Ngũgĩ Wa Thiong’o

The memoir is a coming of age story as Ngũgĩ chronicles the critical high school years of his life from 1955 to 1959. His first semester at boarding school is filled with optimism and a dedicated work ethic. While he does not mention competitiveness in himself, Ngũgĩ does manage to rise to nearly first in his class when three months prior he was not even close to this standing. His elation bottoms when he sees his village razed and a new centralized village located within the confines of a British encampment. This rollercoaster of feelings embarks Ngũgĩ on a journey of transformation as he tries to reconcile the safety and knowledge provided at Alliance High School with the constant outside oppression of colonial apartheid.

Ngũgĩ’s actions imply he does not want to waste opportunity, and he is involved in a...