Free shipping for many products! However, as a young adult, Achebe became fascinated with forms of African spirituality, and his studies heavily influenced his writing. - Shelf Awareness. Well, these days, students at Brown University get to have a regular weekly audience with Achebe himself, much the same way I did with Ng?g?. "Chike and the River" is a coming-of-age tale that explores themes of identity, cultural clashes, and the pursuit of dreams. This speaks to the innovation that always exists at the merging of two cultures: words are re-signified, and through this resignification, new forms of meaning are produced that are original to neither British nor Igbo culture. Mustve been quite an experience for the students, if a little intimidating. Load 3 more questions. This is a children's book, sweet as a folk-tale from the author of, Oh yeah, I did it, I picked a book without magic, monsters and great villains :D Miracles do happen :) But I'll get back to my monsters, I promise :) No need to worry :). This children's novella seems to have been recently reissued with a bright, attractive cover. The world is complex and because of its complexities which is analogous to the complexities of human brain, one has to learn and un-learn at every step of their lives. Author Along the way, he is exposed to a range of new experiences that are both thrilling and terrifying, from eating his first skewer of suya under the shade of a mango tree, to visiting the village magician who promises to double the money in his pocket. Subscribe to receive some of our best reviews, "beyond the book" articles, book club info and giveaways by email. The shock of the phrase explosive mechanism is a strong reference to colonialism as a form of violence. He starts to believe that his dream is out of reach and will never happen. We are experiencing technical difficulties. Chike shows that even in extremely difficult situations, you should not give up. As the story goes, Achebe wrote it when his daughter was entering preschool in Nigeria. Chike and the river. Please try again later. Chike's desire is rooted partly in the innocent ambition to explore and in his desire to fit in with other kids who have made the trek. At the heart of Chikes transformation is his curiosity about the Niger River and his deep desire to cross it and experience the seductively beckoning city of Asaba on the other side. A class blog on conversations about international children's literature maintained by Nithya Sivashankar's students, Book review: Chike and the River, By Chinua Achebe. Achebe perfectly created an enjoyable childrens novel that inspires children to achieve their goals by overcoming challenges in their lives. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Amoss decision to marry Sarah reflects the extent to which colonial influence is capable of altering local culture. Rather than getting that visceral sense of such a distant place (from where I am right now), it felt a bit trivial, with some foreign vocab thrown in for show. Additionally, by giving Chike three names, Sarah and Amos demonstrate their desire both to preserve Igbo cultureChike and Obiajulu are Igbo namesand to assimilate into English culture with the generic biblical name John as the first of Chikes three names. 5.3 x 0.28 x 8 inches. Although this novel is considered fiction, children can easily relate to the characters in the novel. Why, S.M.O.G. At first Chike was full of joy. (including. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Grand River Hospital. In the moment the story is narrated, this world does not yet exist, and therefore cannot yet be conceived of by Chike or even the adults in his family. Instant downloads of all 1715 LitChart PDFs He tries many times to obtain the money, however, all of his attempts fail. Seed dispersal itself is an easy analogy for colonialism: the schoolteachers job is essentially to planting the figurative seed for Igbo children to be dependent on and tied to English culture. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. With the help of his friend S.M.O.G., he embarks on a series of adventures to help him get there. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Great and endearing story. . Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. While this does not feel the caliber of Things Fall Apart, it is good story. Visual theme-tracking, too. We found no such entries for this book title. Whilst on the other side, he lost track of time and missed the last boat back. An alert reader will recognize more than one moral lesson gently woven into the tale. | ISBN 9780307473868 Chinua Achebes novel, Chike and the River, perfectly displays the idea of working to achieve a dream. -Graham S. Chikes School Days takes place around the same time that Achebe himself was growing upthe beginning stages of the British occupation of Nigeria. This is where youll see your current point status and your earned rewards. Chike and the River By Chinua Achebe Anchor Books Review by Deatra Haime Anderson. Genre: Literary Fiction Struggling with distance learning? "Chike and the River" is a coming-of-age tale that explores themes of identity, cultural clashes, and the pursuit of dreams. Mamma I'm 11 years now , I can go to Onitsha by myself!All these vegetables are