King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village

This is the inspirational story of an American citizen—a secretary named Peggy, born in Africa, who becomes King Peggy of Otuam, Ghana. Facing generations of superstition, evil corruption, and chauvinism, navigating around a male dominated society and ancestral traditions, Peggy defies the odds as a female king. She not only doesn't allow the elders to push her around, she learns how to help her people and achieves what had seemed impossible.This book is thought-provoking, inspiring, educational, and funny, with a hilarious, surprise ending you won't see coming! It's a book I would not have known about, or even considered reading, if not for my book club, but it was definitely well worth my time! Enjoy!"King Peggy is the account of the transformation of an impoverished African village by it's American lady king, a tale of challenges and triumphs that is often stranger than fiction and made more poignant by virtue of being real!" ~ Peggielene Bartels, King Peggy"Life has so many surprises in store for us. ... You never know what it is going to throw at you. Sometimes it hurts you dreadfully. But God is good and has a special plan for everyone." ~ Peggielene Bartels, King Peggy"You might not be aware of it, ... but there are so many people taking care of you spiritually, mentally, and physically." ~ Peggielene Bartels, King Peggy"There are many Americans ... who live in big houses with every luxury money can buy and who are, nonetheless, stressed, depressed, and take for granted so much of what we have. ... Yet most of the people of Otuam, despite their poverty, and their lack of water, a health care, and educational opportunities, are grateful for every blessing and find joy in their faith, families, and friends in a way that those of us trapped in suburban depression can't imagine." ~ Eleanor Herman, Co-author with Peggielene Bartels, King Peggy

From Peggielene Bartels' surprising rise from a regular citizen working at the Ghanaian Embassy in Washington, DC, to her becoming the first woman king of the Ghanaian region of Otuam, she weaves the fascinating and often comical story of her struggles as a Ghanaian and American woman to overcome the entrenched corruption in her homeland and bring improvement to the region and people of Otuam. She introduces readers to the history and many of the customs of Ghana, along with the colorful characters in her extended family. Most fascinating of all was her eventual discovery of why she was chosen as King and how she overcame many of the roadblocks placed in her path by the corrupt members of her royal council.I connected to this book on two levels. First, as a member of the Jamaican diaspora, I was reminded through her book of the African influences that I saw as child growing up in Jamaica during the '40s and early '50s--the head wraps that some women wore, the heavy baskets balanced on their heads, the night-time drumming in sections of the city or villages throughout the island, the people's patois words and phrases with African roots, the calypso and mento music with their African rhythms, obeah men (witch doctors), the blending of African and Christian beliefs and practices, and the many folk stories, especially those of 'Brer Anansi, the cunning spider.Second, I connected with her memoir because of the similarities that I saw in her description of life in Otuam and my 2015 visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo--the poverty, political corruption, colonial history, failing infrastructure, roadside business ventures, rain-gutted dirt roads, and more. Her description of Otuam, blended with my fresh memory of the Congolese city of Bunia and its surrounding countryside, brought King Peggy to life for me, so much so that I found it difficult to put the book down.

What a cool story. I enjoyed it all the way through, and it was a nice lift. Peggy is inspiring and funny. She's everywoman, yet stronger and more determined than many of us, so it was fun to see her work through the many problems she had to deal with as the new king of a village in Ghana. There were so many wonderful subplots, intrigues, and drama. I enjoyed the great descriptions of the village and environment. Laughed out loud as Peggy dealt with the sexist old men who'd been running things before she arrived. Here's one of the passages I enjoyed, from Peggy sitting on her porch one morning as the village awoke:"All around her were the voices of birds...a fisherman came out (of his house and) stretched a fishing net over a vertical frame, took a needle and thread, and started repairing...A man walked by Peggy's porch with a heap of long sticks of firewood on his head...Peggy heard the slap of dishwater hitting the dirt...young children ran out of the next-door neighbor's house, chasing one another and laughing...Women from the nearby houses came out holding long dried palm fronds and, bending at the waist, energetically swept the dirt in front of their houses...any sprout of grass would be considered unsightly and immediately plucked."And this:"Many Africans saw America as a promised land because it was rich in conveniences and gadgets...but many of (the Americans) couldn't loosen their grip on their remote controls enough to sit on a breezy porch with friends and family, talking about nothing in particular, or sitting in contented silence listening to the birds..."There was so much drama in this book that I couldn't almost believe it was a true story, but it was! Very much recommend it.

A well written biography which utilizes the style and treatment of a novel to make the story accessible and enjoyable to most readers and a variety of ages. Religion is very prominent but fair perspective is generally used and no disresepect ot others' views is implied. Generalizations run riot, I will say that much, the wording of some statements could be more careful. Otherwise, it seems excellent so far and suitable for a teen audience as well as adults.

Great book. A real eye opener on such a traditional thing, already recommended to my friends!!! Good on you queen Peggy

A fascinating insight into a completely different culture. The protocols and pageantry for crowning King Peggy is in complete contrast to her life in America. Sympathetically told the story takes you on a three year journey which has in many ways only just begun. Inspiring.

great

Wonderful inspiring story. Loved it.