Books Set in Africa

by Fiona Valpy

Setting: MOROCCO

In 1941, after France fell to Nazi occupation, a 12-year-old girl named Josie fled to Casablanca, Morocco, with her family while awaiting safe passage to the US. The sights, sounds, and smells of Casablanca are completely different from everything Josie has ever known, but she loves it.

Seventy years later, Zoe arrives in Morocco to start an expat life with her husband and baby daughter. Below the floorboards of her daughter's bedroom, she discovers a wooden box and a diary that once belonged to Josie. As Zoe reads about the Casablanca of the past through Josie's diary, it changes both her perspective and her attitude.

The Book Girls Say... Nineteenth-century historical fiction fans will also want to consider The Lioness of Morocco, which is available free with Kindle Unlimited as of 8/17/22. Set in the 1800s, this novel includes elements of mystery/suspense as well as romance. The descriptions of Morocco are particularly strong in this book!

If you'd rather read a non-fiction book set in Morocco and you enjoy memoir-style works like A Year in Provence and Under the Tuscan Sun, then we recommend The Caliph’s House: A Year in Casablanca. Tahir Shah spent summer vacations in Morocco as a child and dreamed of escaping dreary London and moving his family to the sunny city of Casablanca. To put his plan into action, he purchases a crumbling mansion called Dar Khalifa, which was once home to the city's spiritual leader, the Caliph. 

The Storyteller of Casablanca is available free with a Kindle Unlimited membership as of 8/17/22.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
95% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Yamen Manai

Setting: TUNISIA

This modern parable was written by an award-winning Tunisian author. He weaves the story of a beekeeper, Sidi, into a tale about the aftermath of the Arab Spring. Sidi is heartbroken when he wakes up one morning to find that his beloved bees have been attacked by a swarm of hornets. The killer hornets aren't native to the area, and Sidi must figure out where they came from and how they can be stopped. 

His journey takes him out of his village and into the city, where he encounters those impacted by the Arab Spring, uprisings that took place between 2010-2011 in Tunisia (and spread to other nations). 

This book is available free with a Kindle Unlimited membership as of 8/17/22.

by Yaa Gyasi
Setting: GHANA, Alabama, and New York City

This multi-generation epic follows the divergent paths of two half-sisters born in 18th century Ghana and their descendants over 300 years. Effia marries a wealthy Englishman and lives in a castle, but she doesn’t know Esi is imprisoned in the dungeon below. Esi is sold in the slave trade and shipped to America, where she, her children, and her grandchildren are raised in slavery.

The book continues to follow each generation of both Effia and Esi all the way to the present day and includes a range of historical time periods, including the American Civil War and the Jazz Age.

The Book Girls Say… Despite this long history, the book is only 305 pages, so not a traditional epic with extensive storylines for each generation. Instead, each chapter introduces a new character, and reads more like a series of short stories. Some readers are disappointed that not every chapter/chapter has a full arc and conclusion.

Author Yaa Gyasi was born in Ghana and raised in Huntsville, Alabama.

We also found a second book that spans both Ghana and Alabama called The Scent of Burnt Flowers. The description sounds fascinating, but the reviews are a bit lower than we hoped.

by Kwei Quartey
Setting: GHANA, Present Day

When a whirlwind romance leads to the disappearance of a friend’s high school-aged daughter, Private Investigator Emma Djan must do some dangerous undercover work to track her down in the Ghanaian capital of Accra.

According to Ngozi’s father, she decided to blow off her plans to attend law school in the fall and ran away from her home in Nigeria to be with her boyfriend, Femi. Soon Femi is found murdered at his opulent Accra residence, but Ngozi is still missing, and Emma fears the worst. She begins investigating a network of West African sex traffickers targeting migrants from Ghana and Nigeria.

Book Girls Say… This mystery thriller is the third and most recent in the Emma Djan Investigations series. The books each read as a standalone, or you could choose to start at the beginning. The author has also written another series called Darko Dawson, which is highly recommended by our readers - especially the third in the series, Murder at Cape Three Points.