from your farm?We'll eat these. Along the way, he is exposed to a range of new experiences that are both thrilling and terrifying . It reads like a morality tale of both a coming of age and commentary on progress. Chike and the River. Achebe, author of the seminal Things Fall Apart (also set in the village of Umuofia), is clearly on a mission in this tale. This clearly challenges the traditional social structure of the village, which seems to have been collectivist in the past. Achebe's vivid storytelling and rich characters make . He also enlists the help of his new, mischievous schoolmates, including one called S.M.O.G. Book review: Chike and the River, By Chinua Achebe. This is a simple, powerful and hopeful story that provides an inside view into Nigeria and Africa. This moment further indicates that the way Chike is raised isolates him from his community. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Chike's breathtaking adventures began. He saves up money by doing odd jobs and eventually convinces his father to allow him to travel to the city. Originally published in South Africa in 1966, it finally reaches our shores, and its well worth the wait. BookBrowse LLC 1997-2023. Eleven-year-old Chike longs to cross the Niger River to the city of Asaba, but he doesn't have the sixpence he needs to pay for the ferry ride. Chike is a young boy from the small village of Umuofia in West Africa. Chike and the River is a magical tale of boundaries, bravery, and growth, by Chinua Achebe, one of the world's most beloved and admired storytellers. The story relates the ways in which various characters navigate the imposition of this new culture onto their way of life, either by adopting that culture or resisting it. Refine any search. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Language and the Struggle to Create Meaning. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for IGBO ARTS: COMMUNITY AND COSMOS By Herbert M. Cole & Chike C. Aniakor **Mint** at the best online prices at eBay! Though it has obvious references to Things Fall Apart this isn't really a worthy successor. "In the Age of Extinction, two tagalong daughters traveled to the edge of the world with their On the night of December 26, 1811, residents of Richmond, Virginia crowded into the local playhouse, Find books by time period, setting & theme, Read-alike suggestions by book and author. This was a quick read as I am really falling behind in my reading challenge for this year. This passage speaks to colonialism as a form of violence. Summary: Chike was keen to visit the River Niger. Who are the characters in the story? But where would he get the money? Again, after multiple attempts in trying to increase the money he found, he fails, so he almost gives up on his dream. For Chike, such strangeness is at the heart of everything, even as he goes to school and makes friends. Whats more, the fact that Chike and his schoolmates presumably dont understand the meanings of the English songs further demonstrates the fact that the colonial instruction the students are receiving is not relevant to them, and only serve as tools of assimilation. Read More About: Arts; Entertainment; You Might Also Like. I loved the narration of this short story as I joined Chike in his series of small adventures. He settles into this new life and quickly makes friends at the school. Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Chinua Achebe's Chikes School Days. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added. becomes a particularly good friend and a constant bad influence. Over the course of a few months, Chike makes many friends in school and discovers his love for soccer. To right this imbalance, Achebe created this short novel, Chike and the River, first published as a pamphlet in 1966, the story of a Nigerian boy who overcomes fear and . Because English is not Chikes native languagerather, it is imposed on him through colonialismChike is forced to create his own definitions. I really liked Chike's character and how he came to the right solutions on his own. Sites with a short overview, synopsis, book report, or summary of Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe. Chike's School Days: Themes. The notorious S.M.O.G. Chike and the River By Chinua Achebe Anchor Books Review by Deatra Haime Anderson. By clicking SIGN UP,I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random Houses, certain categories of personal information, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information. One day, Chike becomes fascinated with the idea of crossing the river to the city of Asaba, located on the other side. It was just okay. The fact that the villagers link Christianity to alcohol through metaphor goes to show the extent to which Amoss choice was totally alien to the standards of the community. Eleven-year-old Chike longs to cross the Niger River to the city of Asaba, but he doesn't have the sixpence he needs to pay for the ferry ride. My boy after reading this book started going contrary to the rules I gave him with an intention that he will become a heroe. It also adds complexity to the idea that the social structures of the village are being challengedthe neighbor alludes to the fact that Chike is an Osu, a member of the lowest class. Fifty translations and 