Overview

In a richly illustrated story set in the Asante Kingdom of 1807, Kwame, Kwaku, and Baako strive to become leaders in the Akan culture. They farm, learn spear throwing, take part in ceremonies and dances, and listen to stories while gaining an understanding of the rainforest and its animals. In the capital city to see the king and the Golden Stool and take part in an important festival, the boys encounter the wider kingdom: fine crafts, livestock, foreign people and books, and witness the sale of prisoners as slaves. Kwaku cares for a leopard cub that the king wants returned to the forest. Traveling to the coast, Kwame and Baako are kidnapped and threatened with sale as slaves. The Asante Kingdom faces rebellion and the decline of its role in the Atlantic slave trade. Change will come. Kwame, Kwaku, and Baako balance the life they know with new possibilities for their future.

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9781643880686

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Reviews

An excellent depiction of a famous African society adjusting to major pressures...Engrossing, well-paced, gripping adventures of three boys...Readers will appreciate pleasing illustrations, useful maps, and an exceptionally helpful glossary... - Claude E. Welch, Jr., Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY An immersive and thoughtful historical novel that explores West Africa in 1807. - Kirkus Reviews This richly historical African adventure will entertain and inform young readers and their parents. - BookLife Reviews In sum, this is a captivating, well-written, and informative book about an important period and people in West African history. Readers will enjoy learning about the rich culture and traditions of the Akan people wrapped in a tale of adventure. ...useful for classroom instruction. - Charlotte Kukundakwe for Africa Access Review, Center for African Studies, Howard University, Washington, D.C. ...a story that explores African basic values of bravery, family, friendship, love, and community. - Grace Masso for Readers' Favorite, 5 stars Winner of the 2021 Award for the Best Children's Book about a Peace Corps Country - Peace Corps Worldwide You rarely come across books of this caliber in your lifetime. The narrative and the illustrations fit perfectly together and take the reading experience to the next level. Dorothy Brown Soper very smartly divides the story into three parts, which indicates the change in the story and development of the characters. Kwame, Baako, and Kwaku are three very smart and powerful characters. They have an innocence that I am sure will resonate with younger readers, yet they have an air of intelligence as they grow and develop. My favorite out of the three of these characters is Baako. He is resilient, smart, and ready to take chances. Maybe it has to do with his circumstances, but I truly enjoyed his reactions and how he works hard to become better and do better. We Are Akan is a highly recommended book! - Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite, 5 Stars Pre-Teen Finalist, National Indie Excellence Award, 2021

An excellent depiction of a famous African society adjusting to major pressures...Engrossing, well-paced, gripping adventures of three boys...Readers will appreciate pleasing illustrations, useful maps, and an exceptionally helpful glossary... -Claude E. Welch, Jr., Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY

Author Information

Dorothy Brown Soper worked with Akan students and teachers in Ghana for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching French in a rural boarding high school. Returning to the U.S., she earned an MA in African history with plans to introduce Americans to Africa. She has developed and taught many units on African history and culture for elementary classes. We Are Akan is her first novel. Visit her at www.dorothybrownsoper.com. James worked in Kenya as a Peace Corps volunteer creating audio-visual materials to train land recipients in cash crop farming. He specializes in illustrations, caricatures, and cartoons.

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