Review of Tayo and the Porpoise Child

[Rupneet]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Tayo and the Porpoise Child" by Chris Cee Morris.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The book entitled Tayo and the Porpoise Child by Chris Cee Morris is remarkably entertaining! It is a unique story, filled with an ensemble of all possible human emotions. The author has crafted a mind-blowing experience for the reader, showcasing culture, trauma, and human hatred.

The characters are diverse, which adds to the world-building, especially the psychological complexes among people showcased in the story. They are vividly portrayed, and each character has a unique charm. Tayo is a humble but curious kid who hails from a cozy home where he is cherished a lot by his family. His agba—grandmother—adores him and has nurtured him since he was a baby. She was always attuned to his curious yet young mind and answered his queries in her own manner. She is a famed shaman in their community who practices their ancient custom. They had a family tradition, and she was following that tradition through her intense practice and keen interest in her shells. This time, though, while she is reading about her grandson’s future, something unprecedented happens. Does she understand the shells this time?

But there was one thing about Tayo’s life that was with him on this trip and became his lifeline—basketball. Far away from his African home, Tayo is promised to come to a decent life and school. Tayo finds himself in a new world and culture. He makes new friends and learns to live in a new routine. Although his group was heterogeneous, a budding sense of sportsmanship was becoming apparent in their story. Eventually, his life takes twists and turns, and he finds a sweeter friend named Olive. Tayo also became friends with Olive’s brother, Jimmy. Their chemistry is strangely entertaining to read about.

Positive and negative aspects:
It's one of the first African write-ups I have read, with its political shades all nicely packed in a delightful story. The story calms and shakes the reader at the same time. Its title and characters are well-written. The plot is full of powerful twists and suspense-filled moments. Tayo always felt like a foreigner in this land. Little did he know that the strangeness he sensed was seeping into his own life. During this strange turn of events, Tayo gets trapped amidst a gangsters’ strife. The history of these gangsters adds an entirely new dimension to the story. The twists in the story are huge, and they add another layer of complexity to the plot. The mysterious, eerie feel of the story resounds in every word right from the beginning. It creates a gripping narrative, promptly taking the reader to another world. Regarding rating the book, I found many errors in the editing. Besides this, I have nothing negative to report about the book. Based on the above-mentioned positive aspects and following the Book Club's guidelines for reporting errors while rating, I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend the book to fans of gripping thriller stories.

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Tayo and the Porpoise Child
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[Yasmine ZM]

I love gripping thriller stories and I am definitely adding this book to my shelves. I am also curious about what Tayo's grandmother saw in her shells about him. Thank you for your insightful review.