Helen Oyeyemi was born in Nigeria and moved to London when she was four. She wrote "The Icarus Girl" over a seven month period while at school, studying for her A-Levels. By the time she got her results, she'd signed a two-book deal worth an alleged £400,000.

Jess Harrison is an eight-year old girl, an only child and nearly determined to be a loner. She seems nearly to be afraid of making friends, avoids going outside to play as much as possible and keeps her thoughts to herself. She also reads a great deal - "Little Women" is a great favourite and she is also very partial to Shakespeare. However, Jess often suffers from panic attacks and the occasional strange fever.

Jess' parents, Daniel and Sarah, met at university. Daniel was born and raised in England, though Sarah is Nigerian and only came to England to study medicine. She promptly switched courses to study English Literature and is now a successful writer. Fifteen years after she left Nigeria, Sarah is now returning to Nigeria for the first time with her husband and daughter. Although there are some awkward moments for Sarah, meeting the Nigerian side of the family also proves difficult for Jess. While the relations she meet include aunts, uncles and cousins, her grandfather proves to be very much the dominant character : he 'rules' the compound in which the family live. It's clear he disapproves of Sarah's decision to switch from medicine to English Literature and her decision to remain in England. In fact, he doesn't seem to entirely approve of Daniel either. However, there is a bond between grandfather and granddaughter - he clearly loves her and she seeks his approval. Although Jess knows she has a Yoruba name - Wuraola - her grandfather is the first person to call her by that name. Not being called Jess, however, is something that initially confuses and scares her a little.

The compound in which the family lives was built in the 1870s by Jess' great-grandfather. Jess' grandfather currently lives at the centre of the compound, with an old and deserted building called the Boys' Quarters located at the back of it. It had once been home to the compound's servants, though it has now been lying empty for many years and now isn't fit for habitation. The trouble for Jess starts when she realises that someone is, in fact, living in the Boys' Quarters - apparently without anyone else in the compound being aware of it. The cuckoo is a young Yoruba girl called Titiola, who becomes Jess' first ever friend. As Jess has trouble with the pronunciation, she calls her new companion Tilly-Tilly. While there are a few minor skirmishes in Nigeria, the trouble only really begins when Jess returns to England - and Tilly-Tilly miraculously arrives shortly afterwards. Her friend's arrival brings a few changes in Jess, and she learns a bit more about her life.

This is a fantastic book, and one that I can't recommend highly enough. I have a great deal of admiration for Helen Oyeyemi, completing a book like this in her most difficult school year - and still achieving the grades to gain a place at Cambridge. I'm very much looking forward to her second novel.

To the finder:

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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Ho ho ho.

Thank you very much Cluricaune, for sending this across the border. I received it when I returned from my christmas break in London, UK.

I'll read this and then see if people in the Dublin group would like a read.

Jess is one complicated and stressed eight year old, who doesn't understand the world (as eight year olds don't) and isn't understood by her parents. With a mixture of feeling out of place for being bright and moved up a year at school, feeling out of place for being unable to be like her mother, and not being able to express her feelings she either has a breakdown or travels into the spirtual world of her ancestors.

The writing of this book draws you into the world of Jess, and the way her relationship between Jess and TillyTilly changes over time seems very real.

I enjoyed reading this book.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:






This is being passed to Nut as she expressed an interesting in reading it. To be handed over during the Dublin bookcrossing meet up.

Looking forward to reading this.

Very good. Reminded me a bit of The Yellow Wallpaper, Anansi Boys, and something else I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe The Salt Roads? Something else though, I think.
After stupidly going to bed at four o'clock in the morning last night, I stayed awake till 7 reading this. Then I wouldn't get up in the morning until I nearly had it finished.

Reserved for Octocon

To be released at Octocon in the Camden Court Hotel.

Coincidentally, next year's Bookcrossing Anniversary Convention is in Dublin, in the very same hotel, 13th to the 15th of April 2012. See http://www.bcdublin2012.com/ for more information.

Or join Bookcrossing Ireland to meet Irish and Irish-based bookcrossers.