Half Of A Yellow Sun

 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie grew up in Nigeria which is where her book, Half Of A Yellow Sun takes place. This historical fiction novel takes place from 1967 until 1970 which is when civil war broke out in Nigeria. The Nigerians fought the Republic of Biafra. Many people of Igbo descent were killed. Planes bombed or strafed villages. Many people in the Republic of Biafra were starved to death. The story is told by two sisters born into a wealthy family in Lagos. They chose to give up the wealthy lifestyle. Olanna chooses to live with her lover, a revolutionary professor in a smaller village. Her twin sister, Kainene, takes over her father's business as he and their mother escape war to go to London. Kainene has a white lover, a journalist named Richard. Thirteen year old boy named Ugwu is the house boy for the professor and Olanna. When war breaks out all must leave to escape the trouble. The hardest part for me to read about was the starving children with puffed up bellies and their hair falling out.