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The Deep Blue Between
Twin sisters Hassana and Husseina's home is in ruins after a brutal raid. But this is not the end but the beginning of their story, one that will take them to unfamiliar cities and cultures, where they will forge new families, ward off dangers and truly begin to know themselves.
As the twins pursue separate paths in Brazil and the Gold Coast of West Africa, they remain connected through shared dreams of water. But will their fates ever draw them back together?
A sweeping adventure with richly evocative historical settings, The Deep Blue Between is a moving story of the bonds that can endure even the most dramatic change.
As the twins pursue separate paths in Brazil and the Gold Coast of West Africa, they remain connected through shared dreams of water. But will their fates ever draw them back together?
A sweeping adventure with richly evocative historical settings, The Deep Blue Between is a moving story of the bonds that can endure even the most dramatic change.
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 25, 2020
51 people are currently reading
1784 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
September 8, 2020
What a beautiful, sweeping tale packed in a tiny book… I loved it!
The Deep Blue Between is Ayesha Harruna Attah’s first teen book about twin girls Hassana and Husseina who got separated when their town was raided by rebels. Set in the late 18th and early 19th century, the book is told from both Hassana in the first person and Husseina in the third person. Barely 10 years old and they were separated during the transport after the raid, they each ended up living different lives. Hassana ended up with her older sister but left to find her twin. Husseina ended up in very unfavorable circumstances but with the help of a kind woman she found herself fleeing for Brazil. For the entire time they were separated they saw each other in their dreams, they were pulled to find each other. Will they ever find each other? What will it be like if they find each other?
I really enjoyed this book! Here is what I loved:
I liked that the author told the book from two different perspective, it really helped in telling a more layered story. It also made it easier for me to remember which sister was speaking. I also feel like getting the two different perspective endeared me more to Hassana than Husseina.
I loved that the author took us to Brazil and the Gold Coast during the 18-19th century. It was so great getting a historical look into what was happening in these countries at that time. I also loved that slavery was NOT the main focus of the story, even though it influenced it. It is not every day I pick up a book and I am transported to Brazil and West Africa and for me that was a huge seller!
The author’s ability to deal with themes of grief, loss, religion and faith was spot on! That for me was a very big highlight.
I loved that the ending was unrealistic – when you read the ending you will see what I am saying. The author was able to show that these young ladies lived different lives and experienced different things and that would change how they view society. Her ending was a testament to that.
The author’s ability to write beautiful scenery wad enjoyable to read. I could not get enough of Brazil and the Gold Coast.
One thing that perturbed me was the author totally did not give any follow up about the bigger sister. I felt it was a bit cold that we met the sister in the beginning and we didn’t a thing about her too much. Yes, I get it, it’s the story about the twin but the entire time I kept waiting to get some closure about the older sister…
Overall a great read! Honestly, get ready to be impressed! Thanks Pushkin Press for sending me this ARC.
The Deep Blue Between is Ayesha Harruna Attah’s first teen book about twin girls Hassana and Husseina who got separated when their town was raided by rebels. Set in the late 18th and early 19th century, the book is told from both Hassana in the first person and Husseina in the third person. Barely 10 years old and they were separated during the transport after the raid, they each ended up living different lives. Hassana ended up with her older sister but left to find her twin. Husseina ended up in very unfavorable circumstances but with the help of a kind woman she found herself fleeing for Brazil. For the entire time they were separated they saw each other in their dreams, they were pulled to find each other. Will they ever find each other? What will it be like if they find each other?
I really enjoyed this book! Here is what I loved:
I liked that the author told the book from two different perspective, it really helped in telling a more layered story. It also made it easier for me to remember which sister was speaking. I also feel like getting the two different perspective endeared me more to Hassana than Husseina.
I loved that the author took us to Brazil and the Gold Coast during the 18-19th century. It was so great getting a historical look into what was happening in these countries at that time. I also loved that slavery was NOT the main focus of the story, even though it influenced it. It is not every day I pick up a book and I am transported to Brazil and West Africa and for me that was a huge seller!
The author’s ability to deal with themes of grief, loss, religion and faith was spot on! That for me was a very big highlight.
I loved that the ending was unrealistic – when you read the ending you will see what I am saying. The author was able to show that these young ladies lived different lives and experienced different things and that would change how they view society. Her ending was a testament to that.
The author’s ability to write beautiful scenery wad enjoyable to read. I could not get enough of Brazil and the Gold Coast.
One thing that perturbed me was the author totally did not give any follow up about the bigger sister. I felt it was a bit cold that we met the sister in the beginning and we didn’t a thing about her too much. Yes, I get it, it’s the story about the twin but the entire time I kept waiting to get some closure about the older sister…
Overall a great read! Honestly, get ready to be impressed! Thanks Pushkin Press for sending me this ARC.
June 17, 2021
*Thank you to the publisher for the review copy*
This book felt quite slow to me, and it felt like not much happened... I wasn't very invested in the characters or storyline. For some reason, I just couldn't connect at all.
The most interesting thing to me was the mentions of religion. I enjoyed seeing the characters encounter different beliefs and what they chose to practice or not practice, and why.
Colonisation is mentioned as something happening around them, but not as a main part of the story. I would've loved it if was more integrated.
The way everything came together at the end felt a bit too easy and anticlimactic because of how quickly it happened.
I wasn't a big fan of the ending either. I liked where the religious storyline ended but not particularly where it stood with the sibling dynamic. It felt off in terms of message and meaning.
Overall, I feel lukewarm about this book. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it.
This book felt quite slow to me, and it felt like not much happened... I wasn't very invested in the characters or storyline. For some reason, I just couldn't connect at all.
The most interesting thing to me was the mentions of religion. I enjoyed seeing the characters encounter different beliefs and what they chose to practice or not practice, and why.
Colonisation is mentioned as something happening around them, but not as a main part of the story. I would've loved it if was more integrated.
The way everything came together at the end felt a bit too easy and anticlimactic because of how quickly it happened.
I wasn't a big fan of the ending either. I liked where the religious storyline ended but not particularly where it stood with the sibling dynamic. It felt off in terms of message and meaning.
Overall, I feel lukewarm about this book. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it.
April 10, 2022
I think doing the audio lowered this rating for me.
The narration was a bit stale.
Not enough emotion inflected, and no distinguishing between character' s voices (unless the names were said).
If you read this I would highly suggest the print version.
The story itself is pretty interesting, it just gets muddled when you have trouble keeping track of the changing POVs.
Much love to NetGalley & Tantor Audio for my DRC.
The narration was a bit stale.
Not enough emotion inflected, and no distinguishing between character' s voices (unless the names were said).
If you read this I would highly suggest the print version.
The story itself is pretty interesting, it just gets muddled when you have trouble keeping track of the changing POVs.
Much love to NetGalley & Tantor Audio for my DRC.
May 10, 2022
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Deep Blue Between introduces you to twin sisters, Hassana and Husseina. Their home is currently in ruins after a raid, but that's not the only thing that has disrupted their lives. No, they actually end up separated and now have to travel on their new journeys alone. One is in Brazil and the other is in West Africa.
Even though they are apart they are still somewhat connected. Mostly within their dreams though. It was very interesting how they put the pieces of the puzzle together in order to figure out where the other was. Me? I would not have figured that out just by water alone. If I could use a lifeline like phone a friend, ask Siri, or use google - then maybe I could figure it out. Then again, I don't have twin to worry about.
Other than that, I really enjoyed the narrator for this. They ended up doing a great job integrating the storylines together. I was kind of hoping for two narrators though that way the sisters could be more defined to my ears. Still ended up enjoying everything though.
In the end, it kind of felt like things were a bit rushed towards the last chapter. Or maybe things were just easier to complete? Not exactly sure but that's how I feel right now. I also wanted more of sibling dynamic as well. It was a very interesting book, though, but had potential to be a bit better in my eyes. I'm still really happy that I got the chance to jump into this and look forward to the next book Ayesha writes!
The Deep Blue Between introduces you to twin sisters, Hassana and Husseina. Their home is currently in ruins after a raid, but that's not the only thing that has disrupted their lives. No, they actually end up separated and now have to travel on their new journeys alone. One is in Brazil and the other is in West Africa.
Even though they are apart they are still somewhat connected. Mostly within their dreams though. It was very interesting how they put the pieces of the puzzle together in order to figure out where the other was. Me? I would not have figured that out just by water alone. If I could use a lifeline like phone a friend, ask Siri, or use google - then maybe I could figure it out. Then again, I don't have twin to worry about.
Other than that, I really enjoyed the narrator for this. They ended up doing a great job integrating the storylines together. I was kind of hoping for two narrators though that way the sisters could be more defined to my ears. Still ended up enjoying everything though.
In the end, it kind of felt like things were a bit rushed towards the last chapter. Or maybe things were just easier to complete? Not exactly sure but that's how I feel right now. I also wanted more of sibling dynamic as well. It was a very interesting book, though, but had potential to be a bit better in my eyes. I'm still really happy that I got the chance to jump into this and look forward to the next book Ayesha writes!
August 21, 2020
Wow!!!
I did enjoyed this 😍.
I did enjoyed this 😍.
August 17, 2022
I really enjoyed the audiobook of this. Found it to be very emersive and easy getting invested in. Well Witten and Beautifully written would definitely read more from Ayesha Harruna Attah in the future
December 16, 2020
I wish for every back teenager / high school learner to read this one. One of the best YA books I've read. One of the best books I've read. Buy your teen a copy. Read the copy too. What a gem!
October 14, 2020
s a child I really liked historical novels and especially those set in places other than Germany. Looking back, I fear - though I can't recall the specific titles - that most of these were highly problematic (I especially remember some with Indigenous characters). But if done right, I believe historical fiction for children and youths has the potential to open up a wider understanding of the world, nurture curiosity, enable children to see themselves and/or those they love in the past (and thus the future), and, of course, to entertain.
Ayesha Harruna Attah first foray into writing for a younger audience is just such a book. Following twin sisters Hassana and Husseina who have been separated after a raid of their home, The Deep Blue Between takes its characters and its readers through different places in West Africa and South America. No matter how far apart - geographically speaking - the sisters are, they are connected through dreams of water, but will this be enough to bring them back together?
With some call-backs to Attah's previous (adult) novel, The Hundred Wells of Salaga, she draws a vivid picture of 18th/19th century Gold Coast and Brazil (including a big focus on Candomblé). And while slavery, white missionaries, and colonial endeavours build (some of) the narrative's backdrop and impact the lives of Hassana and Husseina in different ways, this is a novel about Black girls asserting their agency and moving through the world by their own will. So, for example, when Husseina crosses the Atlantic to go to Brasil, she does so as a traveller (though circumstances make this journey urgent, but I don't want to spoil anything).
Despite some chance encounters feeling a bit too convenient, it never took me out of the plot and really appreciated the vivid descriptions, the stories of each sister, and the focus on sisterly love.
Thanks to Pushkin Press for sending an ARC.
Ayesha Harruna Attah first foray into writing for a younger audience is just such a book. Following twin sisters Hassana and Husseina who have been separated after a raid of their home, The Deep Blue Between takes its characters and its readers through different places in West Africa and South America. No matter how far apart - geographically speaking - the sisters are, they are connected through dreams of water, but will this be enough to bring them back together?
With some call-backs to Attah's previous (adult) novel, The Hundred Wells of Salaga, she draws a vivid picture of 18th/19th century Gold Coast and Brazil (including a big focus on Candomblé). And while slavery, white missionaries, and colonial endeavours build (some of) the narrative's backdrop and impact the lives of Hassana and Husseina in different ways, this is a novel about Black girls asserting their agency and moving through the world by their own will. So, for example, when Husseina crosses the Atlantic to go to Brasil, she does so as a traveller (though circumstances make this journey urgent, but I don't want to spoil anything).
Despite some chance encounters feeling a bit too convenient, it never took me out of the plot and really appreciated the vivid descriptions, the stories of each sister, and the focus on sisterly love.
Thanks to Pushkin Press for sending an ARC.
did-not-finish
October 22, 2020I loved the idea of two sisters finding each other, but I had to DNF this by page 50 due to the rape, violent beatings and animal sacrifice. Just too heavy for me.
October 8, 2020
3.5 stars
This was a heart-wrenching read at times, a story of two twin sisters, together and then separated. They were separated as far from one another as could be imagined and their journeys were very different. There were a number of moments where I felt like I was reading through my hands but there was also a thread of hope throughout.
The cover is a vibrant as the story that was told and descriptions of the different places these sisters navigated. At times, I found the narrative voice a little abrupt in flow but I did adjust to the storytelling style the more I got into it. I did feel a bit left in the lurch over tying up the story of one the sisters.
This was a good read with an important story of slavery, oppression and the journey towards freedom.
Please check out some own voices review on this one. Thank you to Pushkin Press for the early review copy.
This was a heart-wrenching read at times, a story of two twin sisters, together and then separated. They were separated as far from one another as could be imagined and their journeys were very different. There were a number of moments where I felt like I was reading through my hands but there was also a thread of hope throughout.
The cover is a vibrant as the story that was told and descriptions of the different places these sisters navigated. At times, I found the narrative voice a little abrupt in flow but I did adjust to the storytelling style the more I got into it. I did feel a bit left in the lurch over tying up the story of one the sisters.
This was a good read with an important story of slavery, oppression and the journey towards freedom.
Please check out some own voices review on this one. Thank you to Pushkin Press for the early review copy.
December 11, 2020
Writing reviews is something I really enjoy. Not only because I like telling others about the (mostly) lovely and sometimes unknown books, but also because it gives me the time to think about what I've just read, what kind of journey I've been on, what I've learned and who I've gotten to know along the way. However, writing positive reviews is mostly much easier than writing negative ones. Because with positive reviews I enjoy those extra time with the book and the characters. With negative reviews, it's a struggle to find the right words.
And that's also what I'm struggling with in this case. I understand the intentions of this story. I understand that a lot of things that are being told and described are important for me to know. I understand that this is a YA book that shows us a part of history that is unknown to many of us and feels like long ago and far away (even though it's not THAT long ago and for sure not THAT far away). However, not once while reading this book did I feel anything.
I could never really connect to these characters. It feels like I still don't really know them, like I've been allowed to witness their lives from a distance, but have never come close and have for sure not become their friend. And in this case I think that really would have added something much needed to the story. The journey of the two girls is supposed to be quite emotional and hard and different from all the journeys we're so familiar with in YA literature. But when it doesn't touch me, when it doesn't reach my heart, the important message eventually gets lost.
It's hard to pinpoint what exactly goes wrong. One of the most important parts is that the story is described to be about two sisters on a quest to find each other, while they both do not too much searching at all. We mostly get to see how they live their lives, who they meet, how they have to struggle to get the things they love and to do the things they want to do. We meet loads of characters and people, we are shown loads of, for me, unknown cultures and rituals. But the true emotional storyline of twin sisters being separated and desperately trying to find each is not there. Even their reunion wasn't emotional at all. Nothing in the book really was to me.
