The joy of having novels back then was something else. During our High school days, we were always given 3 novels to purchase for the three school terms. I have now arrived at having a couple of novels at home, and I can't read most of them.
One of the most interesting and capturing texts we read was Faceless. Finally, it's time for our Literature in English class and it seems like our teacher was 2 minutes late already, we were very anxious as we sent our class rep. to call him.
Mr Victor came in with a huge smile, we smiled back pulling out our novel, Faceless. We are not reading Faceless today, he said, please sir we should deal with faceless today, we exclaimed. And that stood, he took everyone alone with his loud and calm voice he read each passage and it struck right into our soul, he paused to explain the whole story from the passage he read.
Amma Darko's View
The Author, Amma Darko was able shed more light on how young girls were thrown into prostitution at a very young age with the society feeling uninterested. Having read the whole novel I was able to view from her end the pains on every word uttered, this story wasn't just about a little girl named fofo but it was a story of every street child out there in the streets.
She showed how the NGO's where acting uninterested in the case, a thought just ran through my mind, how the Government and NGO acts towards matters that doesn't affect them, it is never a problem till it concerns them, I was able to relate this with the situation of the my country.
The media heard, the police heard but what did they do about it? Absolutely nothing, that's how they removed themselves from issues that doesn't affect them. The suffering, the struggle every street child suffer with any interference from the various government bodies.
What captured my mind again as I glanced through the book was when a reporter asked two young street children about their passionate dream. What the reporter was expecting to hear was good wears and good food, but their answers surprised the reporter. They didn't ask for good wears or good food, they "Craved for warmth", that warmth people took for granted.
That's why I appreciate every little thing I have, because I know many people are praying to have what I have, I just appreciate what I have. The Boy wished he would be welcomed by his mom with joy on her face but it seemed it didn't happen. The other girl gave reasons while she slept happy, it is not because she got food to eat from a woman but she was embraced in dirt, the woman gave her a big hug irrespective of how dirty she looked.
This statement by the girl wasn't just an ordinary statement, from my view it is telling the society to welcome and treat the street kids well irrespective of how they're. The more you read Faceless the more you get the insight of the writer
FOFO, the character we came across often was just 14 years old, living in the slums of agbogbloshie which was known as sodom and Gomorrah, this means all filthy things were done here. The street kids were exposed to Street life, drinking alcohol at that young age and also watching movies that wasn't rated for their age, all these because they have no one to control or Carter for them.
This novel is a life changing novel that changes your perspective towards street children. There's more to discover in this novel as I will make more reviews in other chapters. Have you read Faceless before?, what would you say about it?.