Review 1: Posted by Wayne
Hurlbert to the blog site "Blog Business World"
Thirteen year old Carlotta Ikedi didn't like attending her American schools,
and was in constant trouble, and was often expelled for her behavior. Seeking a
solution to Carlotta's problems, her parents enroll her in a private girls
school in Nigeria. Carlotta faces a culture shock unlike any that she has ever
known, and faces the challenge of succeeding on her own in a strange
environment. In the wonderful coming of age novel Feddie Girl: The Hilarious
Adventures of an American Teen in a Nigerian Federal School, author Nona David
weaves a fine story of character, friendship, and triumph over adversity.
Nona David develops several important themes in the book including the
interaction of the girls attending the West African school. As an American,
Carlotta is termed a Feddie Girl by the other students, and as such occupies a
special niche in the school. The students do not always treat one another well,
and as a result, friction does take place. Carlotta must learn how to navigate
the unfamiliar customs and rigid rules and punishments practiced in the school.
Her recognition that she must take care of herself, and not depend on others
helps her to cope with the different culture. At the same time, she develops
important friendships and shares mutual support with several other girls.
Carlotta begins her Nigerian school career with her bad attitude firmly in
place. Over time, the spoiled American girl becomes independent and reaches out
to others. Her character grows along with her acceptance of the school and its
students, mores, and rules. The story follows the evolution of Carlotta from
her beginnings as a troubled youth to responsible young woman. Her initial
concern is only for herself, but as she gets to know and understand Nigeria and
its people, she changes her opinion from intense dislike to one of
understanding and love.
I highly recommend the memorable and intriguing book Feddie Girl: The Hilarious
Adventures of an American Teen in a Nigerian Federal School by Nona David, as a
coming of age tale that takes on fairy tale proportions. In the exile of
Carlotta to her father's home country of Nigeria, leaving her parents and their
troubled marriage behind, Carlotta is transformed as a person. She starts her
journey of self discovery with bitterness and disappointment and becomes one
with her new surroundings and the people of Nigeria. The scenes in the book are
memorable, and the characters stay with the reader long after the book ends.
Read the fascinating and enjoyable adventure novel Feddie Girl: The Hilarious
Adventures of an American Teen in a Nigerian Federal School by Nona David, and
transport yourself in both place and time to a private girls school in West
Africa. Become entwined in the main plot and in the many interwoven subplots
that give this novel its richness. Spend some time with Feddie Girl Carlotta,
and share her sorrows and enjoy her triumphs as she becomes part of the school
social fabric.
Review 2: Posted by Wendy Hines
to the blog site "Wendy's Minding Spot"
... FEDDIE GIRL is an adventure that will have you laughing until tears roll
down your face, gasping in shock, or shaking your head back and forth,
unbelieving what is happening.
It's an adventure you won't want to miss. I really enjoyed watching Carlotta mature
and learing about how boarding school operates in another country. I had some
trouble with the Nigerian dialect, but it leads credence to the story.
The ending leads one to believe there is a sequel, and I certainly hope there
is!
Character building, world development, and seamless writing have Nona David on
the path straight to the top.
I really enjoyed myself.
Review 3: Posted by Jill Page
to the blog site: "Frugal Plus"
Carlotta Ikedi being a thirteen-year-old teenage girl, that should be a
tell-all right there! Can you say rebellious and frustrated inside?
You will find out that a lot of it stems from her home life. Her father, a
prominent doctor going through several crises of his own, and her mother, a
college professor with little time for Carlotta, and add to that a not-so
recovering alcoholic. Her father is at the end of his rope with Carlotta and
ships her off to a Nigerian boarding school.
It is interesting to learn of the different cultures and behaviors, especially
of teens. However, you will find there are more similarities than realized.
Feddie Girl is a bit of a heavier read than I expected due to the author’s
syntax. However, it does have an amusing side to the story (as long as Carlotta
isn’t your teen to deal with) As a mother, I had to throw that in there :giggle
The colorful characters will keep you turning the pages, and I enjoyed the very
fitting ending.
Stay tuned as there is another Novel due out that follows a parallel story of
one of the characters in Feddie Girl!
A Special Thanks goes out to Joan over at Bernard Books Publishing for the
opportunity to take a peek into those turbulent teen years within a different
culture!
Review 4: Posted by Evie Alexis
to the blog site "Long Live Chick Lit"
Review for Nona David’s Feddie Girl:
“The Hilarious Adventures of an American Teen in a Nigerian Federal School,” is
the summary provided for the readers at the bottom of Feddie Girl’s
eye-catching cover. The humor was more dark than lighthearted, and at times the
book had a tragic feel.
Carlotta Ikedi is a thirteen-year-old girl suffering from teenage rebellion.
While that scenario is practically typical of every American teen - poor,
middle-class or otherwise - Carlotta seems to suffer from teenage punkitis to a
greater degree. Right from the story’s onset we find the heroine up to no good,
cutting class and smoking a joint with a group one could not classify as
friends; her vocabulary would make a drunken sailor blush.
Carlotta’s father, a prominent doctor going through several crises of his own,
is fed up with his daughter’s bad-ass attitude and ships her off to Nigeria.
Her mother is a college professor and a recovering alcoholic who has found her
way back to the bottle. She readily complies to Dr. Ikedi’s forceful plan. Can
we wonder at the young girl’s rage and lack of discipline?
Nona David has created a well-written and entertaining work of fiction, with
the story taking wild and complicated turns. The readers are transported from
Carlotta’s hell-on-Earth during her time at the boarding school, to Richard
Ikedi’s entanglements with the mob, to Shelley Ikedi’s very bad life choices.
This is a very dysfunctional, broken family, each separated by more than just
mileage.
Feddie Girl is categorized as Women’s Fiction/Adventure. This reviewer found
herself pulled in more by the sub-plots than the central focus which was of
Carlotta’s plight. Perhaps older female readers may find themselves doing the
same as that is the target audience whom the book is aimed at.
Overall, Feddie Girl was unique with its multicultural blend, offering many
readers a glimpse of another world many would rarely see. While not the light
romp expected, it definitely provided insight into the teenage mind.
Review 5: Posted By Wendy Wallach on the blog
site "It's Really Only a Purple World"
My Review of "Feddie Girl" a Great New Novel by Nona David:
I couldn't put it down! Really, who would have thought that a book about a
Nigerian boarding school would be so interesting? Yet as you start to read
about Carlotta and her bunk mates at the school, you get engrossed not so much
about how they are different then typical American teenagers but instead by how
similar they really are! The language and syntax was a bit hard to follow at
times, but it still read well and I could not wait to get to the next chapter
to see what happens.
According to the book, there is another novel due out that follows a parallel
story of one of the characters and I cannot wait to see what she does with that
character arc! Purchase from Publisher (Bernard Books Publishing)
