Flying Up the Mountain

The companion to Crossing the Stream is a moving story of friendship and a timely reminder of our duty to nature.

I am an Asafo,
and today I do make
a solemn promise for
Mother Earth’s sake.

Ato and his best friends Dzifa and Leslie are finally heading to Nnoma, the sanctuary that Ato’s father helped build. They are eager to become Asafo, protectors of the natural world, but Ato also hopes to find a valuable plan hidden by his father to defend Nnoma against “enemy storms.”

When the trio arrives—along with dozens of children from across West Africa—they meet Eyra, the mysterious but magnetic owner of the sanctuary, as well as Nnoma’s Guardians, who work alongside her. They are then split into teams and must compete in missions that broaden their knowledge and appreciation of nature. The top-scoring teams will become Asafo.

But there is a secret on the island, and when Eyra starts behaving erratically, Ato suspects foul play. He, Dzifa, Leslie, and their teammate Hafsat must work together quickly to protect Nnoma—and Ato’s father’s legacy.

Flying Up the Mountain is a propulsive and deeply moving story about how we interact with the world around us: how we love and care for our friends, how weprotect and nurture our environment, and how we safeguard empowering legacies for generations to come.