And it's a pity. Because I think stories about girls like these need to be told. And I think I need to read stories about girls like these. I just think that a story written like this, where the showcasing of the beautiful African culture and the horrible history its people had to endure overshadows the plot and characters, is not gonna work for me.
And that's also what I'm struggling with in this case. I understand the intentions of this story. I understand that a lot of things that are being told and described are important for me to know. I understand that this is a YA book that shows us a part of history that is unknown to many of us and feels like long ago and far away (even though it's not THAT long ago and for sure not THAT far away). However, not once while reading this book did I feel anything.
I could never really connect to these characters. It feels like I still don't really know them, like I've been allowed to witness their lives from a distance, but have never come close and have for sure not become their friend. And in this case I think that really would have added something much needed to the story. The journey of the two girls is supposed to be quite emotional and hard and different from all the journeys we're so familiar with in YA literature. But when it doesn't touch me, when it doesn't reach my heart, the important message eventually gets lost.
It's hard to pinpoint what exactly goes wrong. One of the most important parts is that the story is described to be about two sisters on a quest to find each other, while they both do not too much searching at all. We mostly get to see how they live their lives, who they meet, how they have to struggle to get the things they love and to do the things they want to do. We meet loads of characters and people, we are shown loads of, for me, unknown cultures and rituals. But the true emotional storyline of twin sisters being separated and desperately trying to find each is not there. Even their reunion wasn't emotional at all. Nothing in the book really was to me.
And it's a pity. Because I think stories about girls like these need to be told. And I think I need to read stories about girls like these. I just think that a story written like this, where the showcasing of the beautiful African culture and the horrible history its people had to endure overshadows the plot and characters, is not gonna work for me.
September 1, 2022
La Hassana i la Husseina són dues bessones els destins de les quals se separen després d'una incursió dels esclavistes al seu poble natal de Ghana. La Hassana serà capturada i portada la Costa d'Or africana, mentre que la Husseina acabarà a Salvador de Bahía, al Brasil. La connexió entre les bessones fa que la Husseina tingui somnis premonitoris de la seva germana plens d'aigua, veles i una sensació d'angoixa. Té poca informació, només sap que hi ha una vasta extensió d'aigua que les separa, però en té prou per convertir aquest desig en la força motriu que l'empeny a lluitar per trobar-la algun dia.
La història transcorre al llarg d'uns sis-set anys, que coincideix amb el període adolescent de les bessones i la seva transició cap a la maduresa. En la història hi té un pes molt important el xoc cultural entre la cultura africana i la dels països colonitzadors, que apareix constantment en forma d'àpats, llengües, religions i nivell socioeconòmic. L'evolució de les bessones cap a l'edat adulta també fa que cada cop siguin menys ingènues de tot el que encara les separa dels pobles europeus invasors. També hi ha lloc per a la crítica envers les guerres, i el fort impacte psicològic que tenen pels combatents.
M'ha agradat llegir la història de les dues bessones i fer aquest viatge cultural tan bèstia. Tot i que la literatura juvenil no és el meu gènere preferit, reconec que l'autora tracta temes importants i ho fa de manera elegant i realista, sense maquillar l'esclavisme i parlant-ne obertament. Potser la part central on s'incideix en el culte als orixàs se m'ha fet una mica llarga, però el ritme s'accelera a l'última part del llibre i l'autora manté la intriga sobre si les bessones s'acabaran retrobant o no. Per saber-ne el desenllaç, caldrà que creueu un oceà... de paraules.
(LAIA)
La història transcorre al llarg d'uns sis-set anys, que coincideix amb el període adolescent de les bessones i la seva transició cap a la maduresa. En la història hi té un pes molt important el xoc cultural entre la cultura africana i la dels països colonitzadors, que apareix constantment en forma d'àpats, llengües, religions i nivell socioeconòmic. L'evolució de les bessones cap a l'edat adulta també fa que cada cop siguin menys ingènues de tot el que encara les separa dels pobles europeus invasors. També hi ha lloc per a la crítica envers les guerres, i el fort impacte psicològic que tenen pels combatents.
M'ha agradat llegir la història de les dues bessones i fer aquest viatge cultural tan bèstia. Tot i que la literatura juvenil no és el meu gènere preferit, reconec que l'autora tracta temes importants i ho fa de manera elegant i realista, sense maquillar l'esclavisme i parlant-ne obertament. Potser la part central on s'incideix en el culte als orixàs se m'ha fet una mica llarga, però el ritme s'accelera a l'última part del llibre i l'autora manté la intriga sobre si les bessones s'acabaran retrobant o no. Per saber-ne el desenllaç, caldrà que creueu un oceà... de paraules.
(LAIA)
June 18, 2020
The Deep Blue Between – Between oceans, cultures, languages and faiths, two sisters' search for one another aided by dreams makes for a ethereal, dreamy read.
This was such a comforting read to get wrapped up in. For a novel that blends dual narratives, the descriptions of loss and familial longing are lyrical throughout.
Following the story of two sisters, I did favour Vitoria's chapters, with the vivid descriptions of Candomble. Interestingly, the Afro-Brazillian religion plays a huge role, especially in the closing chapters with the parallels between the syncretism of Orixas and Catholicism and how Hassana and Husseina's world views are shaped through their respective struggles.
