ABOUT
THE BOOK

2020 Longlist

One of the most highly praised novels of the year, the debut from an astonishing young writer, Freshwater tells the story of Ada, an unusual child who is a source of deep concern to her southern Nigerian family. Young Ada is troubled, prone to violent fits. Born “with one foot on the other side,” she begins to develop separate selves within her as she grows into adulthood. And when she travels to America for college, a traumatic event on campus crystallizes the selves into something powerful and potentially dangerous, making Ada fade into the background of her own mind as these alters-now protective, now hedonistic-move into control. Written with stylistic brilliance and based in the author’s realities, Freshwater dazzles with ferocious energy and serpentine grace.

About the Author

Akwaeke Emezi is an Igbo and Tamil writer and artist based in liminal spaces. Born and raised in Nigeria, she received her MPA from New York University and was awarded a 2015 Miles Morland Writing Scholarship. She won the 2017 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for Africa. Her work has been published in various literary magazines, including Granta. Freshwater is her debut novel.

Librarian’s Comments

Debut novelist Emezi brings Igbo culture to light through her unique multi-narrative story of separate selves and living between two worlds. While heavy in mood, the flowing and lyrical prose unravel in a fresh and intriguing way. Indigenous stories and spiritual worlds center this challenging, yet rewarding read. Chicago Public Library, USA