“It’s all about the right choice. And life’s about choices. Always about choices. Good choices. Bad choices. If you have a panoramic view of the horizon ahead of you then you may not need any compass. If not you will be grappling with your compass to find the right direction to the good things of life. Remember that when the rich advise you, most of the time they don’t want you to be rich like them and rub shoulders with them.”
– an excerpt from the book
ARPress is honored to publish “A People Set Apart” by Chimezie Anosike. This book is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the ARPress website.
“A People Set Apart” by Chimezie Anosike is a searing and unforgettable novel that thrusts readers into the heart of post-war Biafra, where justice is no longer entrusted to failing institutions but reclaimed by the hands of the oppressed. With fearless prose and poignant character portrayals, Anosike crafts a narrative that is both politically charged and emotionally grounded. This is not merely a work of fiction—it is a declaration. It is a call for dignity, self-determination, and collective action against corruption and systemic failure. Set in the fictional town of Eureka, the story captures a turbulent moment when ordinary citizens rise in defiance of terror and lawlessness that have long plagued their communities, taking the law into their own hands to dismantle a criminal underworld that has festered unchecked. It is an unflinching exploration of a people pushed to the brink—and what happens when survival and justice can no longer wait for permission.
Chimezie Anosike was born in Biafra in 1965, a year before the events that precipitated the genocidal Biafran war. Just like every other child born in Biafra right about that time, the day-to-day living for parents was a rigor and life was uncertain. Death seemed more certain than survival due largely to starvation as a weapon of war. Having survived the war and starvation, and their attendant kwashiorkor, he proceeded to elementary school in Abakuru where his parents pitched their tent even before the war. Life was a drudgery, and he was later taken to the big city of Onitsha by one of his elder brothers, Joe, where he completed both elementary and high school education.
What begins as a rivalry soon blossoms into one of the most powerful friendships imaginable. When Turnkey, a determined young man shaped by hardship, crosses paths with Chance—the bold, flamboyant heir from war-torn Biafra—their lives are forever changed. Once on opposite sides, they find common ground in struggle, identity, and the pursuit of something greater than themselves.
Chance, freshly arrived in the United States from the ashes of a ravaged homeland, is no stranger to adversity. Though born into privilege, America challenges everything he thought he knew. It is through sheer grit and vision that he adapts, reshapes his future, and turns obstacles into stepping stones. In doing so, he not only finds his own footing but also helps Turnkey see beyond the limitations society has set for them both.
Through mentorship and brotherhood, Chance inspires Turnkey to rise above the social box built around him—one that would have kept him at the margins indefinitely. Together, they run toward a new horizon, fueled by purpose and possibility. Their bond deepens, and Chance becomes Turnkey’s greatest ally and guide.
Their journey takes a powerful turn when Chance invites Turnkey and a group of American friends to visit Biafra—a land known to many only through the lens of war, suffering, and ruin. But Turnkey, now deeply connected to his friend, defends Biafra against the stereotypes. Through the lens of one man, he sees an entire nation’s dignity.
Turnkey’s life echoes the resilience of Biafra. Like his father, he toils from a young age, fully aware of his roots, yet always keeping his eyes on the future. Though his path is hard-earned, it becomes clear that a divine hand has cleared the way. When a life-changing inheritance from his granduncle comes his way, Turnkey doesn’t hesitate.
Instead of indulging in personal comfort, he turns to Chance—and to Biafra. He sees the promise of a people who have endured, and he chooses to invest in them. Through this act, he not only honors his friend but also helps rebuild a nation, brick by brick, dream by dream.
“A People Set Apart” is more than a tale of immigration. It’s a story of purpose, of healing, of two lives intertwined across cultures and continents. It is a story that proves how one friendship can change the course of history—and how sometimes the place where you invest your love becomes the true definition of home.
“A People Set Apart” by Chimezie Anosike is now available for purchase via ARPress Bookstore: