In this novel, first published in 2003, three-time National Book Award finalist and Coretta Scott King Award winner Rita Williams-Garcia writes with an engaging voice and powerful heart about two strong young girls, the friendship they share, and the pain they must bear together when one of them undergoes female genital mutilation. This book has been available only as an ebook, and we are putting it back into print.
Their friendship is supposed to withstand anything. But can it survive the worst kind of trauma?
Even though they were born in different countries, Akilah and Victoria are true best friends. But Victoria has been acting strange ever since she returned from her summer in Nigeria, where she had a special coming-of-age ceremony. Why does proud Victoria, named for a queen, slouch at her desk and answer the teacher's questions in a whisper? And why won't she laugh with Akilah anymore?
Akilah's name means "intelligent," and she is determined to find out what's wrong. But when she learns the terrible secret Victoria is hiding, she suddenly has even more questions. The only problem is, they might not be the kind that have answers. Ages 13 And Up