Festivals, a Boy Soldier and College Days: #BookoftheWeek - December 2, 2013

Looking for a good book to read? Every week, ZODML spotlights three great books from our extensive collection to inspire readers to try out books they might not have previously heard of. The selections fall under three major categories – fiction, non-fiction and children and young adult literature – so there’s a book to suit every taste. All of the books are available to borrow for free at our Community Library on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi. Be sure to check out our archives to see which books have been selected in the past. 
Fiction: Beasts of No Nation by Uzodinma Iweala In this stunning debut novel, Agu, a young boy in an unnamed West African nation, is recruited into a unit of guerrilla fighters as civil war engulfs his country. Haunted by his father's own death at the hands of militants, which he fled just before witnessing, Agu is vulnerable to the dangerous yet paternal nature of his new commander. While the war rages on, Agu becomes increasingly divorced from the life he had known before the conflict started – a life of school friends, church services, and time with his family still intact. As he vividly recalls these sunnier times, his daily reality spins further downward into inexplicable brutality, primal fear, and loss of self-hood. His relationship with his commander deepens even as it darkens, and his camaraderie with a fellow soldier lends a deceptive sense of normalcy to his experience. Non-Fiction: Nigerian Festivals: The Famous and Not So Famous by Pelu Awofeso Local festivals have always been an attraction for international visitors to Nigeria. While some are very well known abroad, quite a number are not. This book brings under one roof an interesting selection of these cultural fiestas, which take place year round and hundreds of kilometres apart. Find videos, pictures and more from Nigeria's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in our Discover Nigeria Geography Section. Children and Young Adults: Eze Goes to College with Moral Lessons by Onuora Nzekwu and Michael Crowder When Eze wins a place at the college in Onitsha, everyone hopes he will do well. The novel covers his adventures and progress through his college years. Share your #BookoftheWeek in the comments below or by tweeting @ZODML!