Chukwu, J K
 
ISBN 9780063274181, 0063274183
Paperback | 320 pages
 
 
An edgy, bitingly funny debut about a queer, half-Nigerian college sophomore who, enraged and exhausted by the racism at her elite college, is determined to reveal the truth about The Unfortunates—the unlucky subset of Black undergrads who Just. Keep. Disappearing.
 
“An extraordinary coming-of-age novel, with a fascinating protagonist and a tone that is just right for her material. . . . A tour de force.”—Booklist (starred review)
 
SAHARA IS NOT OKAY.
 
Entering her sophomore year, she already feels like a failure: her body is too much, her love life is nonexistent, she’s not Nigerian enough for her family, her grades are subpar, and, well, the few Black classmates she has are vanishing—or dying. Sahara herself is close to giving up: depression has been her longtime “Life Partner.” She believes that this narrative—taking the form of an irreverent, no-holds-barred “thesis” addressed to the powerful University Committee that will judge her—may be her last chance to document The Unfortunates’ experiences before she joins their ranks . . . but maybe, just maybe, she and her complex community of BIPOC women aren’t ready to go out without a fight.