Books in Junior African Writers Series series

Kato Adama is his mother's favorite because he regularly brings her gifts of fruit, but his twin brother Lawo is always in trouble, especially the day a big angry man takes his street clothes, with his mother's prescription and the money to pay for it in the pocket, while he is playing soccer.Kato Adama is his mother's favorite because he brings her fruit, but his twin brother Lawo is always in trouble, especially the day a big angry man takes his clothes, his mother's prescription, and her money, while he is playing soccer

Originally published in 1967, Ngugi's third novel is his best known and most ambitious work. "A Grain of Wheat" portrays several characters in a village whose intertwined lives are transformed by the 1952-1960 Emergency in Kenya. As the action follows the village's arrangements for Uhuru (independence) Day. This is a novel of stories within stories, a narrative interwoven with myth as well as allusions to real-life leaders of the nationalist struggle, including Jomo Kenyatta. At the centre of it all is the reticent Mugo, the village's chosen hero and a man haunted by a terrible secret. As events unfold, compromises are forced, friendships are betrayed and loves are tested.