Family Ties

Alexander uses the healing of previously fraught relationships to illustrate what he believes is the unbreakable nature of family ties. When the novel starts, Kofi is entrenched in his family and in the Asante culture. He turns to his father, mother, grandfather, and brother when he wants to understand more about both the world at large and about his own culture. He attempts to figure out his place in the world, and he does so like many people his age do: through the wisdom of his family, something he balances with the experience he gains with his friends and teacher.

Kofi’s family is not all pleasant, however, and one of his biggest rivals comes from within his family. His biggest nemesis is his cousin, Kofi Katari. Kofi Katari was born slightly before Kofi, and they have the same first name because they were named...