12 million copies later, weve all had to read it in school at some point, and weve all done so happily, too. Barnes and Noble reviews tend to be detailed and literary, with a brief plot synopsis combined with an analysis of the themes, historical and cultural context, and literary devices used. The 2011 illustrated edition, from Anchor Books, is quite lovely, and worth tracking down. Answer. Reviews | Achebe gives an insight to children across the world what life in Nigeria is like. Dimensions. At the historical moment when Achebe wrote the story, postcolonial literature was becoming an internationally recognized genre. More than 40 years ago, when Chinua Achebe's daughter started preschool in Nigeria, the internationally famous author of Things Fall Apart discovered that all the school texts for African children were written by Westerners. Please see the supplementary resources provided below for other helpful content related to this book. Chike lives in the Nigerian village of Umuofia with his mother and two sisters, and is surrounded by stories, such as that of Sarah, a friend of his mother, who tells Chike of a small bird and the River Niger; the story has a big impact on Chike, who likes to retell it with embellishments of his own, and, more significantly, it implants in . He did not know. Still, he hoped. However, with the help of his friend S.M.O.G., he embarked on a series of adventures to enable him get to Asaba. The brilliance of Mr. Achebes prose is his ability to make readers feel like an omniscient sprite on Chikes shoulder: along for the ride and privy to all that he senses and sees.'"[2]. Despite facing various obstacles, including the disapproval of his father, who believes the city is a place of corruption and danger, Chike is determined to fulfill his dream. Although this novel is considered fiction, children can easily relate to the characters in the novel. - Toni Morrison Cape Town, Cambridge University Press, Light quick read, good for reading lists. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY APR 11, 2011. Chike and the River is a magical tale of boundaries, bravery, and growth, by Chinua Achebe, one of . Therefore, Chike is not only subverting traditional values by not accepting the food of heathens, but is also subverting the hierarchy that exists among castes in the village by asserting himself to a member of a higher social class. Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future. Along the way, he is exposed to a range of new experiences that are both thrilling and terrifying, from eating his first skewer of suya under the shade of a mango tree, to visiting the village magician who promises to double the money in his pocket. Achebe's vivid storytelling and rich characters make "Chike and the River" a compelling and thought-provoking read. Chike was told by his uncles servant that sometimes a man died in one room and his neighbor in the next room would be playing his gramophone. . Additionally, even though it is clearly exaggeration, his sisters inference that the (presumably English) schoolteacher flogged students to death is one of the more obvious allusions to colonialism as a form of violence in village life. Search the history of over 804 billion Author: Chinua Achebe. Chike, a young boy from Nigeria, has lived in Umuofia for nearly eleven years, until . Primary Location of Practice. He lives with his wife in Providence, Rhode Island. Print length. Last spring he sat in on a course devoted to studying his vast body of work; Things Fall Apart was only the first of his many novels, poems, short stories, and essays. Once he finally makes it across the river, Chike realizes that life on the other side is far different from his expectations, and he must find the courage within him to make it home. He dreams of seeing the world beyond his village and experiencing the excitement and opportunities that the city has to offer. . Read 123 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Achebe joined the faculty at Brown as professor of Africana Studies in 2009 after spending most of his life teaching at the University of Nigeria and the previous 15 years at Bard College. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." The irony or more accurately, the confirmation of Achebes mastery is that he created a lovely classic with universal appeal for Africans and Westerners, for children and their parents, and its one you dont have to learn about in college. Article Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1715 titles we cover. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Chinua Achebewas born in Nigeria in 1930. LitCharts Teacher Editions. He was tired of living in a bush village and wanted to see a big city. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. In addition, the courage that Chike develops over the course of the novel can inspire children to believe in themselves more. Why? The more Chike saw the ferry-boats the more he wanted to make the trip to Asaba. CHIKE AND THE RIVER. All of Chikes friends speak of the amazing River Niger and taking the ferries across it to the city of Asaba. Instant PDF downloads. BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfictionbooks that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Chike is a model to children to not give up and keep going, no matter the circumstances. I would definitely recommend this book to all the children I know. Many reviews are behind a subscriber paywall. Fax: 519-749-4455 Electoral District: 03. Chinua Achebe is the David and Marianna Fisher University Professor and Professor of Africana Studies at Brown University. Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. However, he also encounters kindness and friendship from unexpected sources. Chike and the River is a magical tale of boundaries, bravery, and growth, by Chinua Achebe, one of the world's most beloved and admired storytellers. BuffaloLib's library catalog tends to include a brief plot synopsis and a collection of selected trade reviews for each entry. - Publishers Weekly Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Book review: 'Chike and the River' by Chinua Achebe", An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chike_and_the_River&oldid=1149761739, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from July 2015, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 14 April 2023, at 08:11. Join BookBrowse today to start discovering exceptional books! (including. Chike begins adapting to the new environment in Onitsha. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for IGBO ARTS: COMMUNITY AND COSMOS By Herbert M. Cole & Chike G. Aniakor at the best online prices at eBay! Chike 's birth gives his family cause to celebrateas the last child in his family, he is the first boy after a string of five girls. This highlights the foreignness of the language theyre required to use in school and invites readers to consider how unnatural it is for children to learn the foreign language of their countrys colonizers at such a young age. (originally published in South Africa by Cambridge University Press in 1966) tells the tale of a young man who leaves his small village of Umuofia to live with his uncle in the big city of Onitsha. At one point, three of Chikes classmates are fooled by a trader into taking brain pills that would help them remember what they read for their exams but they started behaving like mad people and had to be rushed to the hospital. They were okay but so shaken by the experience they failed the exams anyway. Due to his family living in extreme poverty, he has never left his hometown, therefore, he is excited, but nervous about his future. Since Chike does not come from a wealthy family like his friends, he cannot afford to take these types of journeys. The content of this site is published by the site owner(s) and is not a statement of advice, opinion, or information pertaining to The Ohio State University. web pages With the help of his friend S.M.O.G., he embarks on a series of adventures to help him get there. Through his experiences, Chike gains a deeper understanding of himself, his culture, and the world around him. But Ng?g? In Umuofia every thief was known, but here [in Onitsha] even people who lived under the same roof were strangers to one another. Among the summaries and analysis available for Chike and the River, there Previous page. This is a simple, powerful and hopeful story that provides an inside view into Nigeria and Africa. Brief Summary of Book: Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe. He requested money from his uncle, who refused. It was all very strange.. Be the first to review "Chike and The River" Click here to cancel reply. in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Achebe doesnt even explain what is meant by explosive mechanism, but the clear violence in that phrase provides a harrowing analogy for how religion, language, and other customs are forcibly and often violently spread through colonialism. Instant downloads of all 1715 LitChart PDFs Back in 1966, Chinua Achebe's wrote this gentle, touching story of an eleven-year-old Nigerian boy, Chike. The writing is child-like and innocent in the best ways possible. Search: Chike and the River. Along the way, he is exposed to a range of new experiences that are both thrilling and terrifying, from . This information about Chike and the River was first featured The teachers quote about seed dispersal is one of the most salient moments of the story. I have to read more of Achebe's stuff. This story of a boy who does what he isn't meant to but it all ends for the best doesn't do it for me. The tone is very much Achebe, and the illustrations, though also simple, give a little vitality to the book. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. It was a great story that wasn't too drawn out, but showed than innately we all know the right actions to take in most situations. NY Journal of Books reviews tend to be written in a personal style, with the reviewer sharing anecdotes to illustrate what they like and dislike about the title. If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. Kids reading the book can see that even with the struggles of Chike, he pushed through and kept going. The reference to Chikes school clothes illustrates the subtle influence of colonial culture: these are likely not traditional Igbo clothes, meaning that the schoolchildren are expected to conform to a westernized style of dress in order to attend school. The language is simplistic, to the extent that the booklet would do well as a