Author Kwei Quartey was born in Ghana to a Ghanaian father and African-American mother, both of who were college professors. He began writing crime novellas at age 8 or 9 before his interest shifted to medicine. He began medical school in Ghana before transferring to the Howard University College of Medicine in Washington D.C. After completing his residency in Internal Medicine, he returned to his love of writing by attending a weekly creative writing group. He now lives and writes in California, but sets each of his crime novels in his home country of Ghana.

by Abi Dare

Setting: NIGERIA

Adunni is a young girl living in poverty in a Nigerian village. She loves school and knows that learning all she can is the key to achieving a better life. But, despite promising to allow Adunni's schooling to continue after her mother's death, Adunni's father makes a decision that ends her education in the village and changes the trajectory of her life.

You'll be moved to both tears and cheers as Adunni endures and overcomes heartbreaking challenges while keeping her focus on her dream of an education.

The Books Girls Say... PICK THIS ONE! We would both give this one more than 5 stars if we could, and really hope that Abi Daré writes a sequel so we can see the next phase in Adunni's life.

While we didn't experience this ourselves, some readers struggle with the dialect in either audio or written form, but find that the other form works well for them (ie: if the audio isn't working for you, try reading and vice versa). The main character, Adunni, tells the story using her limited English, and one of the beautiful parts of the writing is that you can see her improvements over time.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
97% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Lola Shoenyin
Setting: NIGERIA, Present-Day

This entertaining and eye-opening novel is the fiction debut of an African-born poet. The book takes you into a modern-day polygamist household in Nigeria. Baba Segi has four wives, and the newest wife Bolanle is anxiously waiting to become pregnant for the first time.

Bolanle is well-educated and her mom is furious that she has chosen life as a 4th wife, but she has her secrets and reasons. The addition of Bolanle has thrown the family into a bit a chaos, and you’ll find yourself laughing and crying as you read their story from multiple points of view.

The Book Girls Say… The novel has an alternate title of The Secret Lives of the Four Wives. Also noamerte that this book was adapted into a published play which is also available in Kindle format. If you want the novel rather than the play, be sure not to pick the Kindle version with the orange cover.

by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Setting: NIGERIA

In 1967, a portion of southern Nigeria declared independence as the Republic of Biafra. However, peaceful talks soon turned into violence as the leader of Nigeria refused to recognize their status. This fictional book tells the story of three characters, spanning a decade around the Biafra-Nigeria Civil War. 

The first character is Ugwa, a 13-year-old houseboy to a professor. The professor's mistress, Olanna, and Richard, who is in love with Olanna's twin sister, round out the core character who must run for their lives together as Nigerian troops advance. Will these characters with different ideals and social rankings stick together or abandon their loyalties to save themselves? 

The Book Girls Say... With books translated into over 30 languages, we knew Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie would have a spot on our Africa list. Her novel, Purple Hibiscus, is also set in Nigeria. If you finish Half of a Yellow Sun and are interested in learning more about the year after the Biafra-Nigeria Civil War, the book Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta is set in 1971, the year after the war. 

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Keisha Bush

Setting: SENEGAL

When 6-year-old Ibrahimah is sent from his rural village to the busy city of Dakar, his parents are told he'll be studying the Koran under a highly respected teacher, along with his cousin, Etienne. Instead of learning, Ibrahimah and Etienne are forced to beg in the streets, turning the funds over to their teacher.

To survive, the cousins must work together and navigate endless dangers as they try to escape back to their homes. The story is fiction but based on real incidents from Senegal.

The Book Girls Say... This book includes themes of child abuse and human trafficking that, while based on true experiences, some find difficult to read.

The author was born in Boston, but worked in Senegal before changing careers from finance to writing.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
90% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Ishmael Beah

Setting: SIERRA LEONE

Author Ismael Beah was born in Sierra Leone in 1980. In 1991, when he was just 11, a violent civil war began. By the time he was 13, his parents and two brothers were killed, leaving him to be forcefully recruited as one of the child soldiers many of us were devastated to see in news reports about the war.

