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Afia in the Land of Wonders: Book Review

Afia in the Land of Wonders is a middle grade fantasy book written and illustrated by Mia Araujo. It is inspired by Alice in Wonderland, and it was published this year, 2025. The story is about Afia, a sixteen-year-old girl who is dissatisfied with her life at home, a place called Dafra. Her mother and the rest of her family expect her to go through her ewende, which is her coming of age ceremony, and continue their crystal selling business. However, she yearns to explore the world, and wants more for her life. So when a young man named Bakame offers her an escape, she takes her chance and finds herself in the magical land of Ijábù. However, after being warned by a ghost boy named Ojike, she quickly discovers that not everything is as it seems, and she must escape this so-called “land of wonders.” The Non-Spoiler Review One thing I like about this book are the illustrations. Most of the images are fully colored and take up a page or two, while others are smaller pencil sketches. All o...

Walking to Work

Walking to work all alone

With the cool breeze in my face

I hear squirrels skittering down trees

Scraping the bark and knocking down leaves.


I hear birds singing above me.

Perhaps they can speak to the squirrels, I think.

Perhaps they know the squirrels language

And they talk of urgent business to them.


Golden and brown leaves litter

The pale gray sidewalk I walk on.

The leaves sometimes clack, click,

As they tumble in the gentle wind.


As I draw nearer to my destination

I see a small green field

Where the pixies, disguised as dragonflies,

Dance around in the sunlight.


Walking back from work I feel

The heat of the sun baking me

I take brief stops in the trees’ shade

And then continue walking.


When I make back to my small abode

I finally pick up a book and relax

For the stresses of work can now die peacefully

As the fairytale I read comes alive.

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