Akata Woman

November 15, 2021
A Nigerian teen is pushed to otherworldly limits in search of a mystical object. Three years after discovering her power as a Leopard, Sunny Nwazue, now 15, must embark on yet another dangerous journey. Tasked with retrieving what the Nimm women (her and Chichi's ancestors) stole from Udide, the Great Spider Artist, Sunny and her coven--even-tempered Orlu, brash Sasha, and clever Chichi--have no choice other than to comply or risk their pasts and futures. As events are set in motion to track down Udide's scroll, Sunny must also learn how to be one with Anyanwu, her spirit face, now that she is doubled, a rare occurrence among Leopard People. However, Anyanwu seems to disappear just when Sunny needs her most, and Sunny begins to resent something that is part of her. Over the course of the seven-day time limit Udide sets, Sunny must explore treacherous parts of the spirit world's wilderness, a parallel Earth teeming with lush plant life and remarkable technology, and new parts of herself. Through the steadily paced, omniscient narration, Okorafor draws readers into Sunny's compelling world--both real and imagined--making the setting as much of a character as the rest of the cast. As in the previous entries, themes of balance and accountability are woven throughout as Sunny is tested. All characters are Black. An engrossing addition to a thoughtful coming-of-age series. (Fantasy. 12-16)

COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 15, 2021
Grades 9-12 In the first two installments of the Nsibidi Scripts series (Akata Witch, 2011; Akata Warrior, 2017), Sunny learned to harness and wield her powerful magic. Now, she faces the ultimate challenge as everything she's learned is put to the test. She must undertake a perilous quest to find a magical object or risk disaster if she does nothing. It's a quest that will leave the young woman changed forever--for good or for bad--and above all, it's a quest that only Sunny Nwazue, the Akata Witch, can undergo. As always, Okorafor draws a rich, vibrant world that's brimming with magic, complex characters, and lush settings. She uses a fantasy scope to tackle poignant themes involving identity, friendship, courage, and bravery. Sunny's journey is loaded with compelling mysteries and twists that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Over the course of the series, Sunny evolves much as a character and grows immensely in her magic. Akata Woman explores the question: When you have great power, what great duties are you required to take on? HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Akata Witch is beloved in the fantasy community, and Okorafor has nabbed the Hugo and World Fantasy Awards. This will be eagerly anticipated by many.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2022

Gr 5 Up-Okorafor continues to explore the magical abilities of Nigerian-American albino Sunny, 15, and her Leopard People friends Chichi, Orlu, and American-born Sasha in this intriguing third book in the Afrofuturist fantasy series. The friends have been forced by giant spider spirit Udide to enter the spirit world to find a magical object called a ghazal that Chichi's mother stole from Udide. If they don't succeed within seven days, Udide will destroy the Nimm village where Chichi's royal mother grew up. As they journey through the magical world, they travel to a more advanced planet where nature is the greatest technology, wind up on the Road of Spirits, and encounter terrifying and powerful masquerades. Along the way, the friends learn more about their true spirit selves and the extent of their magical abilities. Sunny learns she's a ogbanje, a spirit that's able to glide effortlessly back and forth between worlds. She also learns more about the circumstances of her birth. In knowing her origins, she comes to better understand why her father resents her so much. Her burgeoning romance with Orlu is very sweet and she resolves some of her issues with her spirit face Anyanwu, too. Okorafor beautifully centers African mythology, Nigerian culture, history, food, and phrases into this beautifully written fantasy featuring all Black characters. VERDICT This lyrical Afrocentric fantasy is not to be missed by readers who've loved Okorafor's work, and the previous books in the series.-Sharon Rawlins

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.