Two years later, he was successfully rescued by UNICEF. In 1996, at only 16 years old, he spoke to the UN about the war and its impact on children. At 27, he released this memoir to share his journey with the world. Since the release and acclaim of his memoir, Ismael Beah has published two fiction titles and continues to advocate for children in conflict zones around the world.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
90% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Tara Sullivan

Setting: IVORY COAST & MALI

In this compelling YA novel, fifteen-year-old Amadou and his eight-year-old brother live as modern-day slaves on a chocolate plantation in Ivory Coast, which produces 40% of the world's chocolate. They left home two years earlier for a seasonal job, and have been held captive ever since, forced to meet quotas or go without food.

Everything changes when the first girl arrives at the plantation, Khadija is different. Instead of trying to just survive, she's determined to fight back and escape. While her bravery causes complications for the brothers, it also re-inspires their will to make it back home to Mali.

The Book Girls Say... Although this is a fictional story, it mirrors the horrific realities of many present-day chocolate plantations. Don't miss the author's note at the end of the book as she shares more information on this vital issue. The Bitter Side of Sweet contains some harrowing scenes, but they aren't overly graphic because the intended audience is 12+.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
94% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Gaël Faye

Setting: BURUNDI

Set in 1992, this short, semi-autobiographical, novel is the coming-of-age story of Gabriel, aka Gabby. He is a ten-year-old living in Burundi with a French father and a Rwandan mother. Life is comfortable in their expatriate neighborhood. They even have household help.

Then, genocide in neighboring Rwanda begins. His mother is forever changed after seeing the devastation firsthand while checking on her family. Soon, the violence spills into Burundi, and Gabby is confronted by cruelness he couldn't imagine in his earlier idyllic life.

The Book Girls Say... Like Gabriel, Gaël Frye is also the son of a French father and Rwandan mother, who escaped to France in the 1990s after the outbreak of civil war in Burundi. The author is also a hip-hop artist, which leads to a poetic writing style.

If you're looking for another book set in Burundi, consider The Flight of Augusta Hope by Glen Joanna. As a young girl, Augusta spins the globe and settles on her favorite country (base only on its name): Burundi. As an adult, she's determined to finally figure out where she belongs - even if that place is half a world away. While only part of this book is set in Burundi, and the location jumps back and forth, it does a good job of explaining the political unrest in this country.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Imbolo Mbue
Setting: Fiction African Village in the CAMEROON region, Present-Day

Told through the eyes of a generation of children, this novel explores the impact of when the drive for profit, coupled with the ghost of colonialism, collides with a community's determination to hold onto its ancestral lands.

When an American oil company moves into the African village of Kosawa, the ramifications are long-lasting. Pipeline spills render farmlands infertile, and children die from toxic drinking water. Empty promises are made to clean up and pay the villagers' reparations, but the country’s dictatorial government is only concerned with serving its own interests. The struggle went on for decades, but ultimately this novel shows what is possible when a few people stand up for what is right.

The Book Girls Say… We initially hesitated to include a book set in a fictional village (since we typically prefer to focus these lists on real locations). However, the author is from Limbe, Cameroon, and, based on reviews, we believe this book paints an accurate picture of experience in Cameroon and the surrounding region.

The author’s first book, Behold the Dreamers, (about a Cameroonian immigrant living in NYC), has been enjoyed by our readers during the Decades Challenge.

by Jason K. Stearns

Setting: CONGO

Since 1996, Congo has been a place of war, where millions have died. Yet, despite Congo being as large as Western Europe, most of the world is unaware of the complex issues that have led to and continued this multi-decade conflict.

The author spent ten years working and living in Congo, conducting endless interviews to try and unravel the issues starting with the history long before the battles and genocide began. It's a challenging read, but a good choice if you're looking for a non-fiction book that sheds light on a topic most of us know very little about. 

The Book Girls Say... If you are looking for a fiction title set in the Congo, consider The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. While this book has long been considered a staple of literature about this region of the world, it was originally published in 1998 and some readers say it hasn't aged well.

by Keriann McGoogan
Setting: MADAGASCAR, 2010s

This memoir shares the author's unique experiences traveling to Madagascar as part of her biological anthropology studies. She went to set up a research site in a remote region to learn more about lemurs. However, everything seemed to go wrong along the way despite careful planning. Although the trip was more of an adventure than expected, she was still able to experience some of the rare lemurs only present in this remote forest region.

The book is part adventure, part self-discovery, and a full experience of this beautiful and ecologically diverse island country.

The Books Girls Say… While this one is available in Kindle form, you probably won’t find this one at the library. However, if you are interested in learning about Madagascar's wildlife, landscape, and people, this looks like a great option.

by Chris Bohjalian
Setting: TANZANIA, 1964

Set in 1964, this book follows an A-list actress who invites her Hollywood friends to join her and her new husband in the Serengeti for their honeymoon safari. These wealthy Americans envision a luxurious and relaxing vacation among the animals.

However, after a kidnapping gone wrong, the group finds themselves with a team of Russian mercenaries who are herding them into Land Rovers with guns to their heads.

The book is said to be a great mix of thriller, adventure and old Hollywood historical fiction.

The Book Girls Say… This 2022 release was a Buy Me a Coffee Bonus Book last year and several members selected it as their Africa read. They rated it so highly that we wanted to add it to the main list this year.

The author visited the Serengeti region of Tanzania as part of his research, which led to vivid descriptions of the landscape.

by Wangari Maathai

Setting KENYA

This memoir - from Nobel Peace Prize-winning Wangari Maathai - recounts her life story, from her childhood in the a rural village in the 1940s to her role as an activist and a single mother of three.

Throughout her life, Wangari Maathai, fought for environmental responsibility, equality for women, and democracy in her home nation of Kenya. These efforts have led to many run-ins with the brutal Moi government, and have even landed her in jail.

Her drive and determination also allowed her to become the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a PhD and the first woman in Kenya to head a university department. In 2002, she was appointed to Parliament.

by Paula McLain
Setting: “British East Africa” (KENYA), 20th century

If you haven’t heard of Beryl Markham, then let this historical fiction novel introduce you to the fascinating life of this remarkable woman who became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean for east to west.

Born in England in 1902, at the age of four Beryl moved to Kenya (which was then referred to as “British East Africa” by the British colonizers). Her mother abandoned her and she was raised by both her alcoholic father and the native Kipsigis tribe. She was a bold child with a love for all things wild (even after being attacked by a lion), and became Kenya’s first and only licensed female horse trainer.

Throughout her adult life, she had a string of disastrous relationships before eventually meeting pilot Denys Finch Hatton who ignited her ambition to fly. She joined the Kenyan liberation movement and flew planes as part of their anti-colonial efforts, as well as working as a bush pilot on safaris.

Eventually, she sets her sights on the goal of becoming the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, non-stop, from east to west (a feat more challenging than the west-to-east crossing because it requires flying against the wind). This novel focuses primarily on her life in her twenties and tells her story from the cockpit of her airplane during her record-breaking flight in 1936.

The Book Girls Say… American author Paula McClain is also well known for her novelized memoir, The Paris Wife. Reviewers praise McClain for addressing the issue of colonialism without romanticizing it, as is too often the case in historical fiction novels set in Africa and written by non-native authors.

For another historical fiction read about a woman growing up in British colonial Kenya, consider Leopard at the Door by Jennifer McVeigh. After the death of her mother, Rachel is sent to England to live with her grandparents and attend boarding school, but she wants nothing more than to return to Kenya. When she finally returns at age 18, innocent and naive, the times are turbulent and her home is in the grip of change. This is a coming-of-age story that provides a gripping depiction of the political climate in Kenya in the 1950s.

by Eti Dayan

Setting: KENYA

While the author of this book is Israeli, she divides her time between Israel and Kenya and has formed a deep bond with the Massai ethnic group after living with them beginning in 2001. This memoir tells her story and how she became so engaged with the community that they gave her a Massai name, Nayolang, which means "One of Us."

Throughout the book, you'll be introduced to daily life, special ceremonies, and many Massai traditions. It's a rare, thought-provoking glimpse into the similarities and differences between Western and Massai culture.

This book is available free with a Kindle Unlimited membership as of 8/17/22.

by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

Setting: UGANDA

For the twelve years of her life, Kirabo has been raised by the women in her small Ugandan village. She is surrounded by love from her grandmother, many aunts, and her best friend, but she's never known her mother.

Seeking answers about her mom's identity leads Kirabo to spend afternoons with a local witch. She senses that in addition to her sweet, obedient nature, she has a second self inside of her - one that is headstrong and that confuses her.

This novel is rich in the folklore of Uganda and explores what it means to be a modern girl in a society that tries to silence women.

The Book Girls Say... Note that this book is on the long side at more than 500 pages.

by Tina Athaide

Setting: UGANDA

This is a middle-grade novel, but we've included it on this list because it is beautifully written and provides an eye-opening look at an important time in Uganda's history that few are aware of. Told through the eyes of two 12-year-olds, this book captures Uganda’s political unrest during three months in 1972, following President Idi Amin’s rapid expulsion of those of Indian descent from the country.

Asha and her best friend, Yesofu, never cared about the differences between them: Indian. African. Girl. Boy. But when Ugandan President Idi Amin announces that Indians have ninety days to leave the country, suddenly those differences are the only things that people in Entebbe can see — not the shared after-school samosas or Asha cheering for Yesofu at every cricket game.

Determined for her life to stay the same, Asha clings to her world tighter than ever before. But Yesofu is torn, pulled between his friends, his family, and a promise of a better future. Now, as neighbors leave and soldiers line the streets, the two friends find that nothing seems sure...not even their friendship.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Dave Eggers

Setting: SUDAN

This epic novel is based on the life of Valentino Achak Deng, one of thousands of Sudanese children — the so-called Lost Boys — who were forced to leave their villages in Sudan. At the age of seven, Valentino was separated from his family and trekked hundreds of miles by foot, pursued by militias, government bombers, and wild animals, crossing the deserts of three countries to find freedom. When Valentino ultimately immigrated to the United States under the Lost Boys of Sudan program, he found a life full of promise, but also heartache and myriad new challenges.

Dave Eggers is an American author who has had many non-fiction, biographical successes. For this work, Eggers and Valentino spent many years collaborating to tell the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Valentino shared everything that he could remember, and from that material Eggers initially set out to write a conventional biography. Ultimately, however, he determined he could best tell the story by blending non-fictional and fictional elements. By classifying the book a novel, Eggers tells the Washington Post, it allowed him to "re-create conversations, streamline complex relationships, add relevant detail and manipulate time and space in helpful ways -- all while maintaining the essential truthfulness of the storytelling."

The Book Girls Say... If you are interested in a shorter and easier read about the Lost Boys of Sudan, consider Linda Sue Park's middle grade novel, A Long Walk to Water. This dual-timeline novel follows the stories of two eleven-year-olds in Sudan - one in 1985 and one in 2008 - whose stories ultimately intersect in an astonishing and moving way.

by Elizabeth Wein

Setting: ETHIOPIA

From the author of Code Name Verity, this YA historical fiction is told in diary format from the point of view of two teenagers - Emilia and Teo. When a bird strike brings down the plane that their stunt pilot mothers were flying, Teo's mom is killed, but Emilia's mom survives. Em's mom, a white woman, takes Teo in, but she is concerned about the racism he will face in the American south because of the color of his skin.

She decides to raise Em and Teo in Ethiopia, the birthplace of Teo's father, and soon all three of them fall in love with the beautiful and peaceful country. But WWII shatters that peace when, in 1935, Italy invades Ethiopia, and Em and Teo are drawn into the conflict.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
95% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Dr. Hawa Abdi
Setting: SOMALIA

This is the moving memoir of Dr. Hawa Abdi, who has been called "the Mother Teresa of Somalia." When the Somali government collapsed in 1991, as famine struck and aid groups fled, Dr. Abdi turned her 1300 acres of farmland near war-torn Mogadishu into a camp for displaced people. She was Somalia’s first female obstetrician, as well as a lawyer and humanitarian.

She inspired her daughters to also become doctors. Together they kept 90,000 of their fellow citizens safe, healthy, and educated for over 20 years at the Dr. Hawa Abdi Hope Village - a community for displaced Somalis with a 400-bed hospital, primary and secondary schools, and an innovative community justice system.

In 2010, Dr. Abdi was kidnapped by radical insurgents, who also destroyed much of her hospital, simply because she was a woman. She, along with media pressure, convinced the rebels to let her go, and she demanded and received a written apology. Her worked garnered her a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 2012. Her memoir was published in 2013, and Dr. Abdi passed away in 2020.

The Book Girls Say... If you prefer to read a fiction book set in Somolia, consider The Orchard of Lost Souls by Nadifa Mohamed. Set in the late 1980s, this novel tells the story of three different women's experiences in Somalia. The three women meet briefly at the start of the book, and then, as the country is unraveled by a civil war, the fates of these three become twisted together. This book deals with difficult topics, including the fear, abuse, and poverty that Somalians face daily, but throughout it all, the three main characters continue to hold on to hope. The author also wrote Black Mamba Boy, a novel set in 1930s Somalia and tells of a decade of war and upheaval as seen through the eyes of a small boy.

by Clemantine Wamariya

Setting: RWANDA & 7 OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES

This memoir, told in alternating timelines, is an incredible tale of resilience.

Clemantine was only six years old in 1994, when, in a span of just 100 days, more than 800,000 people would be murdered in Rwanda and millions more displaced. Clemantine and her fifteen-year-old sister, Claire, were forced to run. Together they spent the next six years making their way through refugee camps in seven African countries in search of safety. Throughout the entire time, they did not know whether their parents were alive. They witnessed unimaginable cruelty, but they also found unexpected kindness.

Six years later, at age twelve, Clemantine and her sister were both granted asylum in the United States. But this chance to build a new life in Chicago was not an easy road. She spoke five languages, but English was not one of them, and she had almost no previous experience attending school.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
87% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Martin Ganda & Caitlin Alifirenka, with Liz Welch
Setting: ZIMBABWE & USA

This middle-grade memoir all began with a school assignment. Caitlin and her classmates wrote to students in Zimbabwe, and Martin - the recipient of Caitlin's pen-pal letter - wrote back. And thus began a correspondence that spanned the next six years and changed both of their lives.

In this dual memoir, Caitlin and Martin recount how they became friends and how their long-distance exchange made them both better people.

The Book Girls Say… This memoir is written for a middle-grade audience but makes excellent reading for adults as well. If you are looking for more Africa books to read to or with the kids in your life, check out our complete list of Children’s Books Set in Africa, which includes a wide range of picture books, chapter books, and middle-grade titles.

If you’re interested in reading an adult novel that also paints a vivid picture of daily life in Zimbabwe, check out The Hairdresser of Harare by Tendai Huchu. Unlike many books on this list that deal with major issues, like war and disease, this book focuses more on the struggles of everyday life. It has lighter storytelling style - complete with all of the gossip you'd expect in a hair salon - while still addressing complex topics. Be aware, however, that some readers find the characters a bit hard to connect with.

I Will Always Write Back is available free with a Kindle Unlimited membership as of 2/13/23.

by Michael Williams
Setting: ZIMBABWE, 2007-2008

When diamonds were discovered in Marange, Zimbabwe in 2006, the region changed, often not for the better. In this novel, fifteen-year-old Patson has a normal teenage life, running track for his high school and experience having his first girlfriend. Then, at his stepmother’s prompting, the family moves as part of The Great Marange Diamond Rush. His family goes to work hoping to find their “girazi,” a priceless stone that could change the future.

However, the governor's soldiers soon arrive at the diamond field. Their action will help you understand the term “blood diamonds,” and Patson will soon be on a new adventure as he first succumbs to greed and then finds himself on a transformative journey to find his sister in South Africa.

The Book Girls Say… This YA novel is a rare look into President Robert Mugabe’s regime in Zimbabwe after he transitioned from a revolutionary hero to a tyrant who established a one-party system to stay in power for 37 years. While it is considered YA, don’t mistake that for being a light or easy read. It’s a realistic look at a brutal regime that will help educate you on modern history you may have missed while also providing a twisting and page-turning plot.

by Alexander McCall Smith

Setting: BOTSWANA

This is the first of 23 titles in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Meet Precious Ramotswe, who has set up shop as Botswana's No.1 (and only) lady detective. In her first case, she is hired to track down a missing husband, uncover a con man, and follow a wayward daughter. However, the case that tugs at her heart, and lands her in danger, is a missing eleven-year-old boy, who may have been snatched by witch doctors.

