Purple+Hibiscus




 * Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie**

Information about //[|Purple Hibiscus]// Kyle Freeman: Reading Purple Hibiscus was very difficult. You know those books that could either be really really good, or awful, this book was a train wreck. It is more than okay if you enjoyed this novel, I could see how you would, but for me, it was probably the worst book I have ever read in my life. Sorry if this comment doesn't get me a good grade, but I am just being honest. Don't you think that when the father was beating the children, the mother or the maid would have called the police? It also never told us what happened to the grandfather. Was he old, was he sick. It was so unclear. Also, why was Amaka so mad at Kambili? The jealousy was to extravagant. Why couldn't Jaja miss one communion, IN HIS WHOLE LIFE!!!!!!! Why did Kambili have to go to communion if she was on her period. I am a guy so I have never had one, but I am pretty sure the last thing you want to do is go to church. For me it was a ridiculous book that I would never in my life, recommend to anyone to read. Sorry if I rained on anyone's parade. Julia McAvoy: I think //Purple Hibiscus// was a captivating novel which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The characterization of Jaja and Kambili’s Father, although cruel, made me not only feel personally attached to the main characters, but also helped me realize the blessings in my own life. I thought the story’s array of emotions, from the joy felt at Aunty Ifeoma’s house to the fear and sadness when Papa punished the children, was what really drew me into the book. The subject matter was one that could be appreciated for its versatility. Overall, I thought //Purple Hibiscus// was an inspiring novel and a pleasurable read.

Comments: Boyce Campsen: Purple Hibiscus is a novel describing the trials and tribulations throughout Kambili's life. Kambili is a young Nigerian girl who has an abusive father, who is an avid Christian. His extreme discipline prohibits Kambili and her younger brother Jaja from living a normal lifestyle. Kambili and Jaja find out what it is like to have the life of an average Nigerian when they go to their Aunty Ifeoma's house to stay with their cousins. At first their cousins think that Jaja and Kambili are odd. They are portrayed this way because they have been sheltered for their whole life, but with time they become comfortable with their new surroundings and find laughter and love. In the end Kambili's mom ends up killing her father, and Jaja takes the blame for it he winds up in jail with a dim future to look forward to. Adiche wrote an astounding book about a life completely ruled by a tyrant of a father.

George Campsen: A monotonous read, Purple Hibiscus was a book that contrasted the difference between the lifestyles of aristocratic and poor Nigerians. Kambili and Jaja were children of a rich and strict father that limited them greatly. Throughout the book they began to take trips to their cousin’s house and experience the lifestyle of everyday children. The children began to realize, and envy the lifestyle of the everyday Nigerian. In the end the children’s mother killed their father and Jaja was sentenced to jail for a bleak future.

Julia Mallard: Purple Hibiscus was a completely eye-opening book to read. As it portrayed the story of two Nigerian children and their harsh lifestyle, it also brings about the culmination of a young woman in her soon to be "new world." In this new world, the protagonist, Kambili, realizes that she must be set free from her father's demands and have a better life than she had been planned to have. The book showed how young women and teenagers must strive to find themselves, and their identities while learning how other cultures may differ from their original one. The book gave me a better thought on the government and ways of rulers in other parts of the world and made me grateful for our own country. It had a perfect balance on major issues of everyday life: religion, governmental issues, family life, and simply finding oneself. It was lovely and inspiring to see how one girl can transition from such a harsh world to a life of happiness.

Victoria Hills: Purple Hibiscus reveals a coming of age story about two Nigerian children named Kambili and Jaja. Their strict lifestyle is enforced by their father who is a passionate Christian. He has good intentions, but they seem to backfire particularly when Kambili and Jaja’s aunt, Aunty Ifeoma, invites them to stay with her family for a while because of a military coup. At her house, they learn there is more to life than their specifically instructed daily routines. They discover a new world in which they never could have imagined. While their father raised them to live life almost perfectly by punishment, Aunty Ifeoma taught them that it was okay to make mistakes, have opinions, and to have some fun. For example, Kambili and Jaja realized that visiting their non-Christian grandfather was not a sin, while their father had forbidden them to spend more than fifteen minutes with him. The rare purple hibiscus flower symbolized Kambili and Jaja and their transformation from naive children to knowledgable young adults throughout the novel. Adichie wrote this book with such great expression and feeling; therefore, I never wanted to put it down. I was able to clearly picture every image Adichie described. Purple Hibiscus is an exceptional novel that I would recommend to anyone.

