Speak No Evil

Niku is a typical high school senior who has already been accepted to Harvard. Nikus parents are conservative Christians from Nigeria. Merideth is Nikus best friend. She wants more from Niku than he is willing to provide. She tries to seduce him and fails. She asks if anything was wrong with her. Niku admits to Merideth that he is in fact gay. After this announcement Merideth installs Grindr and tinder onto Nikus phone.

One day Nikus dad discovers a text between Niku and another man. His father loses it and states not his son. Niku tells Merideth at school what is going on and she tries to convince Niku to run away from his father. Niku said he would just find him and it would only make it worse. Merideth becomes very concerned for her friend. The altercation turns physical. Nikus parents takes him back to Nigeria for a forced intervention. Niku can't escape his father and return to the United States because his father has control of Nikus money and passport. The forced intervention causes even more resentment from Niku. The pastor goes to extremes to force the homosexuality out of Niku. The pastor told his father that America was becoming morally corrupt. He told his father he needed to move his son back to Nigeria.

When Niku returns to school he is withdrawn and depressed. His friends notice but there is nothing they can do because his father is controlling every aspect of his life. The preacher is telling Niku that he is going to hell for living such a vile life style. While in Nigeria, Niku was shown all of the sites of his fathers birth city and home. Niku was not impressed one bit nor was he interested in the old homestead.

One day Niku has had enough of his father and pastor interfering with his life and happiness. At this point young Niku is ready to commit suicide and has a failed attempt. His father seems like he could care less. Merideth catches on to Nikus plan of suicide and stops him from committing the ultimate act.

One night Merideth and Niku go to a club. After Niku realizes his boyfriend isn't there, he wants to leave. Merideth doesn't. Niku storms out of the club leaving Merideth behind. Merideth takes off after Niku and finds him in an alley. There is an altercation between the two, as the altercation escalates they hear sirens. The police tells Niku to step away from Merideth. Nikus cell phone starts buzzing so he goes to answer it. Merideth hears pop,pop,pop,pop. The officer shot Niku four times. The officer said Niku was trying to rape Merideth. But was he? A gay African American teenager heading to Harvard? What is the truth?

Merideth kept trying to set the record straight that her friend was not in fact trying to rape her but only answer his phone. She kept saying he was gay and at no time was she in danger. Her parents and their lawyer said it would be in our best interest if we left the story as he tried to rape you. I looks better for you and us. Merideth asked but what about the truth? Her parents persisted with the line that it looked better for her and no one would listen to her. But a young black kid that was already going to Harvard, would have a lot to lose by attempting to rape a young white girl. Merideth wants to explain all of this to Nikus grieving parents but has a hard time trying to find a way to do so. To Merideth's parents this is all about perspective, theirs and not the grieving parents of the young boy killed by police. But to the parents of Niku, they knew their son wasn't trying to rape Merideth.

I gave this book five stars out of five stars.