The Book Girls Say... While this first book in the series is extremely popular, and the perfect introduction to the series, the subsequent books in the series (including Tears of the Giraffe) receive even better reviews. This is a cozy mystery series with Precious solving multiple cases in each book. It's a great pick if you want quick, bite-sized mysteries, but might not be for you if you're hoping for a more complex, in-depth mystery.

Born and raised in what is now known as Zimbabwe, Alexander McCall Smith was a law professor at the University of Botswana before becoming a prolific author. Having written and contributed to more than 100 books, his titles also include some wonderful middle-grade novels that you'll find on our list of Children's Books Set in Africa.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
95% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Peter Allison

Setting: BOTSWANA

Originally from Sydney, Australia, Peter Allison's safaris have been featured in National Geographic, Conde Nast Traveler, and on Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures, as well as other television shows. In this book, he gives us a guide's-eye-view of what it's like to live and work in Botswana's Kalahari Desert, confronting wild animals and managing herds of tourists on a daily basis (the later often proving to be the more dangerous).

Written in the humorous style of Bill Bryson, Allison's wry wit is exceeded only by his love and respect for the animals. His highly entertaining stories will keep you laughing, but you'll also have a much better appreciation for the wildlife of Africa at the end of the book.

The Book Girls Say... We always look forward to reading Bill Bryson's travelogues and hoped to find that he'd written one about his experiences in Africa. He does have a book titled African Diary, but it's a very short (55ish pages) report of his brief visit to Kenya at the invitation of CARE International. We selected Peter Allison's book for this list because it brings the dry wit and humor that we usually seek from Bryson, in a more in-depth format. But loyal fans of Bill Bryson, or those looking to pick up a quick read, may also want to pick up African Diary.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
95% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Trevor Noah

Setting: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

Born a Crime is the true story of Daily Show host Trevor Noah’s childhood and into his early adulthood. His rise to success was unlikely based on his beginning. Trevor was born in South Africa in 1984 to a white father and black mother. His parents could have been imprisoned for five years - or worse - for conceiving him. He spent his early years largely hidden from life outside because his mother feared (with good reason) that he could be removed from her custody because of the apartheid rules of segregation.

In true Trevor Noah fashion, you'll be entertained while also receiving an education on life in apartheid South Africa. He manages to explain the extremely complex system of apartheid in accessible terms by drawing on examples and comparisons.

When the era of white rule officially ended in the early 1990s, it was far from the end of the family's troubles. From attempted kidnappings and domestic violence to the drama of high school dating, you’ll find a mixture of relatable and shocking stories that keep you engaged with every page.

The Book Girls Say... We highly recommend listening to the audiobook, which Trevor narrates himself. Trevor speaks eight languages and draws upon each of them throughout the book to explain how languages can divide people, but can also be used to build bridges. We found it much more impactful to hear him speak each language with the correct sounds and pronunciations, rather than attempting our own phonetic reading.

NOTE: Angela and her husband listened to the audiobook on a road trip with their then 8 and 9-year-old sons. The boys were both fascinated by the stories and learned a lot, but mom and dad did have to sensor crude language and a few other parts here and there. There is a young reader version available that is appropriate for kids to read on their own, or if you prefer only clean language.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
98% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Bryce Courtenay

Setting: SOUTH AFRICA

In 1939, as Hitler's influence began to cast a shadow across the world, apartheid started to take root in South Africa. During this time, Peekay's childhood was marked by humiliation and abandonment.

In this coming-of-age novel (which was inspired by the author's real-life experiences), we follow Peekay's life from the age of 5 to 20 - including his years at boarding school, where he endured horrible conditions. Despite all the suffering he endures, Peekay remains open-minded and positive and manages to form some very meaningful relationships with teachers and mentors and with a boxer.

