The Dragonfly Sea is set in Pate island, which is off the coast of Kenya, fringed by mangrove forests, edging the Indian Ocean. Both Ayaana and Munira grapple with the social mechanism of shaming throughout the course of their lives. The allure of the novel lies as much in the plot as Yvonne’s lyrical tone that punctuates almost every sentence. Ayaana’s excursions into the sea, her swimming with the dolphins and other aquatic beings, provide an outstanding imagery of a girl at one with nature. The sea is also a subject of simmering tension in the face of many forces (drilling by multinational companies, especially the Chinese ones).

Source: Dhaka Tribune April 11, 2020 15:00 UTC