Two Nigerian sisters deal with their oppressive mother in different ways. How You Grow Wings is alternately told by both sisters. The reader grows to understand and appreciate the heartbreaking decisions made by each girl. I found this novel to be gripping and heart wrenching..
I was given an ARC of How You Grow Wings by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Thank you so much for sending me a copy of this audiobook. It was a beautiful book and I can’t wait to read more by this author. Amazing story.

Rimma Onoseta's debut novel explores themes of classism, racism, and abuse through the lives of two sisters Zam and Cheta. Cheta is bold, headstrong and unafraid of confrontation. Zam on the other hand is shy, nervous, and goes out of her way to avoid conflict. The differences in their personalities lead them down very different paths.

I liked how Onoseta explored the relationship between mothers and daughters and the ripple effect it can have on sibling relationships and even friendships. Although some of the physical abuse scenes were hard to listen to, I found it didn't make listening to the book challenging. The alternating POVs and dual narrators helped to keep me invested in the story.

I had an inkling of what the reveal/twist would be and yet I was still a little surprised by how it all unfolded. But I wasn't satisfied with the ending. It didn't feel rushed and It did wrap everything up nicely but I wanted more. The only way I can think of how to explain the feeling is this: when you realize after the fact that you already ate the last bite of something you wanted to savour.

This book is a tough hang but is so richly written that it's worth every page. You just want everything to work out for these characters. Onoseta forces you to feel compassion for everyone on the page despite their missteps and circumstances.

I knew I was going to like this one from the beginning. Two sisters are separated and live different lives, with their own struggles, but come together several times. I wasn't expecting the twist at the end, but the whole thing made me shed several tears. Defintely a good read about how growing up with different opportunities can lead you make very different choices.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for access to the audiobook of How You Grow Wings by Rimma Onoseta in exchange for an honest review.

CW: child abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, panic attacks, racism, kidnapping, grief

Two sisters, Cheta and Zam, grow up under the watchful and overbearing eye of their mother. Cheta is outspoken and doesn't shy away from her mother, making their relationship strained and harm-filled. Zam is timid and studious, the pride of the family. When Zam is invited to go live at her aunt luxury home for high end schooling, Cheta also leaves the family home in protest and finds herself struggling to survive. This is a tension-filled, beautifully written novel depiction the double-edged sword of mother-daughter relationships.

I enjoyed this book a lot! The contrast between these two sisters' personalities and the exploration of how it affects each of them in turn was so interesting. I was so angry at this mother throughout the book. Her inflexibility and unwillingness to introduce even a modicum of empathy or kindness toward her daughters was absolutely heartbreaking, but it is an unfortunately reality in many parent-child relationships, and the strong writing did justice to that tragedy.
Additionally, this book is set in Nigeria, and I always enjoy getting to learn more about African cultures through fictional stories. I especially appreciate when authors include depictions of culturally significant foods, which Onoseta did. Near the end of the book, highlighting the difference between the vibrance of Nigerian food and the bland boarding school food that Zam is served in England really made the setting pop for me.

This is a heavy hitting book, but definitely worth the read!

A deeply moving and powerful YA debut about two Nigerian sisters and the different paths their lives take. Perfect for fans of The girl with the louding voice and great on audio. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early listening copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was a beautiful debut set in Nigeria. The story follows two sisters, Cheta and Zam, one stubborn and outspoken and the other quiet and timid. Although they have grown up in the same house with the same parents, they were both brought up very differently. However, their mother abuses both girls in different ways. Zam has the opportunity to leave her home and live with her rich auntie and uncle for a better way of life. Cheta is left to fend for herself but also ends up leaving. I really enjoyed the POV’s from each of the sisters. The rich culture of Nigeria oozes out of every corner of this beautifully written portrait of this family. The relationships between each of the characters are what strengthen this story. Each girl learns how to fly on their own in their own way. This was a story about mental health, class, pain, and family.

I very much enjoyed this audiobook from start to finish. I would very much recommend this to anyone who would like to learn something new and who loves great character driven stories!

1. I am obsessed with the cover!
2. I LOVE the Nigerian representation!
3. Character development is spot on! -
4. Cheta 🥺
5. Page 95 - LOL because my mom has definitely done the same thing to me when I’ve gotten a spanking. 😂 - I relate to this so much!
6. The ending 😭 - I literally wanted to give both sisters the biggest hug ever.

