Children of the Quicksands

Name: Children of the Quicksands
Brand: Scholastic Audio
Availability: InStock
Author: Efua Traoré
ISBN: 9781338814569

Author: Efua Traoré

Narrator: Tyla Collier

Unabridged: 6 hr 57 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Scholastic Audio Books

Published: 07/26/2022

Categories: Children's Fiction, Fantasy Stories, Children's Social Themes

Synopsis

A richly imagined magical adventure set in West Africa by a prize-winning new voice in children's writing, Children of the Quicksands introduces readers to Yoruba myths and legends while showcasing the wealth of culture, traditions, adventure, joy, pride, and love found in Nigeria.In a remote Nigerian village, thirteen-year-old Simi is desperate to uncover a family secret. Ajao is nothing like Lagos—no cells phones, no running water or electricity. Not a single human-made sound can be heard at night, just the noise of birds and animals rustling in the dark forest outside. Her witchlike grandmother dispenses advice and herbal medicine to the village, but she's tight lipped about their family history. Something must have happened, but what?Determined to find out, Simi disobeys her grandmother and goes exploring only to find herself sinking in the red quicksand of a forbidden lake and into the strange parallel world that lies beneath. It must have been a dream…right?Wrong. Something isn’t right. Children are disappearing and it’s up to Simi to discover the truth.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Gayathri

As a 38-year-old who usually enjoys psychological thrillers and hard-hitting mind benders, I was surprised at how drawn I was to Children of the Quicksand. I would definitely recommend it to young readers who like adventure stories with hints of magic in them. It's good to let your imagination go wi......more

Goodreads review by Oyinda

Book 205 of 2021 I just finished this beauty of a book and wow. This was so well written and well crafted. Children of the Quicksands by Efua Traoré is a middle grade fantasy set in Nigeria, and everyone needs to read it ASAP. This book is a beautiful mix of family, complicated relationships, the beaut......more

Goodreads review by Mr Bramley

I fought with myself on whether to give this book 3 or 4 stars, but it was just too well written and beautiful for 3; let me explain why. I'll be brutally honest and say that this book just didn't grip me as much as my usual 4 star books do. If the whole book had been more like the last third, it woul......more

Goodreads review by Aisha

Children of the Quicksands is the story of Simi, a typical city girl from Lagos, Nigeria. Simi’s mum has to go the UK for an educational event so she sends Simi to her village to stay with her estranged mother (i.e Simi’s grandmother). If you’re wondering why this arc is MAJOR, Simi’s grandmother is......more