The Plot of a Short Story 

"Cell One"

The first short story, Cell One, speaks of a young man’s experience in

jail told through his younger sister’s eyes. She speaks not only about his
experience but what she thinks is going through his mind at the time. the
story is narrated in an almost confessional manner, as if the girl was
writing it in her diary or to a specific person.

Nnamabia, a handsome, popular , spoilt boy who lives on th Nsukka

University campus with his professor father, doting mother and younger
sister, gets into trouble with the law after running with the wrong crowd
for most his life. we see how his experience in jail changes him
physically and mentally through the eyes of his  younger sister.

Set in  Nsukka university in Nigeria and the Enugu police station
where Nnamabia was arrested. These two very different settings are
symbolic of the drastic change that took place in the young man’s life.

This was a wonderful read, as is expected of Adichie’s writing. this

short piece of fiction touched on many issues facing modern day youth,
not only in Nigeria but other parts of Africa as well.

Themes of privilege, education, popularity and juvenile crime were

dealt with in this story giving life lessons to the reader about the dangers
of being attracted to the wrong crowds and not knowing your limits.