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Purple Hibiscus Book Report

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Title: Purple Hibiscus
Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
Year: 2003
Number of pages: 307
Age group: young adults
Genre: fiction
Reviewed by: Lerato Sesele
Plot:
Kambili Achike is a fifteen-year-old girl who lives in Enugu, Nigeria with her father, Eugene, her mother Beatrice and older brother Jaja. The beginning of the novel takes place during Palm Sunday. After coming back from church Eugene is angry with his son as Jaja did not take part in receiving communion on that Sunday. Eugene shows his disappointment and anger towards his son by throwing the missal at his son which is a book that contains text that is used in the Catholic Mass throughout the year. As he throws the book at his son, Jaja moves out …show more content…

Once the medical professionals have concluded their autopsy of Papa, Mama finally decides to confess that she was the one to poison Eugene but the police believe that she is only saying this to cover up fro her son. Jaja is then imprisoned for the crime that Mama had committed. Since the imprisonment of Jaja Mama has grown withdrawn and rarely communicates with anyone around her. Three years later, Kambili and her mother visit Jaja in prison to give him the good news that he shall be released from prison soon. After visiting Jaja in prison Kambili feels hopeful about the …show more content…

For Jaja the purple hibiscus is a symbol for freedom and a symbol for a life that is alternative to the rigid one has been used to.
Themes:
Coming of age- Kambili and Jaja both have to mature faster due to the situation which happens in Nigeria. Due to the military coup that arises in Nigeria the children are sent to live with their aunt and there they learn that life can be enjoyable. Kambili and Jaja take steps towards adulthood by claiming their individuality
Silence- Kambili suffers the most as she is unable to speak to long without stuttering or coughing. She has been rendered mute due to the abuse she goes through at home.
Style and language:
The story is well written was it gives the reader an idea of what happened in Nigeria during the time of the military coup. The language is and the dialogue is believable as it uses words which are typically used by the Igbo culture. The setting is believable as the story does give the reader a sense of what happened during the military coup and how it affected such a well known

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