About This Book
This historical chapter book introduces readers to Layo, a spirited twelve-year-old Yoruba girl living in 11th-century Nigeria. The story centers on her courageous attempt to defy the deeply ingrained tradition of arranged marriage, as she grapples with the man chosen for her. It offers a window into a specific historical and cultural context while exploring universal themes of personal agency, cultural identity, and the struggle for independence. Parents will appreciate its gentle handling of complex societal norms and its potential to spark conversations about tradition, choice, and self-determination.
Twelve-year-old Layo, a Yoruba girl living in the area of eleventh-century Africa which is now Nigeria, attempts to reject the man who has been chosen to be her husband.
Discussion Prompts
1
How do Layo's feelings about her arranged marriage compare to what you know about marriage today?
2
What traditions do you have in your family or community? How do they make you feel?
3
What does it mean to be brave, and how does Layo show bravery in this story?
4
If you were Layo, what would you do? Why?
5
How important is it to follow traditions, and when might it be okay to question them?
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