Review by Katharina Kindsmüller
The Story
T
© Penguin Random House South Africa
ranscendent Kingdom is the story of Gifty and her family, who emigrated from Ghana to the USA, where each family member struggles with different problems.
Gifty’s brother, a competitive athlete, dies early from a heroin overdose after an injury. Their mother, who has long suffered from depression, is plunged into a deep abyss from grief for her son and not even her faith gives her any support.
Gifty, on the other hand, studies neuroscience in order to research addiction and depression and to scientifically trace her family’s fate.
The second novel by Ghanaian-American author Yaa Gyasi is a powerful and moving family story that combines themes such as racism, the conflict between religion and science, and mental health.
Central questions
How do we deal with grief and trauma? And how do we comfort those we love?