My Parents’ Marriage

Children’s author Brew-Hammond (Blue) makes her adult debut with the poignant story of a headstrong Ghanaian immigrant. Kokui was raised in the 1950s and ’60s by her domineering father, Mawuli, after her mother left him for having multiple children with other women around town. Kokui hopes to eventually emigrate to America, but Mawuli expects her to take over the family paper mill. At age 23 in 1974, she marries fellow Ghanaian Boris, and the pair enroll at a college in Buffalo, N.Y. Before their departure, Kokui discovers that she’s unexpectedly pregnant and has an abortion. She then joins Boris in New York City, where she works as a nanny to save money before the semester begins. That fall, Kokui learns her father has died in his sleep, and she returns alone for his funeral after a fight with Boris over the cost of the trip. Back in Ghana, she learns of squabbles among her father’s other families over the estate, which build to a surprising revelation during the reading of his will. Though some of the plot points feel rushed, the author skillfully traces Kokui’s complex family dynamics and her desire to achieve the American dream. This accomplished tale has plenty of grit and heart. (July)