In all, this a great read, one that explores an era and topic not widely written about in YA and New Adult fiction. I'd recommend for anyone who has read and enjoyed West African inspired YA such as Tomi Adeyemi's Children's of Blood and Bone series.
Completing the full triangle of West Africa, Europe and the Americas makes for a nuanced novel, not solely about colonialism and slavery, but with characters full of depth and heart in their own right.
This was such a comforting read to get wrapped up in. For a novel that blends dual narratives, the descriptions of loss and familial longing are lyrical throughout.
Following the story of two sisters, I did favour Vitoria's chapters, with the vivid descriptions of Candomble. Interestingly, the Afro-Brazillian religion plays a huge role, especially in the closing chapters with the parallels between the syncretism of Orixas and Catholicism and how Hassana and Husseina's world views are shaped through their respective struggles.
In all, this a great read, one that explores an era and topic not widely written about in YA and New Adult fiction. I'd recommend for anyone who has read and enjoyed West African inspired YA such as Tomi Adeyemi's Children's of Blood and Bone series.
Completing the full triangle of West Africa, Europe and the Americas makes for a nuanced novel, not solely about colonialism and slavery, but with characters full of depth and heart in their own right.
August 2, 2020
!!! book review - https://africanbookaddict.com/2020/08...
solid 4 stars.
Aww, the ending was cute! This was a long journey, especially for readers of 'The Hundred Wells of Salaga' which was published in 2018, where we were first introduced to the twins - Hassana and Husseina.
sidebar - imagine the deep annoyance I felt encountering Wofa Sarpong again, at the beginning of this novel. Does anyone hate him more than me? whew...
solid 4 stars.
Aww, the ending was cute! This was a long journey, especially for readers of 'The Hundred Wells of Salaga' which was published in 2018, where we were first introduced to the twins - Hassana and Husseina.
sidebar - imagine the deep annoyance I felt encountering Wofa Sarpong again, at the beginning of this novel. Does anyone hate him more than me? whew...
April 18, 2021
Very lovely book and such intense research reflected through the innocence of childhood and young adulthood
Highly recommend!
November 21, 2021
Een hoopvol verhaal over tweelingzussen die op een brute manier van elkaar worden gescheiden, maar er alles aan doen om elkaar weer te vinden. De ene zus, Hassana, vertelt over haar ontsnapping aan haar ontvoerder. Hoe ze in Ghana ondanks alles werd opgehaald en hoe dat haar in staat stelde om creatief te zijn, zelfs als ze zich ten einde raad voelde. De andere zus Husseina stond altijd bekend als de stille volger, maar haar kaarten draaien wanneer ze candomblé ontdekt.
Ik ben geraakt hoe beide moedige jonge meiden de bouwstenen van hun verleden gebruiken om hun toekomst te creëren. En alle goede mensen die hen hebben geholpen op hun manier te eren tijdens hun reis (naar elkaar).
En bovenal - on a personal note - ben ik dankbaar om weer even terug te zijn in het Ghana dat ik ken. Alle gerechten even visueel kon proeven. Mijn heimwee is weer volledig aangewakkerd 🇬🇭
Mooiste quote p.158: “Je bent Kehinde,” zei Yaya met raspende stem (tegen Husseina). “Dat betekent dat je als laatste kwam, maar je bent wel de oudste. Je hebt Taiwo eerst naar buiten gestuurd om de wereld te proeven en zij zei dat het goed was om naar buiten te komen. Dat betekent dat jij de baas bent. Jij hebt de sleutel in handen om elkaar te vinden. Jij roept en zij volgt. Je bent de hoeder van jullie gezamenlijke ziel.”
Ik ben geraakt hoe beide moedige jonge meiden de bouwstenen van hun verleden gebruiken om hun toekomst te creëren. En alle goede mensen die hen hebben geholpen op hun manier te eren tijdens hun reis (naar elkaar).
En bovenal - on a personal note - ben ik dankbaar om weer even terug te zijn in het Ghana dat ik ken. Alle gerechten even visueel kon proeven. Mijn heimwee is weer volledig aangewakkerd 🇬🇭
Mooiste quote p.158: “Je bent Kehinde,” zei Yaya met raspende stem (tegen Husseina). “Dat betekent dat je als laatste kwam, maar je bent wel de oudste. Je hebt Taiwo eerst naar buiten gestuurd om de wereld te proeven en zij zei dat het goed was om naar buiten te komen. Dat betekent dat jij de baas bent. Jij hebt de sleutel in handen om elkaar te vinden. Jij roept en zij volgt. Je bent de hoeder van jullie gezamenlijke ziel.”
September 30, 2020
The Deep Blue Between is a strikingly historic tale about love, loss, family, and hope. It tells the story of Hassana and Husseina, twins who are separated as children and grow up with an ocean between them. The only thing that connects them are their dreams, as they long to be united once again.
Ayesha Harruna Attah’s vivid and enchanting descriptions Brazil and the Gold Coast brilliantly establish the impassioned atmosphere for this book. Her writing style stirs up a courageous spirit that makes The Deep Blue Between a really comforting read. She highlights the complexities of sisterhood through well-rounded characters and their individual journeys of growth and self-discovery.