This beautiful novel provides a deep dive not only into the history of South Africa but also into the world of boxing.

by Sally Andrew
Setting: Klein Karoo, SOUTH AFRICA, 2010s

Fifty-something Tannie Maria loves to cook and write - which is why she’s the perfect person to write recipe column for her local paper, the Klein Karoo Gazette. But when the powers that be insists the paper must also feature an advice section - Tannie’s column has to meet the requirement by becoming a joint advice and recipe column.

When her column receives a letter from a woman whose husband beats her, Tannie’s best advice appears not to be good enough when a woman matching that description turns up dead. She and her Gazette colleagues decide to help the police find the murderer. But things are not so simple, and soon there’s another murder - a suspected poisoning - as well as a kidnapping or two.

This is the first book in a murder mystery series that’s packed with humor (ranging from slapstick to understated). The first book also includes over 20 pages of recipes and a helpful glossary to the Afrikaans and Dutch references in the book.

The Book Girls Say… This cozy mystery series transports you to the author’s home region of South Africa, Klein Karoo. When you think of South Africa, you may picture safaris and beautiful coastlines, but the Klein Karoo region (located about 200 miles east of Cape Town) is a semi-desert that is sometimes referred to as South Africa’s outback. Almost completely surrounded by mountains, this 200 mile-long valley is only about 30 miles wide, with the Swartberg Mountains on one side and the Langeberge Mountains on the other. Oudtshoorn, the largest town in the Kelin Karoo region, is known as the ostrich capital of the world and draws 100,000 visitors annually to the world’s largest ostrich farm.

by Lawrence Anthony

Setting: SOUTH AFRICA

Set against the backdrop of life on a South African wild animal reserve, this memoir details South African-born conservationist Lawrence Anthony's experiences taking in a "rogue" herd of elephants (initially against his better judgment). The elephants had already earned a reputation as notorious escape artists (due in large part to their past negative encounters with humans), and Anthony was their last hope. As Lawrence battled to create a bond with the elephants and save them from execution, he came to realize that they had a lot to teach him about life, loyalty and freedom.

Although the elephants are the focus of this story, readers can also glean much more about life in the wilds of South Africa.

The Book Girls Say... Angela had the opportunity to visit and interact with a trio of similarly "rogue" elephants at another South African reserve. It was a truly moving and humbling experience, and she immediately started seeking out books that would help her understand more about the elephants and the emotional bonds they can form with the humans who protect them. If you've ever wanted to know more about elephants or conservation, the late Lawrence Anthony is the one to learn from. Anthony also authored another highly recommended book, The Last Rhinos: My Battle to Save One of the World's Greatest Creatures.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Nelson Mandela

Setting: SOUTH AFRICA

Nelson Mandela is one of the great leaders of the 20th century whose lifelong dedication to the fight against racial oppression in South Africa won him not only the Nobel Peace Prize, but also the presidency of his country. This autobiography is very broad in its scope, covering his upbringing in the traditional tribal culture of his ancestors, his early years as a poor student and a law clerk, his political awakening, his time spent in jail, and finally, his inauguration as South Africa’s first black president.

In addition to providing an in depth and personal look at the life of this incredible man - Long Walk to Freedom also provides a riveting account of South Africa's history and change from Apartheid to Democratic state.

The Book Girls Say... If you want to learn more about South Africa's political history, we also recommend the classic, Cry the Beloved Country. Originally published in 1948, this novel sheds light on the racial injustice in South Africa that predated Apartheid.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by William Kamkwamba

Setting: MALAWI

As a young boy growing up in Malawi - a country where magic ruled and modern science was mystery - William was fascinated by electricity and dreamed of studying science at a top boarding school. When famine devastatess his family's farm and left them destitute, William's parents were no longer able to afford his tuition and he was forced to drop out of school. Nevertheless, William continued to pursue his passion with the help of books, and set out to bring electricity and water to his village by building a crude, but operable, windmill.

Soon, news of William's "electric wind" spread across the country and around the world, and the boy who was once called crazy became an inspirational example of human inventiveness and its power to overcome crippling adversity.

The Book Girls Guide... Some readers report that the writing style of this memoir makes it a bit difficult to immerse yourself in the story, but most agree that ultimately the important messages of the book make it worth the added effort.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
100% Would Recommend to a Friend