Are you looking for the best story collections for your child to read? If yes, then we suggest you get these Ellen Banda-Aaku books in order for them—they will love and be interested to read. Ellen is an African writer who has published many books for children as well as teens and adults. She has also won many awards for her novels and books discussed below. Explore our recommended reading list for children or check out our guide to African literature for more amazing reads.
So what are you waiting for? Get a copy of her best-selling and award-winning novels for you and your kids.
Who is Ellen Banda-Aaku? A Quick Biography
Ellen Banda-Aaku is a Zambian writer who was born on 6 May 1965. She completed her schooling at Woodlands Primary School and St. Mary’s Secondary School in Zambia and Lusaka. For graduation, she attended the University of Zambia, where she earned a BA in Public administration. She has double MA degrees in Social Policy and creative writing with distinction from Middlesex University and the University of Cape Town, respectively.
Ellen’s Works
Banda-Aaku has written two novels, namely Patchwork and Madam 1st Lady, and many children’s books, such as Twelve Months, Sula, and Ja, etc. Lost, Suzi’s Ox, Made of Mukwa, and 87 Tangmere Courts are some of her short stories. Read below a summary of some Ellen Banda-Aaku books that will keep you engaged on the weekends.
Complete List of Ellen Banda-Aaku’s Amazing Books in Order
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Elephant Girl | (2022) | Buy Now |
| A Fly Girl: Travel Tales of an Exotic British Airways Cabin Crew | (2014) | Buy Now |
| Summoning the Rains. Third FEMRITE Regional Residency for African Women Writers | (2012) | Buy Now |
| Patchwork | (2011) | Buy Now |
| The Bed Book of Short Stories | (2010) | Buy Now |
| AWP Wandi’s Little Voice | (2004) | Buy Now |
| Twelve Months | (2019) | Buy Now |
| E Is for E-Waste | (2013) | Buy Now |
| The Pot and Other Stories | (2015) | Buy Now |
| Madam 1st Lady | (2016) | Buy Now |
| Sula and Ja | (2014) | Buy Now |
| Imagine Africa 2060 : Geschichten zur Zukunft eines Kontinents | (2019) | Buy Now |
| Patchwork (Reihe für zeitgenössische afrikanische Literatur) | (2014) | Buy Now |
List Of Top 5 Ellen Banda-Aaku Books In Order
1] Patchwork
Patchwork is the author’s debut novel, and it is divided into two parts. Part one is about the 9-year-old Pumpkin, who lives with her mother, Totela, in an apartment complex in Tudu court.
This part contained the details of Pumpkin’s life when her father took her away from her alcoholic mother to live with him. Her father, Tata, is a successful businessman and lives with his second wife, Mama T, and his family.
In part two of Patchwork, Pumpkin grows up to be 30 years old, married, and has kids. She is happy with her current life, but the events of her childhood have affected her a lot.
Pumpkin read the book Patchwork by Ellen Banda-Aaku to understand how her father’s actions and relationships with different people affected Her during her childhood years.
2] Madam 1st Lady
Madam 1st Lady is the story of love, power, greed, and politics in the land of Mopani. Amelia Zaza is the only daughter of her parents and is loved and adored by the people of Mopani. She marries the most powerful man in the country, the General, but then she sacrifices everything for the love of her life.
When she falls in love and follows her heart, she discovers that her actions have endangered the life of the General. To this man, she owes her life, and she is the only one who can save him. Now she has to choose between her heart and mind.
Will the General forgive her if she returns, or is it too late for her? Read this heartbreaking story of Amelia in Ellen Banda-Aaku’s books to find out if she decides to protect her family, country, and the general or if she chooses her heart.
3] Sula And Ja
Sula and Ja are two friends who belong to totally different social backgrounds. They are studying in the same school, and in the final year, they are paired to work together on a science project. They become lab partners, and with time they start exploring each other home backgrounds. Both of them dealt with their family issues, and in the process of getting to know each other, their feelings and relationships changed.
Read Sula and Ja in Ellen Banda-Aaku’s books in order to explore the romance and struggle of this unlikely couple.
4] Twelve Months
Twelve Months is the story of a man who is suddenly faced with terrifying news. Don DiMarco lives a very good and comfortable life with his family, whom he loves the most. He keeps busy with his passions and interests and enjoys his life, thinking he has time on his hands. But to his shock, he discovers that he does not have much time to live.
Limited time in hand makes him wonder whether the time he has is enough to show his wife the romance that he didn’t lavish on her before. Thinking that he must live his fantasies and close the unsolved relationships, he summons his inner strength that he barely had.
Don is all out to prove that twelve months are enough for him to live a full life. Read the testament of the glorious celebration of Don’s each moment on earth in this Ellen Banda-Aaku book in order.
5] The Elephant Girl
Ellen wrote this book along with the famous author James Patterson in the year 2022. The story in this book is inspired by true events. It is a tale of the village girl Jama who is very clever and sensitive, and she likes elephants over people.
Her classmates are busy gossiping about the new boy Leku who has recently joined the class. Since Jama is not interested in these things, she takes refuge at the watering hole that is outside her village.
While taking refuge, she meets a baby elephant and befriends it and calls it Mbegu. One day Mbegu’s mother got frightened by the poachers, and in panic, she rushed towards the village, killing two people- one elephant and one human.
Now the village blames Jama and Mbegu for his dreadful event. Their only hope to prove themselves innocent is Leku’s father, who is a mysterious and imposing head ranger at the conservancy.
Explore the bond between humans and animals and the power of belonging by reading Ellen Banda-Aaku’s books in order.
Aaku’s Career
Ellen has written several children’s books, short stories, and two novels. The short stories written by her were published in anthologies in countries like Australia, South Africa, the UK, and the US. She co-authored a children’s book named The Elephant Girl with renowned author James Patterson last year.
She was a part of the judging panel for the Macmillan Writer’s Prize for Africa in the year 2006 and the Kalemba Short Story Prize in 2020. Banda-Aaku also conducted workshops for creative writing in Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia. She has bagged many awards and has many other titles and achievements under her name.
Awards And Achievements of Ellen Banda-Aaku
Ellen Banda-Aaku has won the following awards:
- Macmillan Writers’ Prize for Africa- Awarded the most promising new writer in the year 2004.
- Commonwealth short story competition in the year 2007.
- Penguin Prize for African Writing in the year 2010
- Zambia Arts Council chairpersons Ngoma Award in the year 2012
She was also nominated for the Commonwealth Book Prize in the year 2012.
Conclusion
Ellen is known to write stories that reveal the truth and contradictions of human relationships. Most of her works are dedicated to children, and judges have once said that she possesses a rare gift of revealing the core truth of humans through her writings. You can see a glimpse of her writing style in Ellen Banda-Aaku’s book in order that has been mentioned above in this article.
Top FAQ on Ellen Banda-Aaku
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Who is Ellen Banda-Aaku
Ellen Banda-Aaku is a Zambian author known for her award-winning novel Patchwork, which explores family dynamics in Zambia. She writes children’s books and advocates for literacy and storytelling in African communities.
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What is Ellen Banda-Aaku’s latest book?
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Does Ellen Banda-Aaku have any other notable books?
Yes, her earlier acclaimed work, Wandi’s Little Voice, won the Macmillan Writer’s Prize for Africa in 2004. It is a coming-of-age story set in Zambia and was published in 2021
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Are there any upcoming releases after Patchwork?
As of now, no additional upcoming releases have been announced. Keep an eye on updates for more news.
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