Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The sad story of the Biafran war is told through the intersecting lives of a few strong and believable characters that make the story of civil conflict come alive. The roots of the war are explained through the narrative. The book describes the excitement and optimism of the Biafrans as independence is declared and the decline into civil war, chaos and starvation. Interspersed in this harrowing tale are moments of human warmth and genuine humour.