Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree

Research the real-life accounts of the girls who were rescued from Boko Haram and compare these accounts to the fictionalized narrative told in Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree. Was the author accurate in her portrayal of this crisis? What similarities and differences exist between the real-life versions and the story told in the pages of the novel?

How does Ya Ta feel to have her name changed, and how can you tell? What does it mean to her to hear the words “Ya Ta” again? Use evidence from the text to support your response.

How does the baobab tree transform as a symbol throughout the novel? What meaning does it hold for the Hausa people, and why is using this tree as a burial site such a gross offense to their culture?