Bethany Robinson: //Purple Hibiscus// was an extraordinary novel dealing with Kambili's journey into discovering life for herself. In Nigeria, where Kambili and her family lives, she is faced with the overwhelming strictness of her intensely religious father. His punishments are not logical; they are abusive. The author, Adichie, captured the beauties of the Nigerian culture and combined family life with strong suspense and fear. When Kambili and Jaja went to stay with their Aunty Ifeoma and their cousins, they began to realize that there was more to life than what they were raised to believe.There was work and smiling and laughter, all which were new in Kambili and Jaja's eyes. It wasn't very surprising when Mama revealed that she had poisoned Papa. She wanted her family to be free and safe. //Purple Hibiscus// was briliantly written. So many symbols were used throughout the novel. For example, the purple hibiscus was used as a symbol for Kambili and Jaja, rare flowers, who lived through their father and bloomed as people through Aunty Ifeoma. She and her children showed them what life really was. They all appreciated one another and were a very close, fun-loving family. Since Kambili and Jaja had never known that type of life style, they grew to love and cherish the new experience. This book had great suspense and was full of visual imagery. The vivid descpritions that Adichie used made Papa's fierce personality very realistic. //Purple Hibiscus// was a fantastic read!

Carter Ellis: //Purple Hibiscus// introduced me to a world completely different than my own. It tells the story of a young Nigerian girl, Kambili, and her struggles with breaking free from her father's withholding grasp. Told from her point of view, it covers many things, including child abuse, family toubles, first love, and Nigerian politics. Kambili and her family seem like the perfect Christian family, but this came at a great cost. Whenever Kambili, her brother Jaja, or her mother did something wrong or unchristian in her father's eyes, they were punished cruelly. This led to Kambili and Jaja being introduced to a new way of life with there Aunty and cousins. It was difficult for them to take in the fact that everything they did wasn't censored and controlled by their strict Christian father when they were with their aunt. It took a while, but finally both Jaja and Kambili relaxed and become normal teenagers. With the help of Father Amadi, who Kambili, despite her confusion, falls in love with, she finds her personality and freedom deep within herself. Not only does this book describe Kambili's personal journey, but it also touches Nigerian politics and how dangerous it is to be against the government. Kambili learns that the government actually killed one of her father's newspaper workers for writing an article about the truth of the harsh rulers. //Purple Hibiscus// is an easy read that I think everyone should read to learn how different our world is from others and how fortunate we are to live the way we do.

//Meghan Fort//: //Purple Hibiscus is a truly enthralling look into the ways of Nigerian politics and family life. Before reading this book, I didn’t understand the cultural ways and daily life of the African race (let alone the wealthy class). The wonderful imagery and character detail made this book a surprisingly easy read. Adichie’s description of the secret world Kambili, her mother, and brother face each day teaches of the danger of having extreme faith in periods of despair and war. While the story focuses on the battle Kambili and her brother begin against the Christian mold their papa has created, the book also teaches its readers the importance of finding their own identities. Purple Hibiscus accurately describes the differences many are forced to face each day and the small joys that can form because of this. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

Becca Ellison: Purple Hibiscus provides a look into a world and a culture completely foreign to my own. Perhaps most importantly, it reveals the complex position of religion in everyday life. The contrasts between Eugene's lifestyle and Ifeoma's lifestyle illustrate the different roles Christianity played as it entered the world stage. The horrible punishments Eugene inflicts upon his children and wife are a stark reminder that religion is not always a happy, peaceful concept, and it must be looked at with an analytical and open-minded eye. Kambili is forced to reconcile the love she feels for her papa with the life she experiences at Nsukka and the love she discovers for Father Amadi. In doing so, she must break free of expectations and face reality. This reality reveals laughter and hardship and freedom, concepts foreign to the sheltered Kambili. Ultimately, she will discover truths about herself and about the world that will help us understand the importance of freedom, expression, and happiness. //

Mary Hollis McGreevy: //Purple Hibiscus// gave me a greater knowledge of an area and its customs otherwise unknown to me. After reading the book, I had a better idea of life in Nigeria. Kambili and her brother are exposed to a world unbeknownst to their strictly and religiously scheduled days. They soon realize that life does not consist of daily scheduled events and trips to their local church. Their father is one of the leaders in their community and believes that their lives should be led exactly how he wants them to be. He has their futures planned out. When Kambili falls in love with Father Amadi, she is not sure what her feelings mean. Eventually she realizes that she is in love with him. //Purple Hibiscus// introduced me to a new world. Reading from Kambili's perspective, it really helped me to understand her views.She struggled with the fact that she had developed different morals than her parents, but in the end, she became comfortable with her own views. //Purple Hibiscus// introduced me to a new world. It makes me realize how fortunate we are to have parents support us and want what is best for us.

Emma Haley: Kambili lives in a cage of fear and restriction built by her evangelical christian father, and it is through her journey to freedom that the reader steps into the story. As a military coup sweeps across Kambili’s homeland she and her brother, Jaja, go to live with their aunty in Nsukka. There they discover a lifestyle that is so foreign to the structured and monitored lives they led within their own home. In this place of freedom, laughter, and peace Jaja and Kambili come to appreciate a new sense of expression and happiness. It is in Nsukka that Kambili hesitantly discovers love for Father Amadi and in turn discovers love and acceptance of herself. Though these new ideas of joy and self respect may be as fragile as the purple hibiscus that grows in her aunt’s it is Kambili’s perseverance against the mold of her father that becomes the true triumph. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie masterfully ties together the freedom of a nation from the toils of instability to the freedom of a teenage girl from the religous mold of her father.

Ian Worthington: Purple Hibiscus is a truly astounding book which highlights the contrast between two ways of living in a society. The first sentence of the book thrusts the reader into the world of Kambili and Jaja who have been raised by a very strict and abusive Catholic father. When they go to stay with their aunt Kambili and Jaja are opened to a world far different from the one they grew up in, in the sheltered house of their father, who regulated what they did from day to day with strict scheduling. After Kambili is opened to the way of life her aunt lives she begins to question her father’s rules, now that she has experienced the way of life of the every day Nigerian. Purple Hibiscus lets the reader look and see a culture that is probably very different from their own; it provides a great commentary on the way of life in Nigeria and the contrast between the rich and poor.

Mi'kola Cooper: Purple Hibiscus, well it was different from the books I usually read. But i t caught ,my attenton right away to the point where I couldn't put it down.Kambili was my favorite character mostly becasue she thought about mostly what would make her father proud but also what she wanted to do. i really thought kambili and father Amadi would hook up since he took such an interest in her when she didn't talk as much as the other kids did or go anywhere until Father Amadi insisted she go with him to the football stadium. But I think the most distarous thing that happen was when kambili's mother started to put poison inthere father drink and the police came her mother just let her brother jaja take the blame i don't believe that was right even though he survive. But really i thnk the only reason she started to kambili mother started to poison kambili's father was when he badly injured kambili and she ended up in the hospital what kind of father would do that just because she kept the painting of her grandfather.But ithink her father was way to religious i think he actually believed he was god and had to have his family looking and acting like god.


 * Deanna Acosta: I really enjoyed //Purple Hibiscus//. Before reading this book, I didn't know much or anything about Nigerian culture. I loved the way Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie incorporated religion as one of the main conflicts in the story and displayed to the readers the different affects religion can actually have on people. As I got into the book, I began making predictions about what would happen towards the end, but it turned out that most of the predictions I made didn't occur. For instance, I was under the impression that Father Amadi and Kambili would fall in love and run off to start a family of their own. It also never struck my mind that Kambili's mother would go and poison her husband, but I suppose she did what she did in order to protect her children from anymore harsh blows from their father. I don't quite agree with the fact that Kambili's mother allowed Jaja to take the blame for killing his father when in fact he didn't. //Purple Hibiscus// really opened my eyes to the ways that religion and war can collide, thus leading people into difficult times and turmoil. Overall, //Purple Hibiscus// is a wonderful book and I would definately recommend it to anyone.**

Frances Grimball: Adichie’s //Purple Hibiscus// is an eye-opening novel to a lifestyle drastically different than my own. Fifteen year old Kambili and her brother Jaja have spent their whole lives in a sheltered and structured household as part of a family that seems beyond perfect to outsiders. Their father, Eugene, is one of the wealthiest men in Nigeria as well as most generous, yet extremely oppressive at home due to his religious fanaticism. On account of dangers posed by a military coup, Eugene sends the children to stay with their Aunt and cousins in Nsukka. There, Kambili begins to discover a world previously unknown to her, full of not only harsh realities from which her normal lifestyle had sheltered her, but more importantly happiness, laughter, and love. Forced to face the difficult truths about her father and her life back home, Kambili discovers much about her own identity and the possibilities of a life free from her father’s grasp. //Purple Hibiscus// is a great novel and I would recommend it to anyone.

Koryn Grant: The //Purple Hibiscus// put me into a completely different world than my own. It truly introduced the meanings of abuse and Nigerian politics. This novel opened my eyes to show that not everyone has a good life, and that my life, no matter how much it may seem bad, is always better than someone elses. Kambili and JaJa were under the complete control of their father. Their grades became a competition for their father's approval. Even the slightest notion against their father's belief ended with severe punishment and pain. This pushed them toward the life opposite of their own; a life with no schedules and hard work. They were introduced to their cousins' and Aunty's life. They soon embraced that life and their old controlled life soon became nothing to them, resulting with devastating results. At the end, I was shocked that Kambili's mother killed her own husband and sat quietly while her son took the blame for her crime. This book shows how faithfully following religion to where it's all you follow can lead to turmoil and tragic loss. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. This novel opens your eyes to a world you may never see in your life, changing the ways you view your own.

George Phillips: //Purple Hibiscus// is an outstanding novel about the rough life of a fifteen year old Nigerian girl. Kambili, the protagonist, and her brother, Jaja, grow up experiencing a very rigid and tense childhood. Their father, Eugene, is a devout christian, and requires his children to have the same devotion to his god. Eugene always has to be in control of his precious children's lives. Their life in Enugu is always the same with their daily schedules and worship times. The children go through severe punishments if they break the rules, or are not first in whatever they do. Kambili and Jaja are punished when they stay an extra ten minutes at their grandfather's house in Abba. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie gives us a clear picture of the abuse that Kambili and Jaja have to endure and the corruption of Nigerian politics at the time of this military coup. But, everything changes for Kambili and Jaja as they visit their Aunty Ifeoma in Nsukka. At first, Kambili is very awkward and seen as stuck up when she does not know simple tasks that Aunty Ifeoma's children have to go through daily. But, as Father Amadi, a young priest in Nsukka, pays a special attention to Kambili, she begins to open up more and become much more talkative and acquires a sense of humor. Kambili always noticed how Aunty Ifeoma was always smiling and laughing. She always thought it was abnormal. Towards the end of the novel, however, that same smile and laugh becomes the norm for Kambili. Towards the end, Mama could not stand the mistreatment anymore after Papa had killed their unborn child. As a result, Mama puts poisen she acquired from their maid, Sisi, in Eugene's drink. After killing him, they are all saddend by this death, and it is a very tragic loss. It shows how quickly things can turn around in life, and you must always appreciate what you have, because you never know when it will be gone. Kambili and her father end up on a good note, when Jaja and his father do not end well, which I am sure Jaja regrets after his father is gone. This book lets us see a bit of the Nigerian culture and way of life, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Tucker Trimble: Purple Hibiscus is an intriguing coming of age story set in presumably present day Nigeria during a military coup. Kambili, the fifteen year-old heroine of the novel, lives a sheltered existence. On the outside, her life looks perfect: affluent family, beautiful home, and an education at a first-rate Catholic school. However, her father Eugene, a generous Christian and well respected by the community, physically abuses his wife and children, almost to the point of death. Eugene takes it upon himself to punish his children and wife for their sins. Change comes to Kambili and her brother JaJa in the form of a journey to Nsukka to visit their Aunt and three cousins. Nsukka brings independence, responsibility, love, joy, and laughter to Kambili’s life. Kambili breaks out the shell of fear holding her captive and starts to see the world with different eyes. The oppression of her father is replaced with freedom. Her journey leads to extraordinary self-discovery and the revelation that she can exist without fear and anxiety.

