A review by emmamgregory
GraceLand by Chris Abani

5.0

Elvis lives in Nigeria, he is a boy growing up in relative poverty and he loves to dance. But this book is so much more than a coming of age novel. Abani delves into what happens when governments rule without democracy, when armies are in charge. When rape, torture and violence is commonplace. However there's not all doom and gloom in this book there are often comical places as Elvis makes it through life with his motley assortment of friends and fellow slum dwellers. Grace Land is beautifully and hauntingly written and will stay with me for a long time.