Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan - Book Review

Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan is a collection of five short stories, each taking place in a different country in Africa, each told from the perspective of a child. Written by a Jesuit priest, this collection was brought to the spotlight when Oprah Winfrey chose it as her 63rd Book Club pick. The stories are moving, the perspective poignant. They are, however, difficult to read one after another because of the weight of the material.

Say You're One of Them is a book I read with anticipation and trepidation. Uwem Akpan creates lovable voices that are easy to relate with by telling each story in the collection from the perspective of a child. The juxtaposition of innocence and hardship works well to highlight the beauty and struggles in Africa. I think it is also easier to forgive a flawed character who is a child, and to see how the circumstances are pushing that person in a certain direction.

Akpan writes well, and the content of his stories feels real and personal while pointing to problems that are much bigger than any one story. My main difficulty with the book, indeed, was the weight of its content. I think I would have had an easier time reading a novel about any of these characters. Each time I finished a story, I was emotionally exhausted, and sort of dreaded having to invest in a new set of characters and experience another round of trials and injustice. This is not to say that Akpan's writing is overly emotional. In fact, the difficulties are not overemphasized and the problems seem everyday -- until you stop and think about what you know that the child does not. The magnitude of the issues in the stories is not spelled out; however, the astute reader cannot help but consider them.

I recommend taking your time with Say You're One of Them. It is good to add a little meat to your reading, and a collection of stories allows you to take them as you can, even if you have to pause for something lighter between each one.

Read an interview with Uwem Akpan about Say You're One of Them.