Jade - Book Review

Jade
by Tracey Chizoba Fletcher

“God has blessed us with mineral resources to enrich us and make our lives better. But how have we utilized it?” This is the statement made by one of the characters in the book, Jade.

Jade is the story of a high school student who tries to find an important piece of his country’s history. Written by Tracey Chizoba Fletcher, the plot is set in one of the states in northern Nigeria.

Gregory Agwu is excited to start the new school year. He’s now a senior secondary student. Together with his friends and classmates, he listens to the principal’s announcement, only to be dismayed at the news. The school head says that students in the Sciences, Commercial, and Arts classes are required to take History. Gregory and his friends think the class is unnecessary because they believe they already know everything about their country. Nevertheless, Gregory takes this class under Mr. Julius, albeit begrudgingly.

Eventually, the subject gets Gregory’s interest. He was particularly intrigued when the teacher asked whether they knew of a second civil war that Nigeria almost had. Mr. Julius further explains that the government had issues with civilian rule and the oil boom at the time. Most of all, the discovery of a new mineral triggered violence that almost disintegrated the country. This is the part of history that piques Gregory’s interest. For he never knew that Nigeria has a precious mineral called jade.

The Key to the Jade Mystery

Gregory wonders why jade is never found in the history books of Nigeria. Mr. Julius does not know the answer either.

Curious that he is, Gregory does not leave things as it is. He’s bent on finding the truth about jade. He tries every possible avenue to solve the mystery of Nigerian history. Until an idea dawns on him. Gregory believes that his grandmother can help him. The old lady was already an adult during the time of its discovery. And so, she might know something about the mineral.

But, the problem is that Gregory’s grandmother suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease. And, does she even know about the mineral? Will the elderly woman be able to supply the missing piece of the puzzle?

Jade: The Book and the Author

Jade is a short story packed with interesting facts about Nigeria. Although it’s historical fiction, the author gives readers a general view of the country. She highlights the political situation and the root of the conflicts in the land. Tracey Fletcher’s writing style is straightforward and bold. She exposes the greed and power play in this part of Africa and how these attitudes affect the people. The author subtly brings out a powerful message through one of the characters who says,

“God has blessed us with mineral resources to enrich us and make our lives better. But how have we utilized it?”

Moreover, Fletcher points out to the readers that not every important event is available in history books or online. I can personally relate to this. My generation and the ones that come after me would have never known about an important part of Philippine history. Until a documentary was released regarding a Jewish rescue during the Holocaust.

Nevertheless, there are two things that I like the most in the book. First is the grandmother’s act of passing on an heirloom to her grandson. Personally, I believe this is an important matter to keep the tradition alive. An heirloom connects the new generations with their past.

Another thing that I like is the part where the author shows how the family handles a member with Alzheimer’s Disease. Fletcher implies that love and compassion are important in dealing with the person suffering from the disease.

The Book’s Rating

Technically, I saw only two typographical but negligible errors in Jade. And so, I give the book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, and I highly recommend it to readers 15 years old and above