The book has a dual narrative, and although twins tell the story, the differences in their personalities are evident. They could very easily blend into one voice, but Attah subtly forms slight contrasts between the two, which only develops as they mature in different environments. Their voices complement each other flawlessly, which is the biggest highlight for me.
The Deep Blue Between really forces the reader to empathise with Hassana and Husseina. It becomes a window into a mindset built on conviction and loyalty, during times of slavery and colonialism. The impact of culture and society is also explored alongside the twins’ hardships. This beautiful story is rich in both culture and emotion. It takes place during a dark era of history but emphasises the importance of endurance and faith during the most difficult of journeys.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram 📚✨
Ayesha Harruna Attah’s vivid and enchanting descriptions Brazil and the Gold Coast brilliantly establish the impassioned atmosphere for this book. Her writing style stirs up a courageous spirit that makes The Deep Blue Between a really comforting read. She highlights the complexities of sisterhood through well-rounded characters and their individual journeys of growth and self-discovery.
The book has a dual narrative, and although twins tell the story, the differences in their personalities are evident. They could very easily blend into one voice, but Attah subtly forms slight contrasts between the two, which only develops as they mature in different environments. Their voices complement each other flawlessly, which is the biggest highlight for me.
The Deep Blue Between really forces the reader to empathise with Hassana and Husseina. It becomes a window into a mindset built on conviction and loyalty, during times of slavery and colonialism. The impact of culture and society is also explored alongside the twins’ hardships. This beautiful story is rich in both culture and emotion. It takes place during a dark era of history but emphasises the importance of endurance and faith during the most difficult of journeys.
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September 11, 2020
This is a beautiful work of historical fiction which highlights the challenges of sisterhood in the best ways. Hassana and Husseina are separated when their home is raided at just 10 years of age. Hussaina, the quieter twin, ends up in difficult circumstances until a kind woman takes her to Brazil. Hassana escapes her own difficult circumstances and remains on the Gold Coast of Africa.
The sisters both share dreams, and at the beginning with limited understanding of world Geography, they don't understand how difficult finding each other will be when the ocean separates them.
It's an interesting story that takes twins and grows them in different environments. They both experience different cultures, learn different languages, find different religions. Over a course of 7 years, the breadth of history that Ayesha Harruna Attah covers is incredible (especially in only around 250 pages) - detailed but not boring. The character development still shines through, making it a really beautiful read. I am a huge fan of stories about sisters and this one explores the love, the angst, the confusion in such beautiful ways.
The ending is absolutely amazing and a strong finish to a story I didn't know I needed. I learned so much about this period of history in a countries I've hardly read about. Thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC
The sisters both share dreams, and at the beginning with limited understanding of world Geography, they don't understand how difficult finding each other will be when the ocean separates them.
It's an interesting story that takes twins and grows them in different environments. They both experience different cultures, learn different languages, find different religions. Over a course of 7 years, the breadth of history that Ayesha Harruna Attah covers is incredible (especially in only around 250 pages) - detailed but not boring. The character development still shines through, making it a really beautiful read. I am a huge fan of stories about sisters and this one explores the love, the angst, the confusion in such beautiful ways.
The ending is absolutely amazing and a strong finish to a story I didn't know I needed. I learned so much about this period of history in a countries I've hardly read about. Thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC
March 20, 2025
3.5✨
I’m always ready to read a story that highlights the history of slavery within the borders of Africa in the 17th-18th centuries because I feel that it’s not as common in fiction as those that highlight the transatlantic slave trade. So I was really excited to get into this. I had also assumed it to be a sequel to The Hundred Wells of Salaga, but it’s really not, even though it branches out from the same storyline.
The Deep Blue Within follows the lives of the separated Yero twins, Hassana and Husseina, across Lagos, Brazil and The Gold Coast, on their journey to freedom, self discovery and eventual reunion.
Having loved the prose and narrative in The Hundred Wells, I really struggled with the style of this book at first then I came to terms with the fact that it was written for a teen/YA audience and everything fell in place. I also didn’t like that the twins seemed so different from each other, but at the end of the book, I think it made room for substantial character development to occur.
There are so many things that make this an exciting book to read. The first is the fact that it captures the essence of living in Lagos and the Gold Coast at the time when slavery was still being practiced in the 80’s. The second one is that it spotlights the existence of a thriving Afro-Brazilian culture and community, both in Brazil and Africa. The third is that it interrogates faith and religious practices from a very Afrocentric lens.
There’s also a twin lore that casts a thin layer of magic throughout the course of the book, and it melds beautifully with the traditional religious practice, Hassana believed staunchly in.
That said, it sometimes felt like it reached for a lot of themes and some were never fully developed.
Regardless, I would highly recommend this for teens and young readers.
I’m always ready to read a story that highlights the history of slavery within the borders of Africa in the 17th-18th centuries because I feel that it’s not as common in fiction as those that highlight the transatlantic slave trade. So I was really excited to get into this. I had also assumed it to be a sequel to The Hundred Wells of Salaga, but it’s really not, even though it branches out from the same storyline.
The Deep Blue Within follows the lives of the separated Yero twins, Hassana and Husseina, across Lagos, Brazil and The Gold Coast, on their journey to freedom, self discovery and eventual reunion.
Having loved the prose and narrative in The Hundred Wells, I really struggled with the style of this book at first then I came to terms with the fact that it was written for a teen/YA audience and everything fell in place. I also didn’t like that the twins seemed so different from each other, but at the end of the book, I think it made room for substantial character development to occur.
There are so many things that make this an exciting book to read. The first is the fact that it captures the essence of living in Lagos and the Gold Coast at the time when slavery was still being practiced in the 80’s. The second one is that it spotlights the existence of a thriving Afro-Brazilian culture and community, both in Brazil and Africa. The third is that it interrogates faith and religious practices from a very Afrocentric lens.
There’s also a twin lore that casts a thin layer of magic throughout the course of the book, and it melds beautifully with the traditional religious practice, Hassana believed staunchly in.
That said, it sometimes felt like it reached for a lot of themes and some were never fully developed.
Regardless, I would highly recommend this for teens and young readers.
December 15, 2020
The deep blue between is a historical fiction that looks at the suffering of one family in Africa. I found it very interesting and would definitely be interested in learning more about the aspects of life that the book covers.
It is told for the perspective of twins Hassana and Husseina after they’ve been separated. Hassana manages to stay with their older sister, but the rest of the family is lost. The circumstances of both twins are incredibly sad and I found that I definitely wanted to know how it was going to work out for them. However, I found the storytelling lacking in connections. I couldn’t connect with either twin and the only people in the book who I felt we saw real caring for were fleeting. Even their dreams and particularly Hassana’s longing for her twin is delivered relatively factually and doesn’t really provide the sense to the reader.
The cultures we see are very interesting - I liked that we saw Husseina adjust to the Brazilian culture and in the end bring it back to Africa. And I liked that we saw what the British were getting up to from the African perspective (I definitely was waiting for that, we did some awful stuff, and it was good to see that reflected).
I also am not sure I saw the point of the ending. Other than reconnecting it didn’t seem to have a conclusion?
I wanted to like this more than I did. Definitely interesting reading, and I’m glad I read it, I just wanted more from the delivery. 2.5 stars.
It is told for the perspective of twins Hassana and Husseina after they’ve been separated. Hassana manages to stay with their older sister, but the rest of the family is lost. The circumstances of both twins are incredibly sad and I found that I definitely wanted to know how it was going to work out for them. However, I found the storytelling lacking in connections. I couldn’t connect with either twin and the only people in the book who I felt we saw real caring for were fleeting. Even their dreams and particularly Hassana’s longing for her twin is delivered relatively factually and doesn’t really provide the sense to the reader.
The cultures we see are very interesting - I liked that we saw Husseina adjust to the Brazilian culture and in the end bring it back to Africa. And I liked that we saw what the British were getting up to from the African perspective (I definitely was waiting for that, we did some awful stuff, and it was good to see that reflected).
I also am not sure I saw the point of the ending. Other than reconnecting it didn’t seem to have a conclusion?
I wanted to like this more than I did. Definitely interesting reading, and I’m glad I read it, I just wanted more from the delivery. 2.5 stars.
July 23, 2020
ARC from NetGalley
Here we have a beautifully crafted tale about twin sisters torn apart at a very young age who never give up trying to get back to each other. Their twin connection makes it that bit more magical. We follow their journeys across half the world and through most of their childhood and teenage years and luckily enough with plenty of hardship also comes plenty of good people along the way.
Overall I enjoyed this story because tales of sisterhood always appeal to me. It did happen on several occasions that I felt a little lost in the story but that's probably due to not having enough time to dedicate to it in one sitting. It pulls you right in but you can lose the thread of thought if you don't get back to it the same day.
Writing was absolutely gorgeous.
Here we have a beautifully crafted tale about twin sisters torn apart at a very young age who never give up trying to get back to each other. Their twin connection makes it that bit more magical. We follow their journeys across half the world and through most of their childhood and teenage years and luckily enough with plenty of hardship also comes plenty of good people along the way.
Overall I enjoyed this story because tales of sisterhood always appeal to me. It did happen on several occasions that I felt a little lost in the story but that's probably due to not having enough time to dedicate to it in one sitting. It pulls you right in but you can lose the thread of thought if you don't get back to it the same day.
Writing was absolutely gorgeous.
August 3, 2020
This book was a wonderful read and has made me think long after I finished reading it. It is a story of a set of twins who were separated during a raid on their home in Africa. The story is written from the perspective of both girls and is done in a very clever way. The book spans years and the story of them finally reuniting after they both grow up and continue to have life changing events happen to them. Oceans cannot keep them apart but when they finally do reunite all is not as simple and straightforward.
A lovely story about family, friendship, love and belonging.
A lovely story about family, friendship, love and belonging.
September 14, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Didn't want it to end! Loved the exploration of African-South American relations. Well written. Well researched.
February 4, 2023
DNF at 56%.
September 16, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an EARC of this title prior to its release in exchange for an honest review.
A story ultimately about love, loss, survival, and most importantly, maintaining hope even in the darkest of times.
