The Icarus Girl: A Novel

The Icarus Girl: A Novel

â‚¬Å“The Icarus Girl is an astonishing achievement.â‚¬Â â‚¬"Sunday Telegraph (London)

Jessamy â‚¬Å“Jessâ‚¬Â Harrison is eight years old. Sensitive, whimsical, possessed of an extraordinary and powerful imagination, she spends hours writing haiku, reading Shakespeare, or simply hiding in the dark warmth of the airing cupboard. As the child of an English father and a Nigerian mother, Jess just canâ‚¬t shake off the feeling of being alone wherever she goes, and the other kids in her class are wary of her tendency to succumb to terrified fits of screaming. Believing that a change from her English environment might be the perfect antidote to Jessâ‚¬s alarming mood swings, her parents whisk her off to Nigeria for the first time where she meets her motherâ‚¬s familyâ‚¬"including her formidable grandfather.

Jessâ‚¬s adjustment to Nigeria is only beginning when she encounters Titiola, or TillyTilly, a ragged little girl her own age. To Jess, it seems that, at last, she has found someone who will understand her. But gradually, TillyTillyâ‚¬s visits become more disturbing, making Jess start to realize that she doesnâ‚¬t know who TillyTilly is at all.

Helen Oyeyemi draws on Nigerian mythology to present a strikingly original variation on a classic literary theme: the existence of "doubles," both real and spiritual, who play havoc with our perceptions and our lives. Lyrical, haunting, and compelling, The Icarus Girl is a story of twins and ghosts, of a little girl growing up between cultures and colors. It heralds the arrival of a remarkable new talent.
Country USA
Manufacturer Nan A. Talese
Binding Hardcover
ReleaseDate 2005-06-21
UnitCount 1
Format Deckle Edge
EANs 9780385513838

Country	USA
Manufacturer	Nan A. Talese
Binding	Hardcover
ReleaseDate	2005-06-21
UnitCount	1
Format	Deckle Edge
EANs	9780385513838

The Icarus Girl: A Novel

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