Little Family by Ishmael Beah (#48 in 2020)
Elimane, Khoudiemata, Ndevui, Kpindi, and Namsa are five young people who have joined forces to create a shelter out of an abandoned airplane and who share life's struggles as they steal food and money for survival. As Elimane and Khoudi begin to experience different ways of life, the survival of the little family is put to the test.
I love the character of Khoudi. She is incredibly dynamic in terms of her development, but she remained constant in her beliefs and opinions. Khoudi takes a chance on exploring a fancier way of life when given the opportunity. Khoudi is a chameleon and finds ways to adapt to situations in which she has to be the Khoudi her little family needs - a protector and provider, but at the same time she wants to grow into the woman she dreams of being- sophisticated and well-respected.
While this book is clearly contemporary fiction, I do feel like it has a legendary quality to it. The reader doesn't know how or why these five young individuals have come together, but that's not what really matters. Throughout the story, the reader is learning valuable lessons through the characters and their actions. At one point, Khoudi has her "Cinderella experience" in which she slightly alters her physical appearance to fit in with a society she would normally never associate with. All the while, the reader hopes for Khoudi's success but also hopes she realizes that "all that glisters is not gold." 4.5 stars
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