Hold

Author: Michael Donkor
Seventeen-year-old Belinda moves away from everything she has ever known in her native Ghana to move to London when a visitor at the house where she works asks for her help in discovering what is wrong with her daughter Amma, who has been distant and sad for a while.
As she tries to adapt to a life in London, her only tie to her old life comes in the form of long-distance calls to her friend Mary, a younger girl who worked with her in the same house. While navigating through homesickness, the hard task of getting Amma to open up seems almost impossible. However, soon they start to become friends and share secrets of their past.
Hold is Michael Donkor´s debut novel, and what a strong one it is! It is a powerful coming-of-age story where two teenage girls try their best to face the challenges of growing up and feeling out of their element head on. Through a gently crafted narrative, Donkor slowly starts to unpick the fabric of the girls’ lives so that the readers can relate to them. The book explores themes of shame, otherness and friendship.
Belinda and Amma are incredibly strong female characters who try their best to overcome difficulties and understand the world around themselves whilst always staying true to their beliefs. Moving and powerful, Hold is truly a beautiful read that people of all ages can enjoy!
> Naomi Round