When I thought that the story was reaching a conclusion I was amazed to discover that I was only at the halfway point. What brings the story down is its meandering pacing and its repetitive scenes. Their dynamic brought to mind my own childhood best friend who was a fun if slightly tyrannical girl who was very much aware of how in awe of her I was (if she told me to jump, i’d jump). TillyTilly is more of a trickster sort of figure, egging Jess to misbehave or let loose. Her loneliness is so poignant that I found myself truly invested in her character. The adults fail to understand or try to label her ‘difficult’ or ‘different’. Jess is a sensitive child who often seeks refuge in her own imagination. Things that are obvious to us are a mystery to her (for example when she observes the behaviour/actions of the adults around her). We view her reality/world through her eyes and with her ‘child’ understanding. Yet, her friendship with TillyTilly proves detrimental as an increasingly alienated Jess finds herself in trouble at school and at home.Īlthough the story is narrated through a 3rd pov Oyeyemi succeeds in authentically conveying Jess’ voice. As they spend more and more time together Jess realizes that TillyTilly is not like other children and that angering or antagonising her might result in disaster. When she returns home with her family Jess discovers that TillyTilly has followed her there. The two quickly become friends but much about TillyTilly preoccupies Jess. Here she comes across a girl called TillyTilly. The novel opens with her going on a trip to Nigeria with her parents where she stays in her mother’s family home. The Icarus Child revolves around Jessamy Harrison, who goes by Jess, an eight-year-old child with a white British father and a Nigerian mother living in England. The story’s surreal atmosphere is certainly one that permeates most of her works, but perhaps here the fantastical elements aren’t as mind-boggling as the ones characterising her later books.
As this happens to be the third book I’ve read of hers I can see just how much her writing has grown since The Icarus Child. And, as debuts go, The Icarus Child is by no means a weak one. That Helen Oyeyemi wrote her debut novel aged 18 while studying for her A-Levels is certainly an impressive feat.
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