The Death of Vivek Oji

About this book

LITTLE ROT - THE NEW NOVEL FROM AKWAEKE EMEZI - IS AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW SHORTLISTED FOR THE DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE 'Astonishing.' Stylist 'Electrifying.' O: The Oprah Magazine 'Brilliant and heartbreaking.' Marie Claire 'Propulsive and resonant.' Esquire They burned down the market on the day Vivek Oji died. One afternoon, a mother opens her front door to find the length of her son's body stretched out on the veranda, swaddled in akwete material, his head on her welcome mat. The Death of Vivek Oji transports us to the day of Vivek's birth, the day his grandmother Ahunna died. It is the story of an over protective mother and a distant father, and the heart-wrenching tale of one family's struggle to understand their child, just as Vivek learns to recognize himself. Teeming with unforgettable characters whose lives have been shaped by Vivek's gentle and enigmatic spirit, it shares with us a Nigerian childhood that challenges expectations. This novel, and its celebration of the innocence and optimism of youth will touch all those who embrace it.

Censorship history

In 2024, "The Death of Vivek Oji" by Akwaeke Emezi was banned at the school level in several districts across the United States due to its LGBTQ+ content and themes of race and colonialism. This ban was part of a broader trend of challenges against books addressing similar topics, often initiated by parent-teacher associations and local advocacy groups. Specific instances included formal complaints leading to school board votes that upheld the bans, reflecting ongoing debates about educational content in public schools.

Bans

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