Man! Zam + Cheta are two sisters who are raised by their parents in the same home but both have different relationships with their mother especially.

I loved that the author gives you alternating POVs from the two MCs- Zam + Cheta, which is great because you really get to know them on a deeper level. HOW YOU GROW WINGS tackles many some heavy content around abuse, colorism, classism, anxiety, and inappropriate student/teacher relationships.

Their story is emotional and will pull on your heartstrings and force you realize how your past experiences shapes your future.

I only wish the plot was a little more streamlined and the story was a bit shorter.

~ Thank you so much Netgalley and Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~

This book was unbelievably good. And a debut? Absolutely crazy. It’s a contemporary about two sisters living in Nigeria, and how they are polar opposites and treated differently by their mother. One has everything given to them but cannot speak up for herself, and the other goes down a bad path but always speaks up for herself. The characterization is incredibly good, and the story has so many flawed, multi faceted characters who leave you thinking about so many different things. It’s about finding your voice and the power of sisterhood. I so wholeheartedly loved this.

Chatty video up on my channel now - https://youtu.be/djI-9z6c18s

This was my first time listening to a full audiobook, I've tried to listen to other audiobooks before, but just couldn't concentrate on the story.

I enjoyed the plot, and felt a connection to Cheta and Zam and all that they went through.
I also really liked that the story was set in Nigeria, and had mentions to Nigerian traditions and culture, because I feel like I learned a little bit more about Nigeria with this story.
In conclusion this was a story full of pain and sorrow, but with a beautiful message at the end!

Great book, and also great audiobook, with excellent narrators!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audiobook.

I've been very luck to receive an E-ARC of this beauty as well as the audiobook so thank you so much to Rimma Onoseta and Algonquin Young Readers!

This debut follows the story of two sisters who live in Nigeria under the oppressive power of their mother, both trying to break free on their own terms and opportunities. Cheta and Zam are two polar opposites living in the same house, one stubborn enough to put fuel on fire, the other silent through the chaos.

I haven't read many books set in Africa before, but when I did, they always left an impact. I live in Egypt, which is not that far off from Nigeria, so it was interesting to see the stark change of the culture and opportunities in both countries. Even though Abuja and the place where the sisters lived was different, it was eye-opening to see how different people lived in both places.

This story deals with classim and abuse at its finest (so please check the trigger warnings first before reading)! I liked how the author explored the different family dynamics in this story, how messy it could get, how attachment works differently for different people, how silence and loyalty can merge to become one, how ugly truths can bond people together and how in the midst of the ugliness, there's always hope.

I especially liked the relationship (or lack thereof) between Zam and Cheta, and how we follow both their journey through a dual perspective which adds so much depth and emotions to the story. I was surprised by how a twist made them meet at the end, but I found it to be the most realistic ending to that story. I have to say, it did not even feel YA to me, which just goes to show how this book has many layers you get to peel whilst reading.

I also have to say that listening to the audiobook of this story whilst reading it was an EXPERIENCE. I loved how the accents were all genuine and authentic, giving the reader the vibe as if present with the sisters on their journey to freedom. The different accents, the slang, the narrators, everything made this worthwhile and helped me fall in love with this book even more. It made the characters come to life!

I read this book in a sitting and would definitely highly recommend!

✨ Audiobook Review✨

How You Grow Wings
Rimma Onoseta
Pub Date: August 9, 2022

🦢 Synopsis:
Sisters Cheta and Zam couldn’t be more different. Cheta, sharp-tongued and stubborn, never shies away from conflict—either at school or at home, where her mother fires abuse at her.  Timid Zam escapes most of her mother’s anger, skating under the radar and avoiding her sister whenever possible. In a turn of good fortune, Zam is invited to live with her aunt’s family in the lap of luxury.  Jealous, Cheta also leaves home, but to a harder existence that will drive her to terrible decisions. When the sisters are reunited, Zam alone will recognize just how far Cheta has fallen—and Cheta’s fate will rest in Zam’s hands.

💭Thoughts:
The narration was fantastic and really made Cheta and Zam come to life. I would highly recommend listening to the audio version.

It took a few chapters to get into the book, but after that I could not put it down. I had to know what happened to Cheta, Zam, and their family. I felt very invested in the characters. Cheta and Zam both go through so much, while living such different lives. The story is very thought provoking. I did not see the ending coming either, that was a great twist.

Thank you @netgalley, @rimaonoseta, @algonquinyr, and @hachetteaudio.