Afia in the Land of Wonders

Gr 3-7–Afia and her twin sister Aya are poised to become crystal merchants like their mother and father before them in their sequestered desert village of Dafra. On the eve of their ewende ceremony where their community will initiate them into their adult lives, Afia encounters a mysterious carver at the monthly market day. When she runs away in the middle of her ewende and accepts Bakame’s invitation to meet the powerful queen of a land of mysterious wonders, she understands that it will mean leaving her twin and the rest of her family behind, perhaps forever. What she does not know and could not imagine is that Queen Ukiwa of Ijabu has built her palace and her kingdom on the lives and dreams of her courtiers through magical entrapment. When Afia finally uncovers the truth, she must discover who she truly is and find the courage to overcome adversity to free herself and everyone else from the queen’s control. Along the way, she encounters untold dangers and meets unexpected allies in her quest to return and seek forgiveness from her beloved sister. This illustrated retelling of Alice in Wonderland draws heavily on African folklore and mysticism to create an endearing fantasy that celebrates curiosity, self-reliance, compassion, friendship, and family bonds.