I want to preface this review by encouraging you to find own voices reviews of this book, prior to reading mine as although I can talk critically about the book I feel as if the story itself may be more influential and meaningful for a different audience and would like to highlight them.
This book is a historical fiction novel following two twin sisters who have been separated during a raid and are forced into slavery. This book primarily takes place after slavery has been deemed illegal and the sisters each begin taking their own individual journeys of growth and self-discovery.
The historical setting was really rich and I enjoyed seeing the differences in the various countries and cultures and I hadn't seen that represented before in the historical genre. I also think the representation of the story is really important as similarly, it is a unique story in literature but ultimately one that was a harsh reality for people in years past.
The individual tones of voice are recognizable and separate which I think is so important considering our main characters are twins and I enjoyed the story as a whole despite it not being as engaging as I would have liked. It is a short book however so although the pacing is slow it isn't as major of an issue. The ending was realistic and slightly bittersweet in parts which was a strongsuit in my opinion.
I wasn't interested all the way through, it did take me a while to get through. I also wasn't drawn to continue reading as much as I had hoped so that has affected my rating, this is a personal preference however and would recommend this primarily for fans of historical fiction or contemporary literature.
Overall a 3.5 star read for me
A story ultimately about love, loss, survival, and most importantly, maintaining hope even in the darkest of times.
I want to preface this review by encouraging you to find own voices reviews of this book, prior to reading mine as although I can talk critically about the book I feel as if the story itself may be more influential and meaningful for a different audience and would like to highlight them.
This book is a historical fiction novel following two twin sisters who have been separated during a raid and are forced into slavery. This book primarily takes place after slavery has been deemed illegal and the sisters each begin taking their own individual journeys of growth and self-discovery.
The historical setting was really rich and I enjoyed seeing the differences in the various countries and cultures and I hadn't seen that represented before in the historical genre. I also think the representation of the story is really important as similarly, it is a unique story in literature but ultimately one that was a harsh reality for people in years past.
The individual tones of voice are recognizable and separate which I think is so important considering our main characters are twins and I enjoyed the story as a whole despite it not being as engaging as I would have liked. It is a short book however so although the pacing is slow it isn't as major of an issue. The ending was realistic and slightly bittersweet in parts which was a strongsuit in my opinion.
I wasn't interested all the way through, it did take me a while to get through. I also wasn't drawn to continue reading as much as I had hoped so that has affected my rating, this is a personal preference however and would recommend this primarily for fans of historical fiction or contemporary literature.
Overall a 3.5 star read for me
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April 15, 2022This was a really beautiful sweeping story about two twin sisters as they navigate life apart while dealing with grief and loss and faith and spirituality all while trying to find each other.
Hassana and Huseinna were separated at 10 years old when and sold into slavery. They were each forced to deal with pain and loss and grief without their other half. Each of them start their own journey that's begins with a goal of survival and ends with them each separately thriving in different parts of the world. It is set in the 1800s and the girls go from 10-17 on page. One stays in Lagos (Nigeria) and the other spends a large portion of time in Brazil.
As much as I enjoyed this one, I couldn't tell you which sister was which and the POV changes were very hard to navigate.The audio is mostly well done but some slight inflection for each twin would've been immensely helpful.
I really loved all the characters that formed these twins found family and while I do wish for a bit more from the ending, as a whole, this is a really stunning story about sisterhood and found family and trying to thrive when the world literally trying to stomp you out.
Big CW for slavery, physical abuse, gaslighting, death, hinting at sexual assault for secondary character.
Hassana and Huseinna were separated at 10 years old when and sold into slavery. They were each forced to deal with pain and loss and grief without their other half. Each of them start their own journey that's begins with a goal of survival and ends with them each separately thriving in different parts of the world. It is set in the 1800s and the girls go from 10-17 on page. One stays in Lagos (Nigeria) and the other spends a large portion of time in Brazil.
As much as I enjoyed this one, I couldn't tell you which sister was which and the POV changes were very hard to navigate.The audio is mostly well done but some slight inflection for each twin would've been immensely helpful.
I really loved all the characters that formed these twins found family and while I do wish for a bit more from the ending, as a whole, this is a really stunning story about sisterhood and found family and trying to thrive when the world literally trying to stomp you out.
Big CW for slavery, physical abuse, gaslighting, death, hinting at sexual assault for secondary character.
December 11, 2020
The idea of this book was quite promising, the execution... not so much. It feels like the author took the opportunity to describe African culture on two continents, which could be very interesting, if those facts were incorporated in the story. It felt more like the main story was forgotten from time to time. The facts and culture were interesting, but I didn't feel any connection to the characters, to their development, and the ending that might be emotional if the story was well done, didn't do anything for me. It's a meager 3 stars for me...
January 29, 2021
I kinda enjoyed reading it, but when I shut down the book, I still had so many questions. Just don’t think it was the right book for me to read.
March 27, 2023
had to read this for class but honestly enjoyed it, slow start but the character development of each twin was good
January 16, 2024
Read as an audiobook and some parts were hard to keep up with but overall a great story about twins separating into two very different lives and finding each other again later.
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