What are your thoughts about Monica and her siblings selling in the mother's shop?

[Lorna Walters 1]

What are your thoughts about Monica and her siblings selling in the mother's shop?

[Blue N Sky]

It is hard to tell what the author really thought about working in her mother's shop. Earlier in the book, she talks about disliking working there. Later on, she says she enjoyed the experience. Maybe her opinion of working there is actually a grey area for her. I can see working as taking away from her exploration time. At the same time, working may have been a valuable teaching experience. Both can be true.

I think it is important for a child to learn the value of hard work, as long as they are somehow compensated for their effort and the work is commensurate with their cognitive and physical abilities. In Monica's case, I think the work was appropriate.

[Neha Panikar]

I felt the work assigned to her was appropriate, but wasn't quite sure how Monica felt due to her contradicting views about it. Initially the job is hard as you're learning, but as time passes you get better at it and enjoy it. I feel the same happened to her. I also think it was an enriching and grounding experience for Monica to work at a shop and closely see and interact with different types of people and witness how they behave/react in a situation.

[Victor Nwabuisi]

Although the author stated that her father made it compulsory for her and her siblings to help in their mother’s shop, I believe she enjoyed being there, especially because of the gifts they received from foreign sellers. Also, learning different languages from the foreigners seemed like an enjoyable experience for them.

[Catherine Sweet]

I think it was good experience for Monica and her siblings to work in her mother's shop. They would learn from doing this work and become more confident. Her mother worked very hard so it would benefit her to get help.

[John Rehg]

I think it reflected the world she grew up in, which was and probably still is much different than for people in a more developed nation. I know visiting other developing countries I've witnessed similar situations where the children work at a much earlier age than you find in the US, for instance (due to the laws here). The advantage for her was that it gave her a head start on becoming the person she has become, and she reflects on that in the book quite well.

[Gerry Steen]

I think that besides having fun as a family, this activity opened their eyes to how the real world operates in terms of economy, human dynamics, and working to survive. There was a good market for cigarettes in that location. Chatting with the customers allowed them to meet many different people. Seeing how their mother and other merchants worked was a good lesson in working life. This activity was counted as one the the most delightful memories Monica cherished.

[Annika porter]

I thought that Monica and her siblings working in her mother's shop was an integral part of their childhood and helped them learn a lot about responsibility. Monica brings up how her desire to travel the world was fueled by the sailors and foreigners she met at her mother's shop. I think this was beneficial to her in the long run, allowing Monica to learn about different lands, cultures, and perspectives while she was young. I think the work was appropriate for Monica and her siblings given their ages and the work asked of them. Monica discusses how she learned to be responsible by working at the shop, which I think is a lesson that allowed her to be very successful throughout her life and that most children could benefit from learning in a safe environment.

[Sarah Zain]

It is like a family business so it is good for the children to interact and feel its importantance. But the idea of it being mandatory for them is a grey area for me. But taking into account the time and circumstances of the upbringing and helping their hard working mother, I may find that it is the right thing to do.

[Charles Benson]

In Tola Rotimi Abraham's "Black Sunday," the portrayal of Monica and her siblings selling in their mother's shop offers a poignant glimpse into their early lives. This experience not only underscores their resilience but also foreshadows the challenges they face as their family dynamics shift. The narrative's strength lies in its authentic depiction of these siblings navigating adversity, a sentiment echoed by reviewers who appreciate the depth and complexity of their journey.