111 pages • 3 hours read
Yaa GyasiHomegoing
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2016A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi follows the divergent paths of two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, and their descendants over 300 years, tracing the profound impacts of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Effia marries a British slave trader in Ghana, while Esi is enslaved and shipped to America. Their descendants face generational struggles connected to slavery, colonialism, and racial injustice, highlighting resilience and reconnection. Topics such as sexual violence, slavery, and addiction appear in the book.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi is widely praised for its ambitious scope, rich storytelling, and vivid character development, offering a powerful portrayal of the African diaspora. Some critiques note that the interconnected stories occasionally feel fragmented. Overall, it stands out as a compelling and thought-provoking debut.
Who Should Read Homegoing?
A reader who enjoys Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi likely appreciates multi-generational family sagas that explore the African diaspora, historical fiction with rich, intertwining narratives, and themes of identity and legacy. They might also be fans of Alex Haley's Roots or Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
910LBook Details
Historical Fiction
Realistic Fiction
Modern Classic Fiction
Relationships: Family
Race / Racism
History: World