New Children’s Book, The Pounding Widow Turns Pain into Pleasurable Read

Yinka Olatunbosun

Ngozi Uma has made a beautiful entry into the world of children’s literature with her debut book, ‘The Pounding Widow.’ Though short in length, the story carries deep emotions, strong lessons, and vivid pictures that young readers will find fascinating.

The book follows the life of Efere, a young widow whose husband dies only a few days after their wedding. Her grief is so heavy that it affects her mind and her daily life. She stops eating, refuses to bathe, and spends hours crying at his grave. At night, she pounds away at something in her mortar, making loud sounds that disturb the entire village. No one knows what she is pounding, and this mystery keeps readers curious.

The turning point comes when a brave little girl pretends to be possessed by a spirit and runs into Efere’s room, determined to find out the truth. This moment pushes the story forward and keeps children eager to turn the next page.

Ngozi Uma writes with clarity and purpose. Using simple language, clean narration, and vivid descriptions, she creates the scenes with ease. One touching moment in the book describes Efere remembering how she had once hit her head on a mud bed during one of her episodes, a memory that shows both her pain and her strength without being too heavy for young readers.

Each chapter ends with questions to help children understand and remember what they’ve read. This makes the book not just entertaining but also educational.

With 86 pages of simple, relatable storytelling, The Pounding Widow is perfect for young readers. Many readers have described it as short, engaging, and straight to the point. Beyond the mystery and emotions, the book teaches important lessons about loyalty, promises, and staying true to one’s word.

Ngozi Uma studied Mass Communication at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and has spent over a decade as a journalist. She writes for Daily Independent Newspaper as a columnist, relationship counselor, and a reporter. In 2025, she won the Diamond Excellence Award as the Top Female Media Performer of the Year. She is also a content creator who uses her communication skills to produce meaningful and engaging content for a wide audience.

With The Pounding Widow, she adds “children’s author” to her growing list of achievements — and she does it with grace, heart, and simplicity.