Sia Figiel is an author of novels, plays, and poetry whose work often explores themes of identity and cultural intersection. Her distinctive style, informed by her Pacific heritage, brings forth strong female characters and poetic language. Figiel is also recognized as a performance poet, and her literary voice resonates at international festivals where she shares her compelling narratives.
An intimate relationship develops between Inosia, a science enthusiast and Star Trek fan, and her favorite high school teacher during a ride to Apia for White Sunday preparations. As they bond over science and knowledge, the narrative explores themes of taboos, loyalty, and the lasting effects of colonialism, revealing deeper connections between the characters and their shared experiences.
Fiction. A bestseller in New Zealand and winner of the prestigious Commonwealth Prize, Sia Figiel's debut marks the first time a novel by a Samoan woman has been published in the United States. Figiel uses the traditional Samoan storytelling form of su'ifefiloi to talk back to Western anthropological studies on Samoan women and culture. Told in a series of linked episodes, this powerful and highly original narrative follows thirteen-year-old Alofa Filiga as she navigates the mores and restrictions of her village and comes to terms with her own search for identity. A story of Samoan PUBERTY BLUES, in which Gauguin is dead but Elvis lives on -- Vogue Australia. A storytelling triumph -- Elle Australia.