Daughter in Exile

A Novel

By: Bisi Adjapon

Narrated by: Anniwaa Buachie

The acclaimed author of The Teller of Secrets returns with a gut-wrenching, yet heartwarming, story about a young Ghanaian woman’s struggle to make a life in the US, and the challenges she must overcome.

Lola is twenty-one, and her life in Senegal couldn’t be better. An aspiring writer and university graduate, she has a great job, a nice apartment, a vibrant social life, and a future filled with possibility. But fate disrupts her world when she falls for Armand, an American Marine stationed at the U.S. Embassy. Her mother, a high court judge in Ghana, disapproves of her choice, but nothing will stop Lola from boarding a plane for Armand and America.

That fateful flight is only the beginning of an extraordinary journey; she has traded her carefree existence in Senegal for the perilous position of an undocumented immigrant in 1990s America.

Lola encounters adversity that would crush a less-determined woman. Her fate hangs on whether or not she’ll grow in courage to forge a different life from one she’d imagined, whether she’ll succeed in putting herself and family together again. Daughter in Exile is a hope-filled story about mother love, resilience, and unyielding strength.

daughter in exile

I have very little words to say, this book was amazing! Everything about this book screams black independent woman making through America!

Resonant across all demographics

Deeply resonant for all daughters on exile and all immigrants who understand the deep costs of the American dream. The spectre of Oliver Twist meets the spirit Things Fall Apart in a completely unique package. This author is absolutely one to watch in the genre of African diaspora literature and in
emotive fiction writing across all genres.

The Power of a Woman

The story is heart wrenching but displays the resilience of an immigrant woman. The author draws you into the story of Lola. You just want her to win and get a break. There are so many themes in this book to include womanhood, parenting, depression, cultural traditions, intimacy, humanity, pride, and determination. I think there should be a book 2. We need more information on the bio dad, Armand, for Lola's son. It would be good for the character to have redemption and be a father to his son. We need to see Lola pursue her dreams and travel back and forth from Ghana to the US. The only slight draw back were some of the American accents by the narrator seemed very exaggerated and not realistic. Not a deal killer but noticeable at times.

Brilliant!

Thoughtful, painfully accurate and compassionate telling with brilliant narration. A full-bodied depiction of an all too familiar experience.

Phenomenal Woman!

This book was amazingly written, the immigrant experience in America can both fascinating and horrifying for most and this author brought us to the forefront of it. Captivating from start to finish!