The Icarus Girl

Throughout the novel, various characters practice Christianity, while members of Jess’s mother’s family also observe spiritual beliefs from the Yoruba culture. Jess’s grandfather is a Baptist Christian and gives Jess’s mother a hard time for no longer attending church or praying to God. Jess’s friend Siobhan attends church with her family, and Siobhan quotes the Bible to Jess, saying, “The truth shall set you free” (246), before admitting that church is boring. When Jess asks her mother why she doesn’t like the Lord, Jess’s mother explains, “Jesus doesn’t have lips as big as yours, and his skin is fair. How can you ever be as good as him on the outside when there’s nothing of him on your face?” (236). However, Jess’s mother is the first one to introduce Jess to the concept of ibeji statues and the Yoruba beliefs surrounding twins, which shows that she does believe in spirituality associated with her Nigerian culture. When Jess starts acting strangely in Nigeria, Jess’s grandfather wants to take Jess to a witch doctor. Jess’s father is upset and confused, saying to Jess’s grandfather, “One minute you’re telling her to think on Jesus and the next you’re calling a witch doctor!” (326).