Cliff Notes , Cliffnotes , and Cliff's Notes are trademarks of Wiley Publishing, Inc. SparkNotes and Spark Notes are trademarks of Barnes & Noble, Inc. He faces the harsh realities of city life, including poverty, exploitation, and discrimination. "Chike and the River" is a novel by Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian author renowned for his literary works that explore the complexities of African culture and colonialism. Answer. It exists at an intersection between languages and cultures that has not yet been reached. He did not know. However, as a young adult, Achebe became fascinated with forms of African spirituality, and his studies heavily influenced his writing. Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides. It's a simple story, told in the style of boys' escapades and heroic entanglements with comic-book hoods. It was all very strange.. Chike, an 11-year-old boy growing up in Umuofia (the same village as in Things Fall Apart), moves to the big city of Onitsha and must adapt to all sorts of modern, urban experiences but pines to cross the Niger River to explore the seemingly unattainable city of Asaba. Once he finally makes it across the river, Chike realizes that life on the other side is far different from his expectations, and he must find the courage within him to make it home. Reviews | In as much as the target audience of the above listed works comprise of scholars and adults, Chinua Achebe is also among the pioneer authors' of children literature. This information about Chike and the River was first featured The story is set in Nigeria during the mid-20th century and follows the adventures of a young boy named Chike. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Why, S.M.O.G. To redeem, copy and paste the code during the checkout process. Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future. Sweet story about a Nigerian boy's dream to cross the river. It was a great story that wasn't too drawn out, but showed than innately we all know the right actions to take in most situations. This moment further indicates that the way Chike is raised isolates him from his community. Well, these days, students at Brown University get to have a regular weekly audience with Achebe himself, much the same way I did with Ng?g?. This gives his fascination with the river an aspect of the elemental, as if here, at least . Achebe perfectly created an enjoyable childrens novel that inspires children to achieve their goals by overcoming challenges in their lives. Phone: 519-749-4300 Ext. I am quite surprised that I found this book in the 8th grade section of my school's library. This passage speaks to colonialism as a form of violence. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime. Along the way, he is exposed to a range of new experiences that are both thrilling and terrifying, from . Chike begins adapting to the new environment in Onitsha. I fear sounding glib or obvious, but, really, one of the great things about taking literature courses in college is access to some of the great writers of the world and by that, I mean in person, teaching you in a small seminar room. Article Chike and the River is a magical tale of boundaries, bravery, and growth, by Chinua Achebe, one of the worlds most beloved and admired storytellers. His first novel,Things Falls Apart, became a classic of international literature and required reading for students worldwide. And if you want to celebrate Achebe's recent passing read. The brilliance of Mr. Achebes prose is his ability to make readers feel like an omniscient sprite on Chikes shoulder: along for the ride and privy to all that he senses and sees.'"[2]. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Achebe presents the idea that nothing comes easy in a clear manner, while still writing an enjoyable, yet simple book for children to read. Then one day his mother told him that he would be going to Onitsha in the new year to live with his uncle. Although this novel is considered fiction, children can easily relate to the characters in the novel. Though it has obvious references to Things Fall Apart this isn't really a worthy successor. The notorious S.M.O.G. Mustve been quite an experience for the students, if a little intimidating. Cape Town, Cambridge University Press, Sites with a book review or quick commentary on Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe. He is an ambassador of art, and a profound recorder of the human condition. Michael Dorris, Sign up for news about books, authors, and more from Penguin Random House, Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network. The language is simplistic, to the extent that the booklet would do well as a children's book. And though I know the moral tale is a huge part of African lit, at least they usually have some fun with animals that speak and fuck and kill and humans who are evil or beautiful or unbelievably rich. web pages However, he switched to English literature while in college, and soon after began to write short stories, many of which took as their theme traditional African spiritualities. Episodic as any good kids book should be, it also vividly addresses a young persons feeling of confusion when everything seems new or how the town always looks cooler on the other side of the river. This suggests that Amoss decision to go against the communitys traditions has so disturbed Elizabeth that she would rather trust in someone who has proven himself to be unreliable rather than stay in the religion that normalizes Amos and Sarahs marriage. Although this novel is considered fiction, children can easily relate to the characters in the novel. Chike becomes determined to take this journey across the river and will do whatever it takes to achieve it, ignoring his mothers advice to stay away from the River Niger. Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe, 2010, Cambridge University Press edition, in English Load 3 more questions. Personally, I'm going to pick up a copy to add my library. Chike and the River, by Chinua Achebe, is released on Tuesday, August 9, by Anchor Books ($10). It is important for children to understand life across the world, not just in their hometown. Interesting story that had that told around the campfire feel. Still, he hoped. Refine any search. "Junot Diaz. Be the first to review "Chike and The River" Click here to cancel reply. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." One day, Chike becomes fascinated with the idea of crossing the river to the city of Asaba, located on the other side. Book Review by Kam Williams. But where would he get the money? Seed dispersal itself is an easy analogy for colonialism: the schoolteachers job is essentially to planting the figurative seed for Igbo children to be dependent on and tied to English culture. This is a children's book, sweet as a folk-tale from the author of, Oh yeah, I did it, I picked a book without magic, monsters and great villains :D Miracles do happen :) But I'll get back to my monsters, I promise :) No need to worry :). The tone of the book is rather juvenile, even for a children's story, and the ending ties up all loose ends rather too neatly for my likings. Struggling with distance learning? Along the way, he is exposed to a range of new experiences that are both thrilling and terrifying, from eating his first skewer of suya under the shade of a mango tree, to visiting the village magician who promises to double the money in his pocket. If you want to introduce children to Achebe, and you should, start at Things Fall Apart. Like the narrator, Chike, Chinua Achebe was part of the first generation among his family to be raised Christian rather than within the traditional Igbo religion. Eleven-year-old Chike longs to cross the Niger River to the city of Asaba, but he doesn't have the sixpence he needs to pay for the ferry ride. Many children do not realize the poverty that many people experience across the world. We will keep fighting for all libraries - stand with us! Chike and the River does well in tying in cultural ideas into a story interesting for children. As Chike navigates the unfamiliar and often harsh environment of the city, he is forced to confront his own fears, biases, and limitations. With the help of his friend S.M.O.G., he embarks on a series of adventures to help him get there. Chinua Achebe is the David and Marianna Fisher University Professor and Professor of Africana Studies at Brown University. Complete your free account to request a guide. BookBrowse LLC 1997-2023. Penguin Books. I loved the narration of this short story as I joined Chike in his series of small adventures. Chinua Achebes novel, Chike and the River, perfectly displays the idea of working to achieve a dream. Along the way, Chike learns valuable lessons about life, love, and the complexities of human nature. Visual theme-tracking, too. Achebe's vivid storytelling and rich characters make . All of Chikes friends speak of the amazing River Niger and taking the ferries across it to the city of Asaba. In addition to teaching children to not give up, the novel gives children a look at life in Nigeria. In the end, Chike does indeed cross the river, only to discover that even though the shining city of Asaba isnt what he expects, it all ends better than he ever imagined. Just $45 for 12 months or Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Chinua Achebe's Chikes School Days. Many reviews are behind a subscriber paywall. This story of a boy who does what he isn't meant to but it all ends for the best doesn't do it for me. Chike is a young boy from the small village of Umuofia in West Africa. was one of my all-time favorite teachers and became one of my all-time favorite authors anyone should get immersed in epic novels, from the angry, political classic Petals of Blood and the hilarious satire The Wizard of the Crow. Language. Great and endearing story. With his increased confidence, he is motivated once again to find a way to acquire one shilling to cross the River Niger. in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. English. With the help of his friend S.M.O.G., he embarks on a series of adventures to help him get there. Search: It also adds complexity to the idea that the social structures of the village are being challengedthe neighbor alludes to the fact that Chike is an Osu, a member of the lowest class. Entries also contain a short biography of the author. Among the summaries and analysis available for Chike and the River, there Free shipping for many products! Additionally, even though it is clearly exaggeration, his sisters inference that the (presumably English) schoolteacher flogged students to death is one of the more obvious allusions to colonialism as a form of violence in village life. Because English is not Chikes native languagerather, it is imposed on him through colonialismChike is forced to create his own definitions. teaching and reminding that all humankind is one. The NationThe father of African literature in the English language and undoubtedly one of the most important writers of the second half of the twentieth century. Caryl Phillips,The ObserverWe are indebted to Achebe for reminding us that art has social and moral dimensiona truth often obscured. Chicago TribuneHe is one of the few writers of our time who has touched us with a code of values that will never be ironic. Michael OndaatjeFor so many readers around the world, it is Chinua Achebe who opened up the magic casements of African fiction. Kwame Anthony Appiah[Achebe] is one of world literatures great humane voices. Times Literary SupplementAchebe is one of the most distinguished artists to emerge from the West African cultural renaissance of the post-war world. The Sunday Times(London)[Achebe is] a powerful voice for cultural decolonization. The Village VoiceChinua Achebe has shown that a mind that observes clearly but feels deeply enough to afford laughter may be more wise than all the politicians and journalists. TimeThe power and majesty of Chinua Achebes work has, literally, opened the world to generations