And This is How to Stay Alive

November 1, 2021
Kagunda's newest novella is a quick yet heavy read set in a contemporary Kenya with magical undertones. When Kabi finds her younger brother's body after he dies by suicide, her life unravels. During the funeral, an odd auntie gives her a potion that allows her to travel back in time. Kabi is determined to keep Baraka from dying, but the excursion between past and present comes at a price. What follows is a story of heartbreak, family expectations, and loss told from different perspectives. Readers can understand the turmoil that results from a teenager's death, even with text written in the characters' native Swahili. Kagunda weaves an authentic yet otherworldly tale that reflects on the stages of grief and the lengths a young woman is willing to go for a chance to save a loved one. Although delving into difficult topics, This Is How to Stay Alive is accessible to both adults and young adults who enjoy speculative fiction by authors such as Octavia Butler and Tananarive Due.

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