The African Piper of Harlem

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 15 Sep 2018 | Archive Date 12 Sep 2018

Talking about this book? Use #TheAfricanPiperOfHarlem #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

A Tale of Bullies and Deception

Neither fish nor fowl, every immigrant threads the needle between being one of "us" versus one of "them." The plot is both a fantasy and an exercise in exploring ways in which recent African immigrants and African-Americans recognize and embrace each other's cultural differences.

In Harlem, the mecca of black America, immigrants of every complexion live side by side with the descendants of slaves. The story begins with a description of how bullies belittle the twins, Bilal and Nawaal, who are of Nigerian descent. Grandpa Abram and their mother, Ola, do not know how to help the children.

Out of nowhere, a mysterious figure, Abekepi appears, and this fantastic piper offers to rid the neighborhood of bullies for a crazy reward. What follows is an intriguing, and sometimes unsettling, weaving of social themes, in which a supernatural being intervenes to turn the struggles of a single mother and her twins into triumph.

The African Piper of Harlem is available for purchase in print and ebook formats.

A Tale of Bullies and Deception

Neither fish nor fowl, every immigrant threads the needle between being one of "us" versus one of "them." The plot is both a fantasy and an exercise in exploring ways...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781725911109
PRICE $6.00 (USD)

Average rating from 6 members


Featured Reviews

Title: The African Piper of Harlem
Author: Zeena Nackerdien
Publisher: CreateSpace
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"The African Piper of Harlem" by Zeena Nackerdien

My Thoughts.....

"This book steps through the looking glass to a fictional Harlem neighborhood and follows the lives of a Nigerian family."

What a great tale with a interesting ending as it was for Ola and her two children Bilal and Nawaal who were twins who lived in Harlem, NY. We find Ola was from Nigeria and who had recently lost her mother. Now Ola had only her father Abram who was their to help her with her children because their father wasn't around due to the fact her was in jail. As the children grew older Ola found that they had received quite a bit of bulling from their classmates and being at her wits end, she turns to her father and they pray for help and it came.

From "out of nowhere, a mysterious figure appears by the name of Abekepi as this fantastic piper offers to rid the neighborhood of bullies for a crazy reward...For one million dollars or a hundred placentas!" Now, this story will be a very interesting tale that will keep you turning the pages to see what will comes next for Ola, her children, her father and by the end the reader will get 'a bit of magical realism that will come from seeing everything set right.' In the end the reader will see how "an intriguing, and sometimes unsettling, weaving of social themes, in which a supernatural being intervenes to turn the struggles of a single mother and her twins into triumph." The story's ending was indeed beautiful in that the twins got to meet a special person who had not been in their life's.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced e copy.

Was this review helpful?

A quick supernatural tale with a happy ending. This is really a short story(50 Pages) that features Ola a young mother of twins, and her struggle to raise them as solid citizens in Harlem, NY. Ola has come from Nigeria and lost her mother to cancer, so just Ola and her father remain in NY. Ola’s father Abram tries to help with the children and keep them on the straight and narrow. The children’s father has been locked up, so was unable to lend much help.

When Ola is at her wits end with the children, and dealing with the bullying they receive from schoolmates she turns to her father and they pray for a miracle,

“Three hours they sat in council. Her father listened to the girl who had broken his heart by falling pregnant with twins at the age of sixteen. At last, he broke his silence: ‘Upon the grave of your mother –may she dwell in peace with our ancestors –I am racking my brain so much that it is giving me a headache.’”

Abekepi, is the answer. When she knocks on the door of Abram’s apartment, not only will the lives of Ola’s children change but indeed all of Harlem may never be the same. A modern twist on the pied piper story with an ode to literary figures Achebe and Baldwin. A tale about relating to the times that one is living in while honoring the past that has always supported and carried one to the present. A bit of magical realism that achieves the goal of setting things right. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookbuzz.net for an advanced ecopy. September 15 is the official release date.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: