The Youth of God
by Hassan Ghedi SanturThe Youth of God tells the story of Nuur, a sensitive and academically gifted seventeen-year-old boy growing up in Toronto’s Somali neighbourhood, as he negotiates perilously between the calling of his faith and his intellectual ambitions. Trying to influence him are a radical Muslim imam and a book-loving, dedicated teacher who shares his background.
In its telling, this novel reveals the alienated lives of Somali youth in an environment riddled with crime and unemployment, while still in the grip of bitter memories of a home left behind. This intensely moving novel is also a powerful allegory of the struggle for the soul of Islam in modern times.
Contributors
Hassan Ghedi Santur, author
Hassan Ghedi Santur emigrated from Somalia to Canada at age thirteen. He has a BA in English Literature and an MA in journalism from Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. He has worked as a radio journalist for CBC Radio. In 2010 he published his debut novel Something Remains, and Maps of Exile, an exploration of the plight of African migrants in Europe.
Reviews
- "The Youth of God" is a great accomplishment. It’s a community’s story of war, immigration and the constant preoccupation with finding safety. Santur manages to do what only great novelists can do: tell a harrowing tale with nuance, grace, and a lot of compassion. Each character is complex, each person’s story comes with many layers. I couldn’t put it down. - Kagiso Lesego Molope, author of "This Book Betrays My Brother"
Rights Holder
Rights Holder: Mawenzi House Publishers Ltd
email: info@mawenzihouse.com
website: https://mawenzihouse.com
rights available: World
Additional Information
age range: General
number of pages: 208
publication date: 06/01/2019
Original language of pub: English
Materials Available: complete manuscript