Akata Witch

Where to begin! I just finished Akata Witch and can't stop thinking about it. I can't help but relive and imagine all the prose and captivating vernacular Okorafor writes with, not just with Sunny's story that practically weaves itself around my head and heart like a masquerade, but in all the books she writes. As an aspiring author, I find that the magical realms that Okorafor creates are the most inspiring, motivating, and uplifting stories one can read in order to improve your craft and better understand your own readers, simply because she has a way of getting you so invested in her characters so fast that you can't stop turning the pages. Okorafor is a master of her craft, and through it has spread her culture so beautifully that sometimes I forget I'm reading a book. An awesome read, and I absolutely can't wait to for Akata Warrior!

Reading this book at times felt like I had ingested psychedelics as it is just so druggy in its effect, or as the author might put it, I was under the influence of some strong, strong juju. The imagination here is staggering. I cannot give it five stars because it does echo Harry Potter in both plot and circumstances, something it acknowledges in describing the different magic centers of the world(full disclosure: I wrote my own tale of an adolescent sorcerer who learns his father was killed by an evil wizard years before Ms. Rowling launched her series -- so perhaps Nnedi hatched this a while ago as well).

I also felt that some of the middle chapters were interesting enough but were more episodic and less integral to the plot. In building this strange new world, the narrative is sometimes slowed with overly intricate explanations and then it speeds too fast to a climax that is visually spectacular but somewhat abrupt.

Largely I was in an emotional grip, wanting to jump into the action and help Sunny. I read that J.K. Rowling decided that the hero of her book should not be a heroine for commercial reasons. Ms. Okorafor has done the opposite with spectacular, unexpected results by choosing a protagonist who is not just female but an albino African who is also an "akata", a black person who is half American. The settings are just as complex, mixing in different streams of African culture in both a painterly and musical way. I was expecting something lighter but this is a fairly uncensored world. Narrative does not make much use of sex but author does include a serial child killer as a part of her plot and Sunny has a father who does not refrain from the corporal punishment of his children.

I was surprised over and over again by this novel's strange and vivid imagery, none if it that I want to mention to avoid spoiling it for another reader. It has a lot of insects in that were especially appealing to me, including a wasp who offers a daily sculpture.

Recommended!

A very delightful book! Stories about growing up, friendship, and magic! I saw it compared to Harry potter and it lives up to that comparison, with a very different setting and different world building with reams of possibilities

I usually love young-adult books, especially science fiction and fantasy. This one I didn't finish.

As I possess three times the age of the book's target audience, don't take my being bored a guide for kids' reactions.

Remember when Harry Potter came out, and we all were trying to imagine what it would be like to have wizarding worlds in other countries?

Thanks to Nnedi Okorafor, we no longer have to imagine how it would look in Nigeria. She created the most perfect magical world any of us could ever hope to dream of in her home country, and it is BEAUTIFUL. How wonderful a way to give representation to Nigerian and Nigerian American kids in fiction! (And give a positively fantastic view for us outsiders too, by the way!) The main character is even an albino POC, and that presents a completely unique set of challenges (and a few certain advantages) that we aren’t used to seeing in perspective.

Not only is the book rocking on diversity, but the world building knocked my socks off. I fell in love with this book from Chapter One, and kept coming back to it all weekend. I read it on my phone–which I don’t normally do–and my husband couldn’t figure out why I went to bed early to stare at my screen. It was very out of character, but I just had to know what was going to happen next! The magic, or juju, in Akata Witch is based in Nigerian tradition–there are Leopards and Lambs, instead of Wizards and Muggles–but the world is very similar to that in Harry Potter. There’s definitely a reason people are comparing it. It is its own thing though, and Okorafor put a ton of work into building a society structure, dark vs light, and all the legends and lore that go into the juju. This is not flat fanfiction you are getting here.

Speaking of the society structure–can we please make her society a real thing? You only get money when you learn something. Coins literally FALL FROM THE SKY when you learn something knew, and it could be anything from a new skill to a eureka moment. The world would be such a better place if people could only get rich by actually putting their brains to use. Of course, there is corruption, and ways to take advantage of the system–it wouldn’t be a good book without conflict. But, I’ll let you read it to find out the rest.

And you definitely, definitely should.

Akata Witch is a leisurely story that details Sunny’s magical awakening. Full of mysteries, first experiences, and new friends, her journey is one of exploration and discovery. While I had just one complaint, overall it was a pleasure to read and I am looking forward to the next one.

My absolute favorite part of this book was the magic element. It is derived from Nigerian folklore and is absolutely fascinating. It was something that I had never read about, and so it was unfamiliar and such a joy to read about.I also enjoyed the protagonist’s spirit. She was determined and imperfect. She made mistakes and pays for them, but ultimately this plays into the growing up story and the coming into your magic storyline. Sunny has an intriguing background as she is albino and coming from the US to Nigeria. In both ways she is a complete outsider and so a lot of her childhood revolves around this feeling of not-belonging. Even though she is greatly inexperienced she has a good heart and is driven by a sense of right and wrong. Flaws and all, Sunny’s story portrays her growth as both a magician and a young adult.

My major complaint was the pacing. The majority of the book is a leisurely exploration of her coming into her powers, and then right at the end the whole mystery of the plot is suddenly solved

I am in love! This book was phenomenally good. Instead of diving into a European world of magic, where the terminology and ideas are familiar, we head into the wild Nigerian jungle of juju, and it was SO. MUCH. FUN. I loved the philosophy of education in this book, and the chittim and how it is earned and valued. I loved the setting of Nigeria. We need more books that take us to places other than the United States and England. I loved that all the characters were POC. I loved how our main character learns to embrace her self while others see her as inflicted with infirmity. I loved watching Sunny grow. If/when J.K. Rowling decides to write about her other wizarding schools, I hope her stories about Uagadou will have some sort of mention of Leopard Knocks His Foot. And if people thought the new Muggle term "No-Mag" was offensive, what on earth will they think of being called a Lamb? I need some Pepper Soup and Jollof rice and some good, sweet, milky tea.

Ahoy there me mateys! I was mesmerized by books one and two of the Binti series but couldn’t get a hold of the third book quickly. I then spotted this book instead. I thought it was a novella. Nope! While the Binti series is sci-fi, this one is young adult fantasy. It had a completely different feel from the author’s other works and I loved it.

The story centers around 12 year old Sunny. She was born in the US but currently lives in Nigeria with her family. Not only does Sunny’s Americanism set her apart but so does her albinism. Yet Sunny tries her best to be a normal kid and to do well in school. She is bullied and one day is attacked by a popular female classmate. Only one person tries to come to her aid, a boy named Orlu. As she and Orlu become friends, Sunny soon discovers that she may have the magical powers of the Leopard People. How did she get these powers? And how is she supposed to help stop a killer?

I loved the magical system of this book. I loved that magic had very dangerous side effects and rules. I loved that Sunny still has to stay in “regular” school in addition to her magical training. I loved her friendships. I loved that her family was present in the book even if there were problems. I loved the rich tapestry of world building involved with the Leopard People. I wanted to go into the magical bookstore!

This book was another that led me to read more about the history of the Leopard People, Igbo people, and Efik people. I loved reading about the Efik, particularly the section about the written language mentioned in the book. I will certainly be reading the next book in the series once I get ahold of it. Arrr!

Side note: Lots of people seem to be calling this series the African Harry Potter. Personally I think it trivializes a book that completely stands on its own.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

First in the Akata Witch series

4.5 stars

"Lies are a thing of the physical world. They can't exist in the spirit world."

Sunny lives in Nigeria, but she was born in America. She is both Nigerian and American. An outsider who belongs. Sunny is different from her family in more ways than one. She’s albino, but she has also seen the end of the world in the flame of a candle. She’s a free agent— a Leopard Person who is not from a family of Leopard People. She has no knowledge of the magic that flows within her or the spirit world that is both her friend and enemy. There’s a serial killer pillaging the streets and killing kids and it’s up to her and three new friends to stop him. This is unique. When I requested this novel, I hadn’t realized that Nnedi Okorafor was the author of Binti, a hugely popular scifi that has been sweeping the book world by storm. This is my first time reading Okorafor’s work and it will not be my last. The writing is beautiful and the storytelling is rich. Okorafor merges the world of Nigeria with the hidden world of Leopard Knocks seamlessly. The imagery is stunning and one of my favorite things about Akata Witch was the excerpts from the book about Free Agents. We learned about Leopard People as Sunny does and it puts the reader on equal footing with Sunny. It makes the story more intimate because the reader develops relationships and knowledge as the main protagonist does. It’s a wonderful, well-developed story full of magic, mischief, and innocence.

Whimsical Writing Scale: 4.75

The main female character is Sunny. Sunny is a very young protagonist; she’s only twelve-years-old. She doesn’t know much about the world and her thoughts can feel a little silly, but it’s important to keep in mind that Sunny is experiencing a world that is unfamiliar to her. This is a world that children know about since birth if they are born into it and this world is also brutal. There’s a scene towards the end where Sunny and her friends attend a wrestling match that results in someone dying. It’s very brutal for a child to see this, but her teacher was teaching them a valuable lesson— a lesson that becomes important to their task of defeating Black Hat. I really enjoyed Sunny as a character and I guess I have developed a maternal affection for her. I want to see her succeed in learning about and navigating this new world, but I also want her to be safe. If this series follows Sunny throughout her teen years, I know she’ll grow into a badass woman.

Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 4.5

The other characters in Sunny’s friend group are integral to this story. Without her friends, Sunny wouldn’t know of her true self or be able to embrace who she really is. There’s ChiChi, Orlo, and Sasha. ChiChi is a wonderful character with a lot of spunk and heavy doses of snark. She’s fierce, but reckless. She’s very bright for her age (whatever that age may be), but she’s also too cocky. It puts her and others at danger, but this characterization makes ChiChi authentic and feel real. Orlo is Sunny’s classmate at the Lamb school (Lambs are outsiders who are not Leopard People, non-magic folk) and he comes to her aid after several fights. He has the unique talent of mending things that are undone and he’s reserved. Orlo calculates situations and doesn’t make rash decisions without thinking about them. He adheres to the rules of the Leopard People and doesn’t believe they should be pushed or broken. Sasha is from the United States and is outsider in Nigeria, but a Leopard Person through and through. He has a lot of power for being young, but he is reckless and has a vendetta against authority figures. He doesn’t respect those with power and believes that rules are meant to broken. He’s definitely rebellious, but he isn’t a bad person. He just makes a lot of foolish and bad decisions, but most young kids do. Together the four children have a strong bond and they are definite friendship goals. Anatov is their mentor and teacher. He’s wise and does a lot questionable things, but the lessons always outweigh the risks. Messing with juju is dangerous and it can lead to death; Anatov doesn’t let the kids forget it and leads them to many missions that can harm them. I also really enjoyed the balancing of Sunny’s family life with her new life. Her relationship with her mother, especially towards the end, takes a new shift and brought a smile upon my face.

Character Scale: 5

The Villain- Black Hat is a serial killer who targets children. He takes limbs and seems to be practicing some type of ritual sacrifice. It is revealed later on that he has a role in the Leopard Knocks society and an even bigger part to the end of the world that Sunny has seen.

Villain Scale: 4

My only problem, and it’s a bit of a big one, is the ending. The ending felt rushed and the big battle showdown wasn’t as climactic as the novel kept building it up to be. It felt a little too convenient and everything just worked out so well. That’s why I can’t give this novel a full 5 stars, but I’m really excited about the sequel to Akata Witch and I know that this will be a series I don’t want to miss.

Plotastic Scale: 4.5

Cover Thoughts: This cover is fierce. It’s intense and I really like it. Although I must admit I love and prefer the hardcover because it captures Sunny’s innocence. This girl on the cover isn’t Sunny until the end of the novel. It feels a little too mature, but it’s still a well-done cover.

Thank you, First to Read and Speak, for chance to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Pre-reading Thoughts:

This book is currently being re-published with a whole new look which looks pretty fantastic! I absolute love the new covers. So, I decided that because of the new publication, I would request this book and see what it is about. I seriously cannot wait to read this book mainly because I already read very little books based in Africa, never mind in South Africa. I really enjoy books that explore the different cultures of a country and I also feel like this book is one that empowers. Albinos are often not accepted in their communities because of the fact that they have no melanin in their skin. I feel as if this book will take all of what people consider to be bad about being albino and make it something good.

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House South Africa for providing me with a copy of this book! I cannot wait to jump into it. Just a small disclaimer for those reading this review. I have received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. No money out of my own pocket has been spent in acquiring this book. Please note that in no way does this affect my opinion. All thoughts are my own!

Writing Thoughts:

The author is talented but sometimes it felt like there was just too much information being dumped, especially towards the end of the book. The author creates a vivd picture of what the people of Nigeria are like in this time of the killings. It was as if I was there, walking among the Nigerian people and experiencing everything through Sunny. I also really enjoyed the little excerpts from the book that Sunny was reading to learn about being a free agent.

Plot Thoughts:

The book was definitely interesting and unique. The world of the Leopard People seemed both fun and dangerous. It sounded exciting. Everything was building up to this one moment that I felt just never came. It took way to long to happen in my opinion and just wanted things to move along at one point.

Character Thoughts:

The characters are so diverse. Each have these amazing and distasteful characteristics. The author gave us very real characters. They were well rounded and very accessible. They were also very entertaining to read about.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, this was a good, no, a great book. But the climax took way to long to happen. The writing was really good, the plot was also really great and seemed inviting. The characters felt as real as you and I. It was a great reading experience. Thank you to Penguin Random House South Africa for sending me a copy of this book! I really enjoyed it!

Yours in Reading,

Melleny

This book was delightful.

It has been awhile since I have read a middle grade novel, and I am so glad I got back into it. Akata Witch is a modern own voices fantasy set in Nigeria that follows twelve-year-old Sunny as she navigates the magical world that is her birthright.

The best part of this book was the worldbuilding. I have heard people call it the “Nigerian Harry Potter” and I can see why, but it was also incredibly unique. The magic system, the creatures, the culture of the spirit world were all unlike anything I have ever read. Moreover, the look we got at Nigerian culture was fantastic. I realized how little I knew about Nigeria as I was reading. I hope to learn more in the future.

Besides the world, I also loved the characters. They were flawed and vibrant and easy to root for. They felt very tangible. There was a tiny bit of romance sprinkled throughout, but it was pretty light. The central focus was friendship. I feel like there are not enough books out there that focus on platonic relationships, so that was refreshing.

Though at times the plot was a little predictable, this was a highly enjoyable read and I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel, Akata Warrior, as soon as possible!

I've heard this book referred to as the "Nigerian Harry Potter." And after reading it, I can certainly understand why. This book is the most magical and immersive middle grade novel I've had the pleasure of reading, since the Harry Potter series. I was absolutely captivated and mesmerized by Nnedi Okorafor's world building, character development, and story telling.

Nnedi's prose, while lovely, also contains this delightful humor that will prove wildly entertaining for readers of all ages.

The four main characters Sunny, Orlu, Chichi, and Sasha are an absolute delight. They have such powerful voices and maintain a genuinely youthful playfulness while being forced into the position of becoming their world's last hope against the evil that seeks to destroy it.

