Drama Queen

Publisher: AAA Press Lagos

Book Reading: Youtube

It is January 1976, and 12-year-old Timi is about to turn 13. She doesn't have time to keep the diary she got for Christmas, but she has plenty to say about the perils of being in boarding school.

THE REVIEWS

“A beautifully written and intriguing story. Drama Queen tells us the personal experience of a young boarder, Timi, in an all-girls school. She is a strong girl with what Nigerians call a 'sharp' or 'bad' mouth. She tells her story in a unique way, about her life in school, her friends, bullies, and how we can identify them in our lives.”
– Amatoritse Ojeikere, 11

“Drama Queen is about a 13-year-old girl called Timi whose life seems to revolve around a lot of drama. I like that Timi is always honest with people, though it means that she appears quite unfriendly at times. The story is kind of funny, I love that. It has taught me about life in boarding school. I also learnt how to deal with bullies.”
– Ebunoluwa Alaka, 9

“Wow! I literally imagined being there! I enjoyed every single page and can say that I have experienced boarding school in Nigeria, just by reading Drama Queen.”
– Temisan Kartey, 9

AN EXCERPT

In my dorm, we each have a wooden locker where we keep our personal belongings. My toiletries, like soap and roll-on, go on the first shelf. So do my other necessities, like shoe polish and detergent. I keep the torch I use at night there. It's battery operated. My uniforms and mufti go on the next shelf down. My towels and bed-sheet sets are on the lowest shelf.

I made my bed and hung a towel at the foot. Then I hid my diary in my spare sheets. I used to padlock my locker to stop thieves, but someone broke my lock last term and stole from me anyway.

Later on, I went to see Mobo in her dorm. I think she had a good holiday, but it's hard to tell with her. She doesn't talk much. She also looks as if she doesn't notice what is going on around her, but she does. She wears glasses because she's long-sighted. She already knows what she wants to be–a vet. I'm not sure what I want to be yet.

I asked her how her holiday went and she said, "All right." I asked if she got any presents and she said, "Sort of." I understood what she meant because my diary wasn't a real present.

I didn't mention it to her because there are certain things you keep to yourself. Slam books, you can share with friends, but I find them fake. Everyone pretends to like each other in them, singing their praises and drawing peace and love symbols. That's why I don't have one. With a diary, you have to be honest.