Ezomo chases after the leopard he believes killed his father, which leads him and his two friends to open the forbidden magical door that protects their village. - (Baker & Taylor)

Encountering the leopard believed to have killed his father, Ezomo and his two best friends open the forbidden magical door that protects them all and embark on a journey that reveals the true history of their village. 35,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook. - (Baker & Taylor)

“A beautifully rendered coming-of-age story.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

No one knows what lies beyond the magical village door, but Ezomo is determined to find out. Mayonn Paasewe-Valchev’s debut is an unforgettable coming-of-age story about friendship, family, and long-standing traditions. The power of storytelling comes to life in this novel perfect for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly, Tracey Baptiste, and Tae Keller.

There are three important laws in Ezomo’s village: Do not go to The Valley, do not go out at night, and never, ever, ever open the magical door that protects them all. But when Ezomo encounters the leopard believed to have killed his father, he and his two best friends embark on a journey that leads them past the boundaries set by their elders.

With his friends by his side, Ezomo chases after the leopard, certain that it has the power to cure all. But in the process, he discovers the truth about his village. And that cautionary tales exist for a reason.

Mayonn Paasewe-Valchev’s debut novel balances a gripping adventure with themes of friendship, community, identity, grief, and resilience. Poignant and memorable, Ezomo’s story will appeal to fantasy lovers and readers of Grace Lin and Kelly Barnhill.

Horn Book Guide Reviews

Long before you were born, or perhaps it was long after you had departed, there was a village. So begins this wondrous tale of the village of Sesa, the unusual boy who lives there -- and magic enough to change them both. Sesa has long been divided by the perceived ability of its residents, with those who lacked the talent and skill to contribute fully relegated to the compound known as Noroad. Even within Noroad, all inhabitants are expected to fill prescribed roles. Grief-stricken after his father is killed by a leopard, however, young Ezomo refuses to follow the traditional path of a child, instead choosing to spend his days wandering in the nearby woods -- an act the elders see as a threat to their authority. While they discuss the means of correction or punishment, Ezomo encounters the same leopard responsible for his father's death, and his journey for justice begins. Joined by two friends who experienced tragedies within their own families, Ezomo enters a magical vision quest of sorts into a beautifully described land full of talking birds, ageless children, sentient swamps, and magical trees. Far from traveling a linear route, the tale doesn't come to a neat conclusion for Ezomo and his friends, but it's a satisfying one all the same. Combining adventure, cautionary tale, and folklore, the narrative includes many side stories and intertwined histories. Christie's fantastical black-and-white illustrations, which mimic wood carvings, are interspersed throughout. Making use of many characteristics found in West African oral traditions (call and response, repetition, proverbs, etc.), this tale is a joy to read both silently and aloud. Copyright 2023 Horn Book Guide Reviews.

Horn Book Magazine Reviews

"Long before you were born, or perhaps it was long after you had departed, there was a village." So begins this wondrous tale of the village of Sesa, the unusual boy who lives there -- and magic enough to change them both. Sesa has long been divided by the perceived ability of its residents, with those who "lacked the talent and skill to contribute fully" relegated to the compound known as Noroad. Even within Noroad, all inhabitants are expected to fill prescribed roles. Grief-stricken after his father is killed by a leopard, however, young Ezomo refuses to follow the traditional path of a child, instead choosing to spend his days wandering in the nearby woods -- an act the elders see as a threat to their authority. While they discuss the means of correction or punishment, Ezomo encounters the same leopard responsible for his father's death, and his journey for justice begins. Joined by two friends who experienced tragedies within their own families, Ezomo enters a magical vision quest of sorts into a beautifully described land full of talking birds, ageless children, sentient swamps, and magical trees. Far from traveling a linear route, the tale doesn't come to a neat conclusion for Ezomo and his friends, but it's a satisfying one all the same. Combining adventure, cautionary tale, and folklore, the narrative includes many side stories and intertwined histories. Christie's fantastical black-and-white illustrations, which mimic wood carvings, are interspersed throughout. Making use of many characteristics found in West African oral traditions (call and response, repetition, proverbs, etc.), this tale is a joy to read both silently and aloud. Eboni Njoku January/February 2022 p.118 Copyright 2022 Horn Book Magazine Reviews.

Kirkus Reviews

A boy and his best friends embark on a pilgrimage that delivers bittersweet life lessons in a richly rendered, West African–inspired world. Ezomo is a 10-year-old boy from the village of Sesa. Secluded from the outside world by an impenetrable hedge of sweet thorn trees and a moss-covered door, Sesa has strict rules and traditions. No one is to open the village door, and no child is to go out at night without an adult. Called useless for his daydreaming ways, Ezomo has been considered a nuisance since his father's passing 3 years ago; his grief has been a constant burden, interfering with his ability to be a contributing village member or of any help to his mother. Ezomo's two best friends, Chimama and Muja, are treated as outcasts thanks to their parents' shameful shortcomings. One day Ezomo spots a leopard in the forest that he believes was responsible for his father's death. With his friends, Ezomo sets out to capture the leopard as vengeance. Their quest and ensuing desperate circumstances lead them to the forbidden village door—and the potential discovery of weighted secrets. They may have to break the rules to rectify past wrongs and salvage their own futures. Paasewe-Valchev's prose is captivating, smooth, and poetic in its delivery of this fresh and layered narrative. With well-timed, fluid pacing, this novel masterfully deals with themes of friendship, family, loss, and hope. Readers will be engrossed from start to finish. A beautifully rendered coming-of-age story. (Fiction. 8-14) Copyright Kirkus 2021 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.