Review by Don Pwai -- The Neighbour At Number 18 (Reload)

Don Pwai · Post by **Don Pwai** » 18 Oct 2019, 07:59

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Neighbour At Number 18 (Reload)" by Hawa Crickmore.]

4 out of 4 stars

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The horrid experiences that a person is exposed to as a child can have lasting impact on his or her development. The novel The Neighbour at Number 18(Reload) by Hawa Crickmore is a novel that highlights the consequences of the trauma children are exposed to at young ages. The leading character Maria is exposed to sexual molestation as a teenager. Her friend and confidante Emilia together with her cousin Tyler teams up to sexually molest her. Tyler had caught Emilia in an affair with her step father and is blackmailing Emilia to bring her female school mates to his flat so that he does not report the matter to Emilia’s mother, Maureen. Emilia sends many of her classmates to Tyler under the disguise of being taught Mathematics only to end up in his list of preys. Neighbours and teachers become wary of this acts and Tyler is finally caught with Maria. However, Maria falls deeply in love for Tyler. She is missing him after he is sent to prison and have nightmares about him. This experience continues into her adulthood and she is afraid of falling in love with other men. When she finally falls in love after her legal studies, she is still affected by her past and finds it difficult to be happy with her husband. Will she learn to move on from her childhood traumatic experience?

I loved the styles that the author uses in writing this novel. He uses styles like humour, suspense, dialogue and flashbacks in writing this work of fiction. These styles enhanced the taste of narration. For instance, the humour broke the boredom of narration. Characters like Tyler though had pathetic behaviour were sometimes fun to read about. Additionally, the suspense that envelopes following Maria tragedy at the hands of Tyler and Emilia is interesting. Would the relationship between their two close families survive such onslaught? Would Maria move on from her traumatic nightmares and her fears about falling in love again? Such suspense was just amazing and increased my desire to read this novel. I was inquisitive on the fate of the leading characters.

Secondly, I loved the positivism by which the main characters faces their lowest moments in the novel. For instance, Brenda who has just lost her husband through cancer and is widowed with three kids does not give up on her kids following her husband's death. When the going gets tough, the thought of her three precocious kids is what keeps her going. Her mother is there to support her in her lowest moments. Even Maria does not give up following her torrid experience in the hands of Tyler. She rises above her fears and difficulties to become one of the few women who gets admitted to the British legal profession. The fighting spirit of these leading characters is excellent and an a source of inspiration for many readers.

I loved the awareness that this book created on social problems like child molestation. The book shows that school going children can also be used as conduits in sex trade. Emilia, a school going child is being blackmailed by her cousin Tyler to bring her her female schoolmates to his flat for his sexual adventures. Additionally, this books shows the consequences of social wrongs by showing that wrongdoers shall not go unpunished. Characters like Tyler are punished for their mistakes. He is sent to prison for five years.

I award this novel 4 out of 4 stars. Its narration is compelling and creates awareness on the social ills in the society. It is educative on the societal issues. I recommend it book to all persons interested in children matters and various contemporary matters in the society. There is a lot to be learnt from the life of characters like Maria, Emilia, Brenda, Tyler and Maureen. However, persons who have no interest in contemporary social issues may look for other novels. This book is exceptionally well edited.

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The Neighbour At Number 18 (Reload)
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AnnOgochukwu · Post by **AnnOgochukwu** » 12 May 2020, 08:55

I already got the book to read, and I must say this review is encouraging and interesting. Thank you for this one.

DEEPA PUJARI · Post by **DEEPA PUJARI** » 12 May 2020, 09:45

This book has stockholm syndrome as its main plot. The topic of child abuse is disturbing but real. Nicely reviewed. Congratulations Botd!

Dylan921 · Post by **Dylan921** » 12 May 2020, 15:11

Good review, but can’t read about sexual abuse of a child!

Foluso Falaye · Post by **Foluso Falaye** » 13 May 2020, 09:44

I commend the author for shedding light on a topic that not too many want discuss. The review is quite detailed. I have friends that have gone through sexual abuse, and I feel more light should be shed on this dark subject to squeeze it out.