, so I was eagerly anticipating reading this one.

Darling begins her journey in Zimbabwe.  She spends most of her with a group of her closest friends, getting into the kind of mischief children often get into.  They steal guavas from neighboring rich areas, harass police, make fun of the adults, without missing a chance to laugh at each other.  But each is haunted by the better times that came before military forces destroyed their homes, forcing them to live a life never before imagined.  Darling soon finds herself with an out.  Her aunt, who lives in Detroit, decides to take Darling into her home and give her the opportunity to make it in America.  But Darling finds that America is not quite the America of her dreams.  She is an outsider in a strange land that does not quite live up to the expectations she had while living in Zimbabwe.

This work, at times, will make you laugh out loud.  At other times, it evokes a powerful emotional response.  Above all, it is a very moving and poignant debut novel.  I found myself re-reading sections and even having to set it down after several of the emotional moments.  Bulawayo's triumph is how she makes the reader feel not only Darling's struggle, but the struggle of those who have lost everything and find themselves in a new place. 

Chris May- Manager of Adult Services