No one knows what lies beyond the magical village door, but Ezomo is determined to find out. Mayonn Paasewe-Valchev’s Own Voices debut is an unforgettable coming-of-age story about friendship, family, and long-standing traditions. The power of storytelling comes to life in this novel perfect for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly, Tracey Baptiste, and Tae Keller.
“Paasewe-Valchev’s prose is captivating, smooth, and poetic in its delivery of this fresh and layered narrative. With well-timed, fluid pacing, this novel masterfully deals with themes of friendship, family, loss, and hope. Readers will be engrossed from start to finish. A beautifully rendered coming-of-age story.” – Kirkus starred review
“[A] wondrous tale of the village of Sesa, the unusual boy who lives there—and magic enough to change them both. . . . Combining adventure, cautionary tale, and folklore, the narrative includes many side stories and intertwined histories. . . . Making use of many characteristics found in West African oral traditions (call and response, repetition, proverbs, etc.), this tale is a joy to read both silently and aloud.” – Horn Book Magazine
“I especially liked how the book deals with its themes in unexpected ways. The main characters are outcasts in their village and go on a quest to change that, but nothing turns out the way they expected and there are no easy answers. The book deals with loss and tradition and finding one’s place and self worth within a rather unkind community. Portions of it are touching, and portions of it are thrilling, and the ending was perfect. Recommended.” – Stefan Bachmann, internationally bestselling author of The Peculiar
