Beneath the Blazing Sun is a powerful collection of 18 stories that explores the African American experience from its roots in West Africa to the present day.
Mafatu has been scared of the ocean for as long as he can remember. That’s not easy when you live on Hikueru, an island where everyone is proud of their bravery—and where Mafatu’s own father is the Great Chief. Because Mafatu fears the sea, some kids tease him, and others even blame him for bad storms. He often feels like he doesn’t belong.