Gr 8 Up—Sixteen-year-old Gloria Bampo lives in Ghana and has just failed most of her exams. She can barely read or write English, thereby drastically limiting her options for the future. Her father is a staunch Christian and a deacon of the church, and no one will talk about her mother's serious illness. Gloria's sister, Effie, seems to have a secret life complete with a sailor boyfriend. When Gloria is offered the chance to work for a rich female doctor as a housekeeper and nanny, she is introduced to the nicer things in life. But circumstances get complicated quickly with new clothes, new friends, and a doctor's attentions all creating their own temptations. The story provides a fascinating glimpse into a culture, but, unfortunately, does not grow from there. The characters are somewhat static and the introduction of concern about the AIDS epidemic of the early 1990s is forced. The pace of the novel is rather quick with problems introduced and then solved within a few pages only, which may, in part, be due to the clipped and bare-bones language. The conclusion of the story, as well, does not offer much resolution as the biggest conflicts are not really dealt with.—Naphtali L. Faris, Saint Louis Public Library, MO
Dr. Christine hires Gloria as her son's nanny in Kumasi. Gloria enjoys the work, but Christine wants her to aspire to more. Unfortunately, Gloria believes she can only become Somebody by marrying up. This honest glimpse of one adolescent is as particular to the well-detailed Ghanaian setting as it is universal in subject and theme. Glos.
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