[This book is] a simple story of a "strong man" whose life is dominated by fear and anger ... Uniquely ... African, at the same time it reveals [the author's] ... awareness of the human qualities common to men of all times and places.-Back cover.

Back cover- "What happens when a spirit child is rejected by both sides? Will they wither away, or struggle for acceptance in a world that spits them out? A young girl, rejected at birth by her father, reincarnates in a more acceptable body to the chagrin of her spirit relatives. Daring ostracism, she plunges headfirst into a human experience plagued by poverty, hunger and strife. Will Sakabula survive? Or, will she cave in and return to the world...

Describes life in the Nigerian village of Awkuzu, where every child born within a five-year period belongs to his or her own ogbo, or age group. They belong to the ogbo all through their lives, and through it they run the village and support one another.

Chidi has a favorite color, blue. He says it is the best color in the world. His older sister, Nneka, decides to teach him about other colors seen in their village.

Okonkwo is a great warrior and one of the powerful men in his village. When white missionaries and government bureaucrats threaten their tribal customs, he takes violent action.