Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree

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?

What does Ya Ta consider the reason for her survival and her unwillingness to conform to Boko Haram’s way of life? Why was her reaction so different from Sarah’s in the end, and how might Ya Ta’s intelligence have helped her?

How does Gratitude in the Face of Adversity become an important characteristic in Ya Ta during her time in captivity? What happens when Ya Ta starts to lose sight of the future, and how do memories of the past help her recall her goals and purpose?

Ya Ta’s story shows what happens to victims of Oppression, Terrorism, and Religious Extremism. Why might extreme views, whether religious or otherwise, lead to severe mistreatment of innocent people? Why was Aisha convinced that Boko Haram did not represent Islam?

Ya Ta tells of not only her own experiences, but also the experiences of the girls around her and their varied reactions to what they are all going through. How does their story demonstrate The Effects of Abuse and Subjugation on Women and Girls? What physical, psychological, and social consequences result from the actions of Boko Haram?

What methods does Boko Haram use to attempt to convince the girls to convert to Islam and resign to a life of subjugation? Why are these methods effective in convincing some girls, but not others? How are those that resist treated?

How do the lessons and education that Ya Ta receives in the weeks prior to being abducted serve her while she is in captivity? Why might her education be one of the first things that starts to come back to her when she is freed?