Chike and the River

This is a solid children's novel by the superb Chinua Achebe. This is not an African novel told through an American lens. American parents may raise an eyebrow at a few points regarding parenting styles and typical expectations of behavior from a child. It's a good story though, and I love it for also exposing children to different perspectives and places. Probably a fun read aloud for enjoyment and discussion.

This novella is about an 11 year old boy whose widowed mother entrusts his upbringing to his strict uncle, who believes that children should study and work hard and not waste their time in play. Chike lives in a small village along the Niger River across from Asaba, a larger city filled with wonderful sights that are described to him by his friends. He longs to go there, but he needs money to pay for the ferry ride to Asaba and back, and his uncle refuses to give it to him. After several plans go awry Chike is eventually able to pay for the journey, but after he arrives in Asaba he finds that it isn't what he expected it to be, and he soon finds himself in trouble.

Chike and the River is an engaging children's book that also serves as a show more moral fable about the dangers of blindly following one's heart, which would best be appreciated by 7-10 year children. I mistakenly bought this book, thinking that it was a adult novella by Achebe, but I'm glad that I read it. show less

Chike and the River is a charming little tale by Nobel Prize Winner Chinua Achebe. The language is simplistic, to the extent that the booklet would do well as a children's book. It's moral message is also of that stature.

The story seems to encourage young people in Africa to go out from the villages and look for a better future in the big cities, but warns of dangers and offers moral guidelines. In the course of the story, life in the village is shown as poor, simple but rather virtuous, while the city, the river, and Lagos, beyond the city and down the river are shown as places where danger lurks. Life in the city also requires money, and Chike learns the hard way how to come bye the money he needs: deceit, theft and reward.

Whether show more read as a children's tale or a simple short story, readers of all ages may learn something from this booklet set in Africa. show less

This is a unique book. Written by Achebe, famous for his work Things Fall Apart, this is children's book. I enjoyed tagging along on Chike as he discoverers truths about himself, his friends and his world. I enjoyed reading about Africa from a non-western viewpoint. I highly recommend this as an fine addition to any child's library, something to add diversity and non-western thought.

This is an African tale of a young boy named Chike, who leaves his widowed mother and sisters in a small village to live with his uncle in a larger town. There he is exposed to all sorts of things that he had never seen before. He becomes obsessed with crossing the Niger River in a boat, but has no way to get the money for the fare. When he does find some money he tries to double it, but is cheated and loses all of it. He eventually does get to cross the river when he learns to earn money, then has a frightening adventure with robbers, but he manages to expose them and get them arrested.
I like the rhythm of the story, the African setting, and how it had a moral without being too heavy handed.

Good story, though I recommend it for children and very young adults.
I've heard about this author so many times before; especially his novel 'Things Fall Apart'. I might read that some time later.

It's a nice short story!