Kambili lives in Enugu with her wealthy, devoutly Catholic family: her father Eugene, her mother Beatrice, and her older brother Jaja. Outwardly, Eugene is a respected businessman and generous philanthropist, admired for supporting the church and political causes. Inside the home, however, he is a strict authoritarian, using religion to justify harsh punishments and abuse toward his wife and children.

When political unrest in Nigeria intensifies, the family visits Eugene’s sister, Aunt Ifeoma, in Nsukka. Ifeoma is a university lecturer who lives modestly but fosters an atmosphere of warmth, laughter, and open conversation. For Kambili and Jaja, Nsukka becomes a place where they experience freedom for the first time—speaking their minds, laughing, and even encountering romantic feelings (Kambili develops a quiet affection for Father Amadi, a young, charismatic priest).

Back in Enugu, tensions mount. Jaja begins to resist his father’s authority, and Kambili starts questioning the strict moral code she has lived under. Political instability worsens, and tragedy strikes: Beatrice, after enduring years of abuse, poisons Eugene. Jaja takes the blame and is imprisoned.

The novel ends with Jaja’s release on the horizon, Kambili imagining a future where they can rebuild their lives free from their father’s shadow.