Nnedi incorporated some incredible themes throughout this novel. The adult Leopard People (magical people in this society) trust in these children to save their world. They demonstrate faith in the capabilities and intelligence of the youth in their society, something I truly would love to see more of in our own world.

I also loved the fact that Nnedi took things that would be considered physical oddities in our world and turned them into something that would serve to give these children special abilities in the Leopard world. For example, Sunny is albino, which causes her to made fun of and ridiculed by her peers and others in the human world, but gives her a very special and powerful gift in the Leopard world.

This is definitely a book that deserves to be read widely and celebrated as the literary gem that it truly is. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series, AKATA WARRIOR, which will be released in October of this year!

"'Your first juju charm by knife?' Sasha said, pattering her on the back. 'You're a woman now.'"

I think this book was more YA than I expected and had I been prepared for that I would have enjoyed this book more.

The characters are wonderful. Nnedi Okorafor creates a fascinating world of magic and helps us get into Sunny's head as well as the setting of this story. But outside of that, not a whole lot happens. Granted this is the first book in a series that is setting up a world for the rest of the story to take place in, but it felt like so much more could have happened.

Sunny, already an outcast from her albino-ism, learns a lot throughout this book about the magic that exists in her world, but it definitely feels like the start of a story.

The characters are compelling, but I was hoping they'd get to do more.

Finding your place in the world can be a challenge, but when you're an albino in Nigeria struggling to fit in with the other kids, that task can be even more challenging. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor follows the discovery of unique power for its protagonist that helps her fit in with an unforeseen group of people.

Twelve year old Sunny has been different all her life as an American living in Nigera with African roots and features, but she's also albino. Her friend and classmate Orlu introduces Sunny to free-spirited Chichi, who introduces a whole new world of opportunities to Sunny through revealing the magical potential she has. In learning about and developing her abilities, Sunny becomes one quarter of a magical group of students who are tasked with helping defend their community from an evil magical threat.

The writing style is engrossing, driving readers forward to find out what happens next to this quartet of magic students. The narrative took a while to develop, establishing details about the magical abilities and rules of the world, and then the ending came rushing forward rather abruptly, which was quite jarring, although the overall story definitely leaves the reader wanting more in this world with these characters. While tales of students discovering their magical abilities and fighting a bad guy are relatively common, it was a nice reprieve for this story to take place in Nigeria, which offers a fantastic new outlook on the world and magic from a different cultural background.

Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Akata Witch is a middle-grade/YA fantasy read that stars an almost 13 year old Albino American-born Nigerian girl who discovers she has magical powers and is a “Free Agent” for those known as Leopard people, aka, people born of non-magical parents who have magical abilities from somewhere along in their “Spiritual (genetic)” line, in this case- her Grandmother who passed away before she had a chance to get to know her.

There is a serial killer on the lose, a ritual one at that who has ties to the Leopard people community and Sunny (the girl) & her friends are tasked to put a stop to him.

Without spoiling anything, the plot is very fast-paced & well-developed. The characters are nice and you really feel them unfold for you on the page. I absolutely loved the main themes & a lot of quotes in it really hit me as ones that I would want younger kids to read/hear and think about as they mature into adults because there are some lessons in this book that it seems adults either don’t know or have forgotten how important they are. One big one that doesn’t give any spoilers away is the idea that knowledge does not always mean wisdom. In fact, sometimes, knowledge never matures past just book-smarts because the person never sought to seek how their knowledge could be used in life to help others or help themselves, instead twisting their intelligence into a weapon only used to harm.

It is definitely a book that is worth a read, in my opinion! 5/5 Stars, and added to my favorites shelf on GoodReads!

For once I think the front cover quote really captures the book. Ursula K. Le Guin says that, “there’s more vivid imagination in a page of Nnedi Okorafor’s work than in whole volumes of ordinary fantasy pieces.” While I did see a few similarities between Akata Witch and other books I’ve read, the majority of it was unique, new and very different from many fantasy novels I have read.

Everything about Akata Witch is different, the Leopard people I like the most because of their differences from those without their abilities (the Lambs like us). The Leopard people don’t believe in material things and, if I read this correctly, they get paid with coins every time they learn something new. Already that is very different from everything else I have ever read.

While the story is unique, I think that the characters also make this very enjoyable. Everyone has their own personalities and you can tell who is who by how they speak and act. I liked how all the main characters were so different and talented, Chichi was probably my favorite because she was loud and energetic with a spark of power in her.

There were only two things that I disliked about Akata Witch, once is more of a personal opinion. The opinion one has to do with the chapters, I thought they were super long. I’m the kind of person that can’t stop reading until I hit the end of the chapter, with this one I had to stop in the middle. That took me away from it a bit because I had to remember what previously happened. The second thing is that I felt like nothing really happened throughout the whole story. The final battle was about one chapter long and was super quick. Even though it was quick I thought it was well done and pretty intense.

I know I compared Shadowshaper to the Shadowhunters already this week buuuuut I think Akata Witch was like Shadowhunters too. Like Shadowshapter, I enjoyed Akata Witch more! It was really good and I highly recommend reading it if you liked Shadowhunters, Shadowshapers or magical stories that are completely different from everything else. It’s probably one of my favorite books of 2017 so far!

Romance Score: Good Effort

This score is almost a default because this is definitely on the younger end of YA (really MG) and there’s no real romance. Sasha and Chichi end up flirting and getting a little involved with one another, but there’s still not much there to gauge. You can see where friendships can turn into deeper, more romantically inclined relationships, but it’s not happening in this book.

Feminist Score: Between Good Effort and A+ Success

There are a ton of role models in this book – Sunny, Chichi, Chichi’s mother, Sugar Cream, tons! And for the most part, they’re able to be themselves without harsh judgment. For example, it’s very clear that Chichi’s father has left his family behind, but because of her life choices – intentionally never marrying and focusing on knowledge – Chichi’s mother never comes off as pitiable, pathetic, or an “easy woman” (all stereotypical ways that an unmarried mother could be treated). Sunny and Chichi both have strong skills and are respected for them. Power and magical strength also generally comes through the mothers in this world, so there’s a lot of respect there. Plus, Sunny calls out and fights for equality in several situations – once the sun can’t bother her, she won’t give up her chance to play soccer with the boys. Being a girl won’t get in her way.

The one thing that drops this down from a full score is Sunny’s father and the way he treats both his wife and daughter. It’s never really made clear why he dislikes Sunny so much, except that he didn’t want a daughter and definitely not one with albinism. That’s obviously a big reason, but it doesn’t explain why he never moved past the disappointment and embraced his child. He’s also not the most tender of husbands, but it’s hard to tell if this is rooted in dissatisfaction with the “odd” mother-in-law he married into or general unhappiness with his situation. But, the lack of clarity is somewhat fitting for a younger narrator. And, I can see how this would give comfort to girls living in a similar situation – here’s a powerful character with a father and brother that don’t like her much, but that doesn’t hold her back from being amazing.

Diversity Score: A+ Success

So, this is one of those books where this score could go a couple of different ways depending on where you’re reading it. In Nigeria, it might get a lower score, although having a character with albinism does add some weight. Plus, two of the characters have lived/were born in the USA, so that’s different. In the US, this obviously tells a story placed outside the country’s borders with characters that look different from those currently the majority in most books. Really, no matter where you read it, you’ll get some level of representation that is generally lacking, so I’m going with the highest score.

BUT, big caveat – there can be an issue mixing albinism and magic. This is a huge stereotype and something that can lead to horrific treatment of albino people (especially in Africa). I think this gets a little bit of legitimacy because Okorafor is Nigerian-American, so she’s aware of the issues, and because Sunny is not the only magical person. Her three friends don’t have albinism and they’re just as magical as she is. This helps offset the “magical albino” trope quite a bit. It’s also clear that Sunny is not magical because she is albino, but