“Written with tender, wry humor, Good-for-Nothing Girl is a must-read for anyone fascinated by journeys of self-discovery across continents and cultures. A beautifully observed novel without a sentence wasted.”

– —Yaba Badoe

“A swift-paced, complicated coming-of-age story that examines class, cultural friction, and one girl’s journey to define her own story in a world determined to do that for her.”

– —Jordan Ifueko

“Self-agency is often not acknowledged in worlds where girls are raised to live within the boundaries of adult expectations. Good-for-Nothing Girl celebrates this sense of personal control and reinforces that it is not about what you are called but how you respond.”

– —Yejide Kilanko

“Atta, winner of the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature, returns with a new novel exploring the plight of a young girl who dares to dream … Atta writes with a refreshing directness as Gift describes the simple pleasures of childhood and the rebellious nature of teenagers … Teens will be gripped by Gift's voice, predicament, humor, and resilience.”

– —Booklist

“This heartbreaking novel from Nigerian American writer Atta follows a 17-year-old girl whose dreams are dashed when she becomes an unwitting victim in a human trafficking scheme … Atta’s intelligent narrative offers a nuanced portrayal of Gift’s desperation, naivety, and pride, building tension by juxtaposing the stark terms of Gift’s exploitation and her stubborn hope that she’ll eventually get what she was promised. It’s a powerful coming-of-age tale.”

– — Publishers Weekly