Good-for-Nothing Girl

Publisher: Interlink Books

Amazon:

In Good-for-Nothing Girl, Gift, an eighteen-year-old Nigerian, gives an account of how her quest for a better education in the United States resulted in a controversial case of domestic servitude.

THE REVIEWS

“Atta's intelligent narrative offers a nuanced portrayal of Gift's desperation, naivety, and pride, building tension by juxtaposing the stark terms of Gift's exploitation and her stubborn hope that she'll eventually get what she was promised. It's a powerful coming-of-age tale.”
– Publishers Weekly

“Atta writes with a refreshing directness as Gift describes the simple pleasures of childhood and the rebellious nature of teenagers. Teens will be gripped by Gift's voice, predicament, humor, and resilience.”
– Booklist

“Self-agency is often not acknowledged in worlds where girls are raised to live within the boundaries of adult expectations. Good-for-Nothing Girl celebrates this sense of personal control and reinforces that it is not about what you are called but how you respond.”
– Yejide Kilanko, author of A Good Name

“Written with tender, wry humor, Good-for-Nothing Girl is a must-read for anyone fascinated by journeys of self-discovery across continents and cultures. A beautifully observed novel without a sentence wasted.”
–Yaba Badoe, author of Lionheart Girl

“A swift-paced, complicated coming-of-age story that examines class, cultural friction, and one girl's journey to define her own story in a world determined to do that for her.”
–Jordan Ifueko, author of Raybearer

AN EXCERPT

I indicted the American press for labeling me a domestic slave. I also indicted the Nigerian press for copying them without thinking. I indicted Nigerians, too, for misjudging me. Lastly, I indicted the whole world. Yes. We celebrated high-net-worth individuals. We had them on top-ten lists. We ranked each other according to how rich we were, and that was acceptable. We lived in a world where people had to struggle to get ahead and most of them were undervalued. So what was the big deal about my case?