Review by Booklist Review
In this multilayered, colorful, and compelling debut, Nana gets into trouble again at school for allegedly pulling a prank on her teacher, and her parents decide to send her from the U.S. to Ghana to stay with her extended family to learn a lesson and develop a deeper connection to her familial and cultural roots over her summer vacation. During the trip, Nana learns much--about her family's daily lives; more Twi (a language spoken in Ghana); and a great deal about the mythical and magical Ananse, the trickster spider from West African folklore, from her grandmother. In the second half of the story, Ananse becomes a guide for Nana, who, with her family's support, seeks to challenge corrupt foreign white contractors from destroying the forests of Ghana. With a creative storyline; powerful messages about the importance of family, teamwork, and problems of imperialism; and colorful, stylized, and striking artwork, Fibbed will appeal to young people interested in folklore, magic realism, and adventure stories.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Agyemang reimagines Ghanaian folklore in this fantastical graphic novel debut following a creative middle schooler with a talent for telling stories. Nana Busumuru is looking forward to spending the summer at storytelling camp, but after she's sent to the school principal's office for allegedly stealing her teacher's toupee, her parents instead put her on a plane from the U.S. to Ghana to visit extended family she's never met. Though initially overwhelmed by the large family's warm welcome and tendency to switch between English and Twi, she finds kinship with her tale-spinning grandmother; she tells Nana that she was once saved by Ananse, the trickster spider of Ghanaian lore, and reveals that the plantains she grows and sells in the village are a result of his magic. Despite Ananse's mystical influence, however, other villagers' crops have been mysteriously failing, and Nana learns that white foreign contractors have been illegally stripping resources from the forest, including magical wish-granting vegetation. Accompanied by her cousin Tiwaa, new frenemy Akwesi, and cunning Ananse, Nana endeavors to end the exploitation of Ghanaian land. While the art's visual linear progression is occasionally muddled, Agyemang's highly stylized, vibrantly hued illustrations handily convey this lush tale. An author's note and glossary conclude. Ages 8--12. Agent: Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary and Media. (June)
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Review by Horn Book Review
Stories and truths cross paths in Agyemang's debut graphic novel. After twelve-year-old Nana ("It's 'NAH-na,' not 'NAN'") makes up one too many tales, landing her in the principal's office again, her parents send her to Ghana to spend the summer with her extended family, including her grandmother, who is also a storyteller. While adjusting to life in her mother's childhood village, Nana stumbles upon an evil company that's stealing the village forest's magic and killing it in the process. She then finds herself negotiating with Ananse, trickster spider and bearer of the world's stories. Agyemang herself spins this tale by drawing upon stories of the past. Classic folktales come to life through energetic folk art-style illustrations capturing the vibrant setting and colorful Ghanaian attire. Most striking is Ananse's versatile human-spider form, which shifts around adroitly through the panels. Exploring themes of fitting in, honoring tradition, enacting social justice, and finding one's truth, the book takes readers on a voyage of self-discovery while demonstrating the magical power of stories and their ability to reach across cultures and generations. Jerry Dear July/August 2022 p.110(c) Copyright 2022. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A return to the village where her mother grew up inspires and validates a natural-born storyteller. When Nana gets in trouble for an alleged prank involving squirrels and her teacher's toupee, she's sent from the U.S. to visit her extended family in Ghana over summer vacation--not as a punishment but as a lesson. What she learns is complex and includes brushing up on her Twi, navigating West African transportation, and listening to her grandmother tell Ananse folktales. In this debut, Agyemang reimagines traditional Asante stories, focusing on the trickster spider as both an ally and guide for Nana's personal journey as she settles in with her relatives and their daily lives. When exploitative and corrupt foreign White contractors begin depleting Ghanaian forests of their resources, both real and magical, the work's commentary on imperialism is clear. Nana--with her family's support--collaborates with Ananse to bring their actions to light and help people not only believe in, but care about what stories can teach. In the end, with the bad guys' plans foiled, the link between knowledge and stories is reinforced as Nana finds that her connections to Ananse and her heritage are just beginning. The full-color art often presents scenery in a stylized manner that is effective and striking; at other times, however, it can be difficult to follow the action in the illustrations. Thoughtful metafiction with an unshakeable cultural richness. (author's note, glossary, further reading) (Graphic fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