of readers. Part escapade, part fable, it is a simple but engaging story of 11-year old Chike who struggles to adapt to city life when he moves from the village of Umuofia . Browse books: Recent| popular| #| a| b| c| d| e| f| g| h| i| j| k| l| m| n| o| p| q| r| s| t| u| v| w| x| y| z|. Chike, a Nigerian boy. 96 pages Who are the characters in the story? This book is definitely geared towards a younger crowd (9-13yrs) but enjoyable for older folks who are aware that it's on the lighter side of Achebe's writing. At one point, three of Chikes classmates are fooled by a trader into taking brain pills that would help them remember what they read for their exams but they started behaving like mad people and had to be rushed to the hospital. They were okay but so shaken by the experience they failed the exams anyway. Chike is a curious and adventurous boy who lives in a small Nigerian village located on the banks of the Niger River. In 2007, Achebe was awarded the Man Booker International Prize. He has heard many great stories about living in a big city, yet, his mother warns him of the dangers of living in a place like Onitsha. Grand River Hospital. The main piece of advice she gives to Chike is to stay clear of the River Niger. Start earning points for buying books! Publisher. Intermediate teachers would enjoy sharing this small chapter book with their students. 1,500. In Indian context, this belief might slightly be different from the belief fed to a child, say, in Nigeria, but in its essence, there are similarities between them. At the historical moment when Achebe wrote the story, postcolonial literature was becoming an internationally recognized genre. Chinua Achebe - Chike and the River, Epub Ebook. Achebe, Chinua. The more Chike saw the ferry-boats the more he wanted to make the trip to Asaba. Chike's breathtaking adventures began. As the story goes, Achebe wrote it when his daughter was entering preschool in Nigeria. Kids reading the book can see that even with the struggles of Chike, he pushed through and kept going. Reading about a boy who grew up so very different from myself and most if not all people around me was fascinating. Genre: Literary Fiction "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." By clicking SIGN UP,I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random Houses, certain categories of personal information, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information. Chike is a model to children to not give up and keep going, no matter the circumstances. It suggests that although Chike may be excited about the new world that is to come, the narrator has reservations, and likely suspects that the violent destruction of Igbo traditions will prove detrimental to the continued existence of Chikes culture. Last spring he sat in on a course devoted to studying his vast body of work; Things Fall Apart was only the first of his many novels, poems, short stories, and essays. Therefore, Chike is not only subverting traditional values by not accepting the food of heathens, but is also subverting the hierarchy that exists among castes in the village by asserting himself to a member of a higher social class. Sold by: Inspirational Books Category: Fiction. "In the Age of Extinction, two tagalong daughters traveled to the edge of the world with their On the night of December 26, 1811, residents of Richmond, Virginia crowded into the local playhouse, Find books by time period, setting & theme, Read-alike suggestions by book and author. Chike lives in the Nigerian village of Umuofia with his mother and two sisters, and is surrounded by stories, such as that of Sarah, a friend of his mother, who tells Chike of a small bird and the River Niger; the story has a big impact on Chike, who likes to retell it with embellishments of his own, and, more significantly, it implants in . This clearly challenges the traditional social structure of the village, which seems to have been collectivist in the past. However, with the help of his friend S.M.O.G., he embarked on a series of adventures to enable him get to Asaba. Achebe wrote Chike and the River in order to provide African schoolchildren with a book whose protagonist is a young boy who shares their cultural background. Print length. It was just okay. -Graham S. Chikes School Days takes place around the same time that Achebe himself was growing upthe beginning stages of the British occupation of Nigeria. I think that this should be an elementary school book. The writing is child-like and innocent in the best ways possible. He also authored four subsequent novels, two short-story collections, and numerous other books. It is important for children to understand that they can overcome their challenges and keep going, which Achebe helps promote through this novel. CHIKE AND THE RIVER Chapter 1 Group 1: Kaleo Lyn-Cook Kimani Wilmot Jacquelle Haye Grade 7S Literature Children things have been very hard since your father died.Life on the farm is hard and trading is very slow these days. FreeBookNotes found 6 sites with book summaries or analysis of Chike and the River. In this atmospheric debut, a young Native girl investigates the mysterious disappearance of women from her tribe's reservation. In the moment the story is narrated, this world does not yet exist, and therefore cannot yet be conceived of by Chike or even the adults in his family. Print Book, English, 2010. Chike and the River is a charming little tale by Nobel Prize Winner Chinua Achebe. Four New Venues Reinventing Boston Live Music, This search result is here to prevent scraping, See the Most Expensive Home Listing Ever to Hit the South Shore, Take a Look Inside the Most Expensive Single-Family Home Ever Sold in Boston, The Everyday Affects of the Marathon Bombings, Ten Years Later, Here's Where to Find the Best Fish and Chips in Boston, Pizza Project Pop-Up to Open Restaurant at the Speedway, By the Way, Theres a Work of Art Made of Human Hair in Salem, Careers and Internships at Boston Magazine. 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