Children of the Quicksands: winner of the Times Children's Fiction Competition Paperback – 3 Jun. 2021

Not only is the language of this story beautiful, whisking you away to all the colours, sights and sounds of Nigeria, but the story itself is just as ensnaring as the quicksands of the title. Simi is a fish out of water when she arrives to visit a grandmother she's never met in the rural village of Ajao. A city kid from Lagos, she's understandably dubious about the tales of magic lakes, missing children, goddesses and golden birds and even disbelieves her own strange and disturbing experience when she first arrives. But as the story unfolds, so do secrets in her family's past and the magic becomes all too real. This has all the warm familiarity of a well loved family story, at the same time as providing a feast for the senses and introducing new and lesser known myths and legends. I absolutely loved it and read until late into the night.

A wonderful tale filled with culture/heritage, family, inter generational relationships, magic and beliefs, love and friendship. Beautiful storytelling with a stunning cover by Helen Crawford-White. The story gave a glimpse into life in remote rural Nigeria and the clash between generations and changes within society. The story of goddesses and their impact on one village over time was compelling reading and how Simi deals with family secrets from the past and the differences between city and country living were woven together beautifully in this brilliant story.

This is a great kids' story, which I also enjoyed as an adult. I loved the description of the Nigerian village and how the author brought to life the African goddesses - This isnt a panetheon I knew much about and inspired me to learn more about.

When Simi is sent to live with a grandmother she doesn’t know in the remote Nigerian village of Ajao, she is less than happy with the situation. There are none of the modern amenities she’s used to and no phone reception either. However, she is quickly drawn into the strangeness of the forest surrounding the village and the fact children go missing there every ten years. Added to this is the mystery around why her mother and grandmother never speak anymore...This is a beautifully written, totally immersive adventure, brimming with magic and Nigerian myths. The characters are so vivid and Simi is a particularly bold and brave heroine who you’ll be cheering for throughout the story as she struggles to discover the truth.I absolutely loved this book and once I started reading, I couldn’t stop!

“Children of the Quicksands” very much reminds me of the works of Susan Cooper and Alan Garner – the adventures of contemporary children drawn into the myths and legends of their homes or the places they’re visiting. While Cooper and Garner’s works are now period pieces due to the passage of time, Traoré’s book is bang up to date, complete with grumbles about the lack of mobile phone reception in out of the way places!The story deftly intertwines the mundane world with that of the Orisha, and the clues to the mystery are all there, if you keep watch for them. It does not shy away from discussing the impact of loss in a community in terms of the pain and fear it causes, another mark in its favour – all the best children’s books have some element of darkness underpinning them, and Traoré handles it well.My only very slight niggle is that, like Garner, Traoré builds the story and the tension for most of the book, then wraps it up very quickly indeed. I would, perhaps, have liked to spend a little longer with Simi, Iyanla, and the villagers of Ajao – another indication of a good story and living, breathing characters. It was also a lovely change to read about Yoruba myths and beliefs, and I look forward to seeing Traoré’s next book.

It's so refreshing to read an African [Nigerian] story and be transported to a world so different and exciting. This is a must read for any pre-teen or even teen, especially those of African heritage growing up in Europe or elsewhere.

A beautiful and captivating story! I really enjoyed this magical world created. Simi doesn't know what to expect in this remote place with no electricity and her super traditional grandmother. Before she knows it, shes on an exciting adventure and makes new friends Jay and Bubu! The book is beautifully written and immerses you in superstition, traditions and the magic of Nigeria. I could hardly put it down. Would definitely recommend!

I love the fictional adventure and kept me glued. It was really fun to read and took me to Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria.