Plot Summary

Coconut

Kopano Matlwa
Guide cover placeholder

Coconut

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2007

Book Brief

Kopano Matlwa

Coconut

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2007
Book Details
Pages

198

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

South Africa • 2000s

Publication Year

2007

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Coconut by Kopano Matlwa follows the lives of two black girls, rich and pampered Ofilwe and sassy and spunky Fikile, growing up in the white suburbs of Johannesburg, South Africa. They navigate a confusing and oppressive system of class, race, and gender, struggling to find their identities in a society that forces them to whitewash themselves for acceptance. The book addresses themes of race, class disparity, and cultural identity in post-Apartheid South Africa.

Contemplative

Challenging

Emotional

Melancholic

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

3.6

1,806 ratings

58%

Loved it

32%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Kopano Matlwa's Coconut captures the poignant struggles of black South Africans navigating cultural identity in post-apartheid society. Praised for its authentic voice and insightful commentary, the novel deftly tackles themes of race, class, and assimilation. However, some readers find its approach heavy-handed and the narrative structure uneven.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Coconut?

Readers who enjoy Coconut by Kopano Matlwa are often drawn to contemporary novels exploring themes of identity, race, and societal expectations within post-apartheid South Africa. Fans of Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas will appreciate the nuanced portrayal of young black experiences.

3.6

1,806 ratings

58%

Loved it

32%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

198

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

South Africa • 2000s

Publication Year

2007

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Buy This Book

We’re just getting started

Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!