Book Review: Kaya Abaniah and the Father of the Forest, by Wayne Gerard Trotman
I hate clichés, but this book has left me speechless. In a good way. First, knowing that it is set in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago tells you something of its uniqueness. Trotman’s firsthand experience of the Caribbean islands shines through in vivid descriptions of the area’s history, culture, and environment. But this is not a brilliant travelogue. At least not in the traditional sense. Instead, we’re presented with a coming-of-age story with all the trials, heartaches, and energy that only teenagers fully understand, or any of us who survived those tumultuous years.
The main character, Kaya, has some special gifts that not everyone appreciates. It’s hard enough being normal. But in Kaya’s world, nothing is as it seems. From myths to the paranormal to aliens and back, college for Kaya, with her bullies, allies, and enemies, is one adventure after another. But it’s Trotman’s gift for capturing the nuances of relationships and the pains of these years that truly elevates this book from any genre pigeonholing.
First is Kaya’s relationship with her mother Josephine. Always concerned for the well-being of her son, nothing escapes Josephine’s keen gaze:
Later that night, Josephine found Kaya, sitting at the kitchen table, doing her homework and trying not to get upset.But even though Kaya had managed to get the swelling down, Josephine’s immediate reaction was, “What’s wrong with your face?” Deep lines of worry appeared on her forehead, and she gently moved Kaya’s face from side to side, examining her bruises.
“Ah it fell,” Kaya said, meekly.
“Bike Out”
Kaya growled ambiguously. During her fight with the Mapepires, she fell, so technically she wasn’t lying; At least, that’s what Kaya thought. If Josephine wanted to believe that he fell off her new bike, he wasn’t going to argue with her.
“How did you fall off your bike? Look how you look like Mastifay,” Josephine said in dismay.
Equally well crafted are Kaya’s feelings, heartbreak, and interactions with her love interests, Wendy and Raima:
He stared at the screen, mesmerized by the slow progress of the browser; until finally an image of Raima’s face began to emerge, with her hair tousled and her eyes closed. The slightly blurred shot of her captured her dancing with wild abandon, a mischievous smile playing on her glossy lips. Under other circumstances, Kaya would have enjoyed the sensual provocation of the photograph. Yet all she felt was a growing knot in the pit of her stomach and the increasingly crushing weight of waves upon waves of devastating jealousy.
Also, true to a school system with “houses” or any school for that matter, Kaya must navigate between cliques, bullies, and shifting alliances. If this weren’t hard enough, some of Kaya’s teachers, friends, enemies, and even some of her family members are not what they seem. He and we wonder who he can trust as he deals with the normal problems of teenage life and some issues that are out of this world. I can’t say more without spoiling Kaya Abaniah’s fun and wild moments. Suffice to say, you’ll be glad you had a satisfying time with this powerful and unique epic of an adventure tale.
