ALA Booklist (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

In the 1970s, 10-year-old Lumush lives with his family in Railway Estates in Kenya. A recent transfer to the snobbish English-language-only Hill School, Lumush much prefers spending time with his old friends from the local school. When the boys venture into a nearby "haunted house" on a dare, they overhear known locals talking about murder and a coffee-smuggling operation. The next time the boys return, they find more danger than they bargained for. This coming-of-age novel is part of the publisher's new initiative, Accord Books, to bring works by contemporary writers from Africa to English-speaking audiences. Debut author Ochieng fills his narrative with just enough details about the characters' lives, community, and history to keep the story lively. Be advised some conversations include mentions of male and female circumcision, tavern life, criminal activities, and death of contemporaries, and younger readers may benefit from additional guided discussions. Nevertheless, there's great appeal in the distinctive setting and the universal quality of the boys' attitudes, camaraderie, and interactions with their world. Look for more from this new voice from Kenya.

Horn Book (Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

Growing up in 1970s Nairobi -- and Railway Estate in particular -- offers plenty for four young boys to do. Ten-year-old Lumush, whose railway-worker father has just gotten a promotion, is being sent to "snobby" Hill School, without Odush, Dado, and Mose. But the boys manage to stay best friends, hanging out by the old wrecked Zephyr car sitting up on stones behind the Estate, playing a game of chance called pata potea, wandering the neighborhood, climbing trees, stealing fruit, and watching the sprayers manage the mosquito population. They are especially drawn to the mystery of the "ghost house," where a white woman and her daughter died years before. Lumush ignores his mama's oft-repeated warning about sticking his nose in other people's business, and, indeed, spying on that "evil house" almost costs him his life. Ochieng's debut novel for young readers offers a richly realized setting, four well-drawn protagonists, and a neighborhood mystery that's also tied to the politics and economics of the time and place. Four ordinary boys, a creepy puzzle to solve, and a fumbling route to heroism add up to a rewarding read. Dean Schneider

Kirkus Reviews

Four young friends help expose local criminals in this mystery set in 1970s Nairobi.Lumush is starting at a new, fancier school, thanks to his father's promotion. While adjusting to this new environment, where he is looked down upon by most, he spends his time after school trying to convince his friends from the neighborhood and his old school that he's not changing. He and his friends Odush, Dado, and Mose hang out at an old, abandoned car, occasionally poking around a house people say is haunted by a White family that mysteriously died there. One day the boys find an old journal in the car, reading in it implications that a crime may have been committed that bears a striking resemblance to the deaths of the White family. The friends disagree over what to do with the information, but when strange things happen around town, they become more and more involved in trying to uncover the criminals until they finally reach a point of no return. Lumush is a sympathetic protagonist with believable, layered relationships with his family, teachers, and friends, and the setting is richly described. The realism of his world helps ground readers for an enjoyable ride despite uneven pacing, the less-believable element of the crime ring, and some thinly drawn supporting characters.An entertaining picture of a boy's life between social classes. (Historical mystery. 11-14)