At first, this book by native Nigerian Chimamanda Adichie poked me as a tedious, mundane read for teenagers. Yet as I gradually soaked the pages, the book struck me as anything but ordinary. Adichie’s style, tone, voice, characters and especially plot held me in thrall.

“Purple Hibiscus,” set in modern-day Nigeria, is told through the eyes of the protagonist. Kambili, an obedient and shy teen, must endure her restricted life as best as she can. Her father, Eugene “Papa,” is a well-known donator, businessman and member of the local Catholic church. However, Papa is stern, strict, allows no religious protocols to be broken in the house, assigns his two children specific schedules and punishes anyone who commits an act of sin, no matter how minor.

When Jaja, Kambili’s older brother, skips communion, matters begin to crumble. Papa’s rage haunts Mama, Jaja and Kambili as they cower below him like meek, craven sheep. Fear mounts when Kambili does not come first in her class. Every time Papa becomes displeased over a minor factor, he breaks china, lectures, prays and carries the air of an injured man. Meanwhile, a military coup is taking over Nigeria, forcing all truths to be silenced. When Ade Coker, Papa’s editor, is ruthlessly murdered by the head of state, pure black depression seeps into Papa’s body.

In the midst of this strain, Kambili is caught executing another sin and is severely beated by Papa. Aunty Ifeoma, Papa’s sister, persuades him to allow Kambili and Jaja to stay with her family. Meanwhile, Mama, terrified and left without any choice, desperately commits something she will always regret. In a heartbeat, Kambili’s future shatters.

Adichie’s novel does not merely inform; instead, the audience is grasped by every word, line and paragraph; transfixed by the tragedies, language and delicate events that Adichie weaves so seamlessly into the pages.