Samantha German: Purple Hibiscus was an amazing novel. From the cruel punishments from her father, Eugene, to the laughter she shared in her Aunty Ifeoma's household, Kambili along with her brother Jaja truly experienced two completely differrent ways of life. Not only was Purple Hibiscus an easy read, it also proved that wealth does not buy happiness. Adichie's vibrant imagery throughout the novel captured the true essence of the Nigerian culture. The rare purple flower symbolized Kambili's brilliant transformation from a young child to a respectable woman. This was an eye-opening novel that introduced me to a world exremely different from my own. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Emily Furr: Purple Hibiscus is the well written story of a young girl, Kambili, who is quiet and observes much of the life around her. She lives with her wealthy family in Nigeria during hard times where most of the population is poverty stricken. Her father, Eugene, works for a large newspaper and is devoted to his religion, maybe a little too much. As a friend or college Eugene is a nice well mannered man but around his family he becomes very abusive if his rules and religious views are not respected; the punishments are sometimes very harsh. For the holidays Kambilie, her mother, and her brother, Jaja, go to their house in town where they catch up with Aunt Ifeoma. Aunt Ifeoma is a very spontaneous, kind and loving mother, very much unlike Eugene, her brother. Kambili is fascinated with her Aunt and cousins who walk and talk freely without having to think and make sure their words won't get punished. Promising to bring them back in a week Aunty takes Kambili and Jaja to her home in Nsukka. The home is small, crouded, and full of laughter. Kambili starts to find herself liking Nsukka more than her home. Kambili becomes more confident and loving in nsukka with the help of her cousins. A call from Kambili's mother changes things. Her father was murdered by poison by her mother. Jaja the man of the family took the blame for his mother's actions and was placed in jail. This book made me think of my life differently and I thought it was very good.

Kendall Headden: //Purple Hibiscus// tells of the coming of age of the protagonist, Kambili. She and her brother, Jaja, begin their journey as two young teenagers in Nigeria during a military coup who respect and obey the rules set by their abusive father, Eugene. Eugene is devoutly religious, largely involved with his church, very successful and wealthy, and expects no trouble from his wife or two children. To ensure that there is no trouble, Eugene violently punishes Kambili, Jaja and also their mother if they step even the slightest bit out of line. He also expects Kambili and Jaja to be at the top of their classes to be as successful as possible. Part of this expectation held by Eugene for his children stems from his own hard work; he was once a poor Nigerian child who lived with his "traditionalist" family in a remote village. Eugene worked his way from poverty to the being the wealthiest man in his village. When Kambili's family travels back to their village for Christmas they meet up with Eugene's sister Ifeoma and her family. It isn't until Aunty Ifeoma convinces Eugene to allow Kambili and Jaja stay with her family for a few days that Kambili and Jaja realize there is a life possible different from their own. Their time in Nsukka with Aunty Ifeoma opens their eyes to peaceful love, laughter, and joy that doesn't exist at home with their father. Kambili's cousin is the opposite of Kambili; this brings out a side of Kambili that didn't exist before. Kambili also falls in love with the young Priest of Nsukka, Father Amadi. This is Kambili's first love and she begins to see and crave a different side of life. Nsukka brought about many changes for Jaja and Kambili; while there, they found out their mother had poisoned and killed their father. The two children went home soon after, and later Jaja took the blame for the murder. While alive, Eugene made the lives of his family miserable, but his death caused the near destruction of his family. Eventually Jaja was released from prison after the military coup collapsed. The novel traces the coming of age and the life changes that accompany it of both Kambili and Jaja.

Megan Davis: The life of Kambili and her family captured my attention from the very beginning of the novel. The imagery of their lives together tells an unbelievable story that had me very moved. This story turns away from the joy that religion can bring to a person and shows how too much religion can turn a person evil. The novel reveals an entire new side of life that is not often shared. Kambili went from a scared girl who practiced Christianity to satisfy her harsh father to a young woman who turned to her religion for her own happiness. The book was a true eye-opener that showed the harshness of a society that I was not familiar with. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an interesting story.

Christian Cherry- The story of Kambili's family captured me becuase of their strong Christian backgrounds, but I was soon disturbed by the brutality through which their lives were governed by their father. During the book Kambili and Jaja were sent to live with their aunt whos lifestyle differed greatly from that of their father. Their aunt lived a lifestyle that relied more upon the childrens decisions than that of an overseeing guardian, but the transformation from old to new came with devistating results. A horrific but not surprising event towards the end of the story was when Kambilis mother killed her husband; the surprising thing was that she sat by and, despite instincts that should have been compelling her, allowed her son to take full blame for killing him. Kambili also developed a relationship that caused her to long for a new lifestyle and opened her eyes to a new world. After the death of her father her family was strained to a whole new point, however, to make things easier Jaja was released after the coup failed. Overall the book was captivating story and a neverending message of things can always change for the better or the worse.

Toni-Ann Fancy-Denton- Purple Hibiscus is a excellent novel that captures view of a strong Christians family background, Achike's family. This novel is about a fifteen year old girl, Kambili, of a wealthy family becoming of age as she and her brother Jaja goes on a journey to their Aunt Ifeoma's house which opens a different lifestyle they are not used to back at home and also first love. Kambili's father, Eugene, is a devoted Catholic but it seems that a lot of religion went to his head because in the household he is an abusive father/husband to his wife and children which laters end up biting him back later on. When Eugene was young his family was poor but he held is head up and now was one of the wealthiest person in the village. As Kambili and Jaja found out about their mother, Beatrice, had poison their father, Jaja took the blame for the crime and was sent to jail. Overall this novel made me think that my life is precious and I should be thankful. I recommend this novel to everyone.

=kayla staley : I thought Purple Hibiscus was a great book. It is actually one of my favorites I've ever read. I think even though I was not born in Africa being an African American it is easy to...relate (for lack of a better word). Kambili and Jaja are two strong minded individuals that despite their fathers strong hand on them, did what felt right. The aunty is my favorite character. She reminds me a phenomenal woman. She single-handedly raised her kids and Kambili and Jaja. She also managed to make them "normal" and get their mother to realize how absurd and extreme Papa was. The only thing i did not like was the fact that...well two things actually. One: Jaja had to go to jail for the murder. Two: Kambili never really was truly together with her love, the priest. I really enjoyed this. It makes you realize how things could be worse and to appreciate what we have. Especially as Porter Gaud students, i know not all of us are wealthy, but we are however much more privileged than other children. So we should be grateful for what we have. EVERYONE should read this book! Thanks. Hope yall had a great summer.=

Max Howard: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Purple Hibiscuss is the bueatifully written coming of age story of Kambali. Kambali is a fifteen year old nigerian girl living with everything planned and laid out in front of her, but when the military coup comes she and her brother Jaja are sent live with their aunt ifeoma and her children. While there they learn to laugh, love and and be free. These things they could never do under the cruel, christion driven lives they are forced to live under. Their father is a wealthy, devout christian, and a politicly active individual who will abuse his children if they step a slightest bit out of line or dont come first in the class. As the story unfolds, the reader finds the love and lies of the family, and will even encounter a murder. Overall I found Purple Hibiscus to be a geat read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend this book to the whole porter gaud community and beyond. By Far the best read of my summer. Katherine Hagood: // Purple Hibiscus // is a novel set in Nigeria, a country overwhelmed by political instability and economic difficulties. The main character is fifteen year old Kambili Achike, who comes from a wealthy family lead by her powerful father Eugene. Eugene is both a religious supporter and a violent figure in the Achike household, subjecting his wife Beatrice, Kambili herself, and her brother Jaja to beatings and mental cruelty. The story is basically about the collapse of her family unit and her struggle to grow to maturity told through Kambili’s eyes. Kambili and her brother spend time at her aunt Ifeoma house with her three children. The practice a very different form of Catholicism. Kambili is able to speak her voice and eventually this helps when she falls in love with a young priest, Father Amadi. The novel ends almost three years after Jaja was put in prison for taking the blame for a crime. Kambili is now 18, more confident than before, while her brother Jaja is about to be released from prison. Many are many themes in //Purple Hibiscus.// I think the main theme is the difficulties of everyday life in a country that is politically unstable… also the profound effects of various forms of violence. Overall, this is one of the best books I’ve had to read for summer reading.

Harriet Grimball: Purple Hibiscus is a great book that really captured my attention. It illustrates the life of a young Nigerian girl, Kambili, who only knows the strict life that her father leads. Her father sets harsh Christian rules that Kambili must follow or she will be punished. She only knows the small world that she lives in and thinks it is normal. Her aunt, Ifeoma, feels that this is an unhealthy way for Kambili and her brother, Jaja, to be living. Ifeoma takes them back to her home and teaches them things they never thought were possible. They learn more about themselves and the rest of the world while living there. Kambili learns to laugh and to talk more and she even falls in love with a priest. She becomes a stronger, more independent girl while living there and she learns to stand up for herself. When her father tries to hurt her again she takes it and doesn't give into him. Her family starts to fall apart and her mother kills her father. Jaja takes the blame and goes to jail for it. Kambili handles this very well and takes care of her mother. Aunty Ifeoma taught them how to take care of themselves and eachother and to listen to themselves and no one else. She showed them a better way to live and love. I loved this book and I would strongly recommend it to everyone.

Rachel Hawes: In the //Purple Hibiscus//, the reader sees two completely opposide ways of living. Fifteen year old Kambili and her brother Jaja grew up in an extremely oppressive and abusive home with their father Eugene who was a very wealthy leader of the village. He would punish his wife, Kambili and Jaja for any small rule that he thought they had broken. For a while, Kambili only knew of her strict life and thought that was the best it was going to get, but then a military coup forces Eugene to send Kambili and Jaja to stay with his sister in another village Nsukka. Here, Kambili begins to realize her new life she is about to live is going to be filled with love and support. Kambili grows up there into a strong, independent woman. She learns how to love the right way when she falls for a priest. As she is gaining her will power back, her mother kills her father. While living in Nsukka, Jaja also learns what it's like to be a man. He learns not to be how his father was but more of a leader inside and out. Jaja takes the blame for his fathers death to save his mother from punishment. Kambili's aunt taught them how to live free from oppression and to be happy. This book has really opened my eyes to many different ways of living. It's wonderfully written and I advise everyone to read it. You will find yourself emersed in the characters and their struggles.

Chelsa Hill: Purple Hibiscus is about a young girl living in a very wealthy religious family. Kambili is the main character. Jaja is Kambili brother. Then there is the mother, and the father. Kambili is a young girl who has to always be the very best at school. She always has to follow the religious rules. If she was to break a rule, she would be severely punished by her father. Jaja is Kambili’s brother, who is treated the same way as Kambili and is also restricted by rules. But Jaja is just like any other brother because he cares very much about Kambili and their mother. The mother cares very much about her children. She understands their problems because sometimes she is treated like the children by her husband. She is restricted to many of the same rules as her children. Their father is a very religious man, so religious to the point that he becomes abusive if his family doesn’t follow the rules. Kambili and Jaja finally get a break from their father when they go to their aunt’s house. The aunt has a different view on life and how to live it. Once they start to visit the aunt, they never want go back to the abusive life style at their house. But not until their father is killed by the mother do they get to be kids and live free of their fathers regulations. I thought this was such a great book, I could barely but it down, and I would recommended it to anyone.

Pasha Sadeghian: Purple Hibiscus is about a young girl called Kambili, who lives in Nigeria. The story is told in her perspective. She is borne in a very wealthy family. The narrator is Kambili and she tells the story in flashbacks from the past. Her father is very religious and he always beats her up with belt. I like how the story ends in the present, and I think that is what makes this story so unique, because you can truly feel her trauma and sadness, and the writer lets you think while the story is going on. This book describes corruption in the society very beautifully, and it makes you feel like you have really witnessed it yourself.