Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi


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“Homegoing” is a novel written by Yaa Gyasi that tells the story of two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, who live in 18th-century Ghana, and their descendants over several generations as they face challenges and joys of life in both Ghana and America. The novel explores themes of identity, race, and family and how these intersect and affect their lives in different ways.

The author uses a vivid and detailed style to show the inner lives of her characters and the social and political issues they face. The book is known for its portrayal of diversity and its exploration of how historical events, culture, and societal norms shape the lives of people.

As an intermediate English learner, you may find “Homegoing” to be a challenging read due to its complex language and cultural references. However, the book is well-written and an engaging exploration of the human experience, and the benefits of reading and understanding it may outweigh the difficulty of the language.

It’s worth noting that there is a simplified version of “Homegoing” available from Penguin Readers (Level 7), this is called a graded reader version. It’s been adapted for English language learners and includes additional resources to help with comprehension and vocabulary. It can be a good option for you if you are looking for an alternative text to help improve your English language skills.

Overall, “Homegoing” is a well-written novel that explores themes of identity, race, and family and it is worth reading for anyone who wants to understand these themes more deeply. While it may be a challenging read for English learners, the graded reader version can be a great choice to improve your language skills while reading a thought-provoking book

Native English version
I recommend the graded reader version

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Native English version
I recommend the graded reader version

Are you going to read the book? What books do you recommend for English learners? Let us know in the comments!

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By Tom Wilkinson

Host and founder of Thinking in English, Tom is committed to providing quality and interesting content to all English learners. Previously a research student at a top Japanese university and with a background in English teaching, political research, and Asian languages, Tom is now working fulltime on bettering Thinking in English!

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