The Death of Vivek Oji

As this novel opens, Kavita discovers the broken body of her only child, Vivek, on her doorstep. How her misunderstood son, whose birth on the day of his grandmother’s death was tainted by superstition, came to his untimely end is the focus of this haunting novel from Nigerian-born author Emezi. Through vivid flashbacks, friends and family paint a picture of a sensitive child prone to bouts of depression and angry outbursts. Vivek’s own musings reflect the worry that his true nature may always be invisible to the world. His parents dismiss warnings about Vivek’s growing isolation even as his loving friends create a safe space for him to indulge his penchant for bangles, lipstick, and dresses. But Vivek’s complicated relationship with his male cousin Osita rests at the heart of this searing examination of gender dissonance, sexual attraction, familial love, and loyalty.