Braids Take a Day

artfully intertwines themes of cultural exploration and self-discovery … one of the novel’s strengths lies in Boladale’s use of braiding as a metaphor for life, weaving together strands of culture, femininity and autonomy … Braids Take A Day celebrates the resilience and adaptability of the human spirit, urging us to embrace new adventures while honouring our essence and heritage

-- Inis Magazine, reviewed by Suchismitta Dattagupta

A coming of age story featuring Nigerian-Irish culture, it’s Boladale’s first book and is an intriguing read, as Abi’s family secrets are gradually revealed to both Abi and the reader. First love, teen parties and braids!

-- Sarah Webb

follows the story of Abidemi Benson, a black Irish woman on the verge of adulthood who embarks upon a summer of self-discovery after completing her Leaving Certificate. The novel weaves themes of friendship, romance and independence together with strands of African and Irish culture

-- Irish Times' Magazine, Lauren Murphy

Boladale’s coming-of-age debut perfectly captures rural Irish teenage life along with the complicated emotions and search for identity that come with that final summer between secondary school and college

-- Irish Examiner

Like braids unravelled one at a time, the intertwined plot strands of this debut teen novel from Nigerian-Irish TV presenter Zainab Boladale are revealed … this is a very readable coming-of-age novel with a fresh Afro-Irish perspective — its pace accelerating as Abi’s summer moves from small-town tedium to the possibilities of new relationships, romance, and independence

-- Irish Examiner, Pet O’Connell

a great read, really really enjoyable 

-- RTE Radio 1’s Today with Claire Byrne

RTE Nationwide presenter Zainab Boladale makes her fiction debut with Braids Take A Day, focusing on Abidemi’s last summer in her small town before heading off to college in Dublin. It’s just Abi and her dad at home, since her mother’s death, and she sometimes wishes she had more family around…  A friendship with a Nigerian woman she meets on Instagram provides some of what she needs, serving as a counterpoint to the moments when Abi - whose knowledge of such things is gleaned mostly from the internet - is asked by girls at school to give her official opinion on cultural appropriation and black history. It’s handled with a light touch … Boladale does a great job at capturing smalltown Irish life, with the routine of the “big shop” at the weekends and the negotiating to be done in order to get to the nearest disco; we also have subtle nods about her dad’s accent switching depending on whether he’s talking to international colleagues or the locals. Abi’s an endearing heroine, and it’s particularly lovely to see her figure out what she really wants to focus on post-school

-- Irish Times

The summer after exams, a new start at college and unraveling secrets - this engaging story is perfect for KS4

-- Scope for Imagination

a lovely debut, a wonderful coming-of-age story; an intriguing family/friendship drama; Surprising, compassionate, enlightening, moving…a real joy to read. And in subtle ways, it really makes you think. I loved every page!

-- Fallen Star Stories

the narrative artfully intertwines themes of cultural exploration and self-discovery

-- Children's Books Ireland’s Annual Reading Guide 2024

I would rate this book a 9-out-of-10 as it ticked practically all my boxes for a well-rounded novel! You can bet that I will be in Zainab’s corner for whenever she releases her next book! - Phoebe, 15, St Leo’s College, Carlow

-- Seomra Ranga

I struggled to put down the book to get on with my life because I just wanted to know what happened next … I really hope there is a sequel … I really loved this book

-- Nayu’s Reading Corner

captures the teenage transition to adulthood with warmth and relatability for young adult readers

-- Irish Farmers Journal's Gift Guide

a beautiful, coming-of-age novel, demonstrating the fragility of teenage relationships

-- The School Librarian Magazine

A highly readable coming-of-age story featuring Nigerian-Irish culture

-- Irish Indepen