"Transcendent." âThe New York Times Book Review
"Flawless. . . another masterpiece from an author who seems incapable of writing anything that's less than brilliant." âNPR
From the award-winning author of Boy, Snow, Bird and Peaces comes an enchanting collection of intertwined stories.
Playful, ambitious, and exquisitely imagined, What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours is cleverly built around the idea of keys, literal and metaphorical. The key to a house, the key to a heart, the key to a secretâOyeyemiâs keys not only unlock elements of her charactersâ lives, they promise further labyrinths on the other side. In âBooks and Rosesâ one special key opens a library, a garden, and clues to at least two loversâ fates. In âIs Your Blood as Red as This?â an unlikely key opens the heart of a student at a puppeteering school. ââSorryâ Doesnât Sweeten Her Teaâ involves a âhouse of locks,â where doors can be closed only with a keyâwith surprising, unobservable developments. And in âIf a Book Is Locked Thereâs Probably a Good Reason for That Don't You Think,â a key keeps a mystical diary locked (for good reason).
Oyeyemiâs tales span multiple times and landscapes as they tease boundaries between coexisting realities. Is a key a gate, a gift, or an invitation? What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours captivates as it explores the many possible answers.