Book 9: On Rotation by Shirlene Obuobi

In On Rotation, Shirlene shows us the life of a Ghanaian girl Angie in the US as she strives to meet the expectations placed on her by her parents and the community of Ghanaian families they are associated with there in the States

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These expectations are not only about school, money and career but also include relationships and that gets heightened for her as her younger sister is about to get married soon, she’s expected to be already working toward the same.

Everything comes crashing down as her boyfriend breaks up with her and she barely passes her Med school exams. She leaves home to escape her parents and their questioning but ends up crying in a public garden. This stranger comforts her, offers to draw her and gives her a water tribe necklace, but he is in a relationship.

Max ends up showing up again among her friend circle, he wants to be friends with her experience with guys makes her believe otherwise, also, how she feels about him is not how she should feel about a friend.

She has to deal with her academics, do her project and seek a favourable match but her Mentor doesn’t approve of what she wants to do. At this moment, Angie has to stand up for herself, her newfound ability to trust herself helps her take on the project and also rebel against her ever-controlling parents.

Max's dad dies outlived by his parent, who raised his son for him, Max is dealing with that and also dealing with the fact that he gives too much to his failed relationships when his partners weren’t doing as much, all of this makes Max unable to give guarantees, but he does love and this is both visible to his grandma and Angie’s mom.

It’s a journey of self-discovery for Angie and her best friend Nana, and they both end up with best friends too, Max and Shae.

Beautifully written, it does inspire you to believe in love, family and self, and the hope that things will be better.

It’s a 3.7 from me.