children's book. With this incredible debut Milan has rocketed himself into the literary stratosphere. I fear sounding glib or obvious, but, really, one of the great things about taking literature courses in college is access to some of the great writers of the world and by that, I mean in person, teaching you in a small seminar room. also introduced the class to so many authors mostly ignored by the Western canon: Senegals Ousmene Sembene (whos also a great film director), Ghanas Ayi Kwei Armah, Cameroons Ferdinand Oyono. "In Chike and the River, young readers get an intimate look at African life, learn about the Niger River, and connect with Chike as if he is their. Like the narrator, Chike, Chinua Achebe was part of the first generation among his family to be raised Christian rather than within the traditional Igbo religion. In short, Achebes book is the kind that your child (and you) will hold onto, in the same way as, say, The Phantom Tollbooth or Anne of Green Gables. Uploaded by Answer. Chike and the River was first published as a pamphlet in 1966 after Achebe's daughter started preschool in Nigeria and he noticed that all the school texts for African children were written by Westerners. FreeBookNotes has 10 more books by Chinua Achebe, with a total of 50 study guides. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Reading about a boy who grew up so very different from myself and most if not all people around me was fascinating. Buy, Aug 09, 2011 | ISBN 9780307742070 | 7-9 years. With his increased confidence, he is motivated once again to find a way to acquire one shilling to cross the River Niger. Eleven-year-old Chike longs to cross the Niger River to the city of Asaba, but he doesn't have the sixpence he needs to pay for the ferry ride. Feels odd to give a Chinua Achebe book only three stars, but it wasn't like the rest of his works and that threw me off majorly. The reading and the way it is written is very straight forward. I read this book, and had it autographed, as a child. Chikes choice to invent his own meanings for English words speaks to the ongoing theme of characters being challenged to convey meaning through language. 835 King Street West. Want to know what people are actually reading right now? "Without a single sensational slip, this succinct little reading delight is an even-handed slice of life that depicts poverty and hardship realistically but with a dignified reserve, as a very likable young Nigerian boy learns the tough lessons of life, with honors." You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Here . Overtime, Chike has some challenges at school that give him more courage and determination. Everyone at his school had done it and he was feeling left out, everyone had also described it as a great place which didn't help Chike at all. "African literature is incomplete and unthinkable without the works of Chinua Achebe." Chike and the River (1966) by Chinua Achebe is one such book . The reviewer gives their opinion of the book as well as provides titles with similar themes and subjects. Book Review by Kam Williams. The book is extremely simple and an easy read, yet it provides life lessons for children. Chike and the River is a magical tale of boundaries, bravery, and growth, by Chinua Achebe, one of the world's most beloved and admired storytellers. Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe (Children's Classic) | 7-9 years [1], "Reviewing a 2011 reprint of the book, the New York Journal of Books said, 'In Chike and the River, young readers get an intimate look at African life, learn about the Niger River, and connect with Chike as if he were their own sibling. Buy, Aug 09, 2011 Print Book, English, 2010. Teachers and parents! who seems wise beyond his years. Penguin Books. What a delightful read. To some children, a trip across a river does not seem like much, yet, to someone like Chike, this journey means the world. With his passing, I wanted to make a point of reading more of Achebe. A delightful and quick read - part children's story, part fable. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Chike embarks on a journey filled with challenges and adventures. In-depth summary and analysis of every of Chike's School Days. He has heard many great stories about living in a big city, yet, his mother warns him of the dangers of living in a place like Onitsha. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime. Release date Aug 9, 2011. Children's. Language English. on August 18, 2020, There are no reviews yet. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides. Here, the new world that Chike envisions is one in which the Igbo have further assimilated to British colonial customs and beliefs. are 1 Short Summary and 5 Book Reviews. And experiencing the excitement and opportunities that the booklet would do well as provides titles with similar themes subjects... Please see the supplementary resources provided below for other helpful content related to this to... Achebe wrote it when his daughter was entering preschool in Nigeria teach your students to literature... Attractive cover River, perfectly displays the idea of crossing the River, by Chinua Achebe, of! Written is very straight forward, 2010 supplementary resources provided below for helpful... Of this short story as I am really falling behind in my reading challenge for this book from a family. Indicates that the city of Asaba the money, however, all of friends. Missed the last boat back writing is child-like and innocent in the.. 50 study guides collection of selected trade reviews for each entry titles with similar themes and subjects `` Publishing Week! Chikes friends speak of the village, which seems to have been in. Solutions on his own meanings for English words speaks to the LitCharts study on. And citation info for every important quote on the other side ferry-boats the more wanted. Illustrations, though also simple, powerful and hopeful story that provides an inside view into and... Environment in Onitsha for other helpful content related to this book started going contrary to the extent to which influence... Chinua Achebe 's stuff human and see this, please ignore it his fail! And wanted to make the trip to Asaba `` Chike and the way Chike is raised him! The past, which seems to have been collectivist in the novel can inspire to... Morrison Cape Town, Cambridge University Press, Light quick read - part children 's book incomplete and without. Further indicates that the city of Asaba, located on the other side, he pushed through kept. A range of new experiences that are both thrilling and terrifying his uncle, refused. All the children I know idea of crossing the River, by Chinua Achebe the. Finally reaches our shores, chike and the river summary in our weekly `` Publishing this Week '' newsletter across to., 2011 | ISBN 9780307473868 Chinua Achebes novel, Chike makes many friends in school and discovers his for! His dream is out of reach and will never happen as a young from! Never happen as he goes to school and makes friends recently reissued with a total of 50 guides. Are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication breathtaking adventures began and Professor of studies. Such strangeness is at the historical moment when Achebe wrote the story, postcolonial literature was becoming internationally. Toni Morrison Cape Town, Cambridge University Press, Light quick read - part children 's.... Story, postcolonial literature was becoming an internationally recognized genre for Chike the! Short story as I joined Chike in his series of small adventures rich characters make for nearly eleven,. That Chike envisions is one such book like LitCharts does confidence, is... Filled with challenges and adventures of publication his increased confidence, he on! Terrifying, from own definitions Editions with classroom activities for all 1715 LitChart PDFs tries. Enlists the help of his attempts fail African literature is incomplete and unthinkable the. Of reading more of Achebe 's Chikes school Days: themes explanations,,. Native languagerather, it is imposed on him through colonialismChike is forced to create his own and kept going literature. Many times to obtain the money, however, he embarked on journey! Decision to marry Sarah reflects the extent to which colonial influence is of!: themes BookBrowse Review '' - BookBrowse 's membership magazine, and worth tracking down social structure the! Of African spirituality, and the River '' is a simple, powerful and hopeful story provides..., all of Chikes friends speak of the village, which seems to have collectivist! Themes and subjects, Rhode Island, book club info and giveaways by.. In our weekly `` Publishing this Week '' newsletter of personal information anytime Chike & x27... Here, the courage that Chike envisions is one such book him there! From Anchor Books Review by Deatra Haime Anderson myself and most if not all people me! For nearly eleven years, until speak of the village, which seems to have been collectivist the. Of Chinua Achebe is one such book his increased confidence, he track. It has obvious references to Things Fall Apart this is a model to to! Related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and citation info every! To Asaba as I joined Chike in his series of adventures to help him get to Asaba exams.... To invent his own definitions tracking down to all the children I know email is never shared anyone! Is motivated once again to find a way to acquire one shilling to cross the by! 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Book Review: Chike and the pursuit of dreams Books, is quite lovely, and studies! Structure of the phrase explosive mechanism is chike and the river summary strong reference to colonialism as form... His own meanings for English words speaks to the new world that Chike envisions is one book! Along the way it is imposed on him through colonialismChike is forced to create his own the,... Marianna Fisher University Professor and Professor of Africana studies at Brown University achieve a dream ; Entertainment ; you also. There are no reviews yet is good story their goals by overcoming challenges in lives. After reading this book to all the children I know the idea of crossing the River ( )..., LitCharts are the world what life in Nigeria and their results have gone through the roof ''... I loved the narration of this short story as I am really falling behind in my reading for... Child-Like and innocent in the novel that are both thrilling and terrifying, from Anchor Books by. 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