4 ⭐ CW: Violence, slave trade, death, death of a child 

"Dreams are today's answers for tomorrow's questions." 

The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander is a historical fiction written in verse about a young Twi boy (modern day Nigeria). This was a beautiful and quick read. It kind of reminded me of Things Fall Apart. 

We follow Kofi, an 11 year old boy of Upper Kwante, who asks many questions, has a crush on a girl, and has a rivalry with his cousin of the same name. Kofi has a good life with his family until he and others in his family are kidnapped by people from Lower Kwante in retaliation for something Kofi's older brother did. 

I loved Kwame Alexander's writing in this. It was so accessible and beautiful and poetic. We learn a lot about how history and wisdom is wrapped up in oral storytelling. We also see the affects of the slave trade with England and America. The emergence of guns, and the brutality the people of the Gold Coast faced. Although it was a sad story, it ends on a note of hope.