A columnist, relationship counselor and a reporter, Ngozi Uma has made a beautiful entry into the world of children's literature with her captivating book, The Pounding Widow. Although short and written in very simple language, the story contains deep emotions, strong lessons, and moments that young readers will not forget.
The book is based on the life of Efre, a young widow whose husband dies just days after their marriage. His grief is so heavy that it affects his mind and daily life. She stops eating, stops bathing and cries for hours at his grave. At night, she throws something in her mortar, making a loud noise that disturbs the entire village. No one knows what she's spewing, and that mystery keeps readers curious.
The turning point comes when a brave little girl pretends to be possessed by a spirit and escapes into the affair room to find out the truth. This moment propels the story forward and keeps kids eager to turn the next page.
Ngozi Uma writes with clarity and purpose. She uses simple words, clear narration, and vivid descriptions that make it easy for children to imagine the scenes. A poignant moment in the book describes Effrey remembering how she once hit her head on a bed of mud 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 have read. This makes the book not only entertaining but also educational.
With a simple, relatable story of 86 pages, The Pounding Widow is perfect for young readers. Many have described it as concise, 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.
Uma is a Mass Communication graduate from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and has spent over a decade as a professional journalist. She writes for the Daily Independent Newspaper as a columnist, relationship counselor and a reporter. In 2025, she won the Diamond Excellence Award as the top female media artist of the year. She is also a content creator who uses her communication skills to create meaningful and engaging content for a wide audience.
With The Pounding Widow, she adds “children's author” to her growing list of accomplishments and she does it with grace, heart, and simplicity.
