Kwame Crashes the Underworld, Craig Kofi Farmer
Kwame Crashes the Underworld, Craig Kofi Farmer
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.49

Kwame Crashes the Underworld

Author: Craig Kofi Farmer

Narrator: Joshua Quinn

Unabridged: 8 hr 57 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/10/2024


Synopsis

Discover a stunning middle grade fantasy about a boy hurled into the Ghanaian underworld to help his grandmother save humanity, perfect for fans of Tristan Strong and Amari and the Night Brothers.

Twelve-year-old Kwame Powell isn't ready to deal with losing his grandmother, even as he and his family head to Ghana for her celebration of life.

He's definitely not ready when he's sucked into a magical whirlpool that leads straight to Asamando, the Ghanaian underworld. There, he comes face to face with his grandmother, who is very much alive, and somehow still...a kid? Together with his best friend, Autumn, and a talkative aboatia named Woo, Kwame must battle angry nature gods, and stop the underworld from destroying the land of the living.

But there's an even bigger problem: Only living souls can leave Asamando. In order to save the mortal world and return home, Kwame will need to find the courage to do the bravest thing of all -- learn how to say goodbye.

***

"Brimming with laughter, joy, and beautiful messages about grief, hope, lost loved ones, identity, and the ancestors, Kwame Crashes the Underworld rattles the spirit." —Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times-bestselling author of The Marvellers and The Memory Thieves

“I wish this book had existed when I was a child. I dare readers not to let Kwame Powell into their hearts.” —Roseanne A. Brown, New York Times-bestselling author of Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting

"A rollicking and electrifying adventure of one boy's journey to accept himself, his family, and his cultural heritage." —Jamar J. Perry, author of Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms

A Macmillan Audio production from Roaring Brook Press.

About Craig Kofi Farmer

Craig Kofi Farmer is the Coretta Scott King John Steptoe New Talent Award-winning author of the middle grade novels Kwame Crashes the Underworld and A Method for Magic and Misfortune. Craig grew up in Prince George's County, went to Towson University for his Bachelor of Science degrees, and earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. He currently works in student affairs, helping college students achieve work-life balance and self-actualization. When he's not writing or working, he's exploring Baltimore City, analyzing superhero movies, watching psychological thrillers, and deciding exactly what he's going to eat that day.

About Joshua Quinn

Joshua Quinn is an Atlanta-based actor, improviser, and voice-over artist. He’s had the pleasure of working on 3 audiobooks, with a 4th one on the way. Joshua is inspired by bringing stories to life, and loves any narrative with an ambitious protagonist who doesn’t quit when the odds are stacked against them. He’s also a fan of psychology and self-improvement books that instill their readers with that same indomitable mindset. His narration style can vary from youthful and dynamic, to a more serious and dramatic delivery. He has a passion for creating unique, grounded characters that help shape the world of the story in compelling ways, and is grateful for the audiobook medium, which allows for more accessibility to readers. He looks forward to bringing more authors’ visions to life!


Reviews

Goodreads review by Betsy on November 11, 2024

No. I’m sorry, but no. You want to know what the Harry Potter series actually wrought? A resurgence in reading amongst kids, sure, that’s recorded for posterity. But it also brought about a massive, and I’m talking massive, new wave of interest in fantasy novels for readers between the ages of 9-12.......more

Goodreads review by Lois on August 05, 2024

This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Craig Kofi Farmer, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley. The narrator of this audiobook is Joshua Quinn. Joshua did an amazing job with this from the accents to the emotion in the voice during the narration. I truly enjoyed this narration.......more

Goodreads review by Krissi on April 13, 2025

I was going to go with 4.5 stars, but I'll just round it up to 5. This is a great middle grade fantasy, and being the author's debut bodes well for what else he has in store!......more

Goodreads review by Bennett on September 08, 2024

At some points in the book I laughed out loud! 😂 I didn’t even know anything about Ghanaian mythology before I read this! I wish I could say more but it would spoil it, and I never put spoilers in my reviews 🙂‍↔️Farmer was amazing in this middle grade fiction of humor and drama, I even found myself......more

Goodreads review by Amr on August 08, 2024

There isn’t a single thing I didn’t absolutely love about Kwame Crashes the Underworld. I’m always on the lookout for fantasy inspired by African culture so I was very excited when I read that Craig Kofi Farmer’s debut was inspired by Ghanaian mythology. This story didn’t just live up to my already......more


Quotes

★ "Debut author Farmer tells a grand tale, funny and terrifying in turns, steeped in Ghanaian spirituality and folklore, and wrapped around themes of identity, obligation, true friendship, and devastating loss." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Brimming with laughter, joy, and beautiful messages about grief, hope, lost loved ones, identity, and the ancestors, Kwame Crashes the Underworld rattles the spirit. Kwame Powell is a much-welcomed hero to the canon of children's books." — Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times-bestselling author of The Marvellers and The Memory Thieves

“Craig Kofi Farmer brings to life the myths of Ghana with heart, humor, and cinematic flair. I wish this book had existed when I was a child. I dare readers not to let Kwame Powell into their hearts.” — Roseanne A. Brown, New York Times-bestselling author of Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting

"A rollicking and electrifying adventure of one boy's journey to accept himself, his family, and his cultural heritage. Readers will cry and laugh with and love Kwame Powell, the boy who wears his dashiki with pride and uses it to bring the underworld and its meddling gods to its knees." — Jamar J. Perry, author of Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms

"
Farmer deftly weaves together an inclusive tale of friendship, family, and identity featuring characters and adventure readers will yearn to revisit." — Publishers Weekly