Olawu

*A 2023 BOOKLIFE PRIZE QUARTERFINALIST* Warrior. Healer.Daughter. In Olawu's village, women and girls are not allowed to read, write, or learn medicine. Olawu's father taught her all three, and she hopes to one day follow in his footsteps. But the village of Kanakam is unkind to its women. When tragedy drives her family to starvation, Olawu's once-bright path narrows, leaving her vulnerable to the oppressive marriage rituals of her village. Driven by desperation, Olawu seeks help from Dikembe, son of the tribal warlord who has taken over her village. But accepting his help comes with its own set of challenges, including leaving her family and the only home she's known. Olawu and Dikembe rarely see eye to eye, but her stubbornness and skill prove vital to him and his tribe. As tensions escalate between Dikembe's tribe and the tribes of the east, Olawu is caught in the middle. Swept up in a brutal war, Olawu must fight, not only to survive, but to find her own path. Inspired by the pre-colonial cultures of East Africa, Olawu is a story of perseverance and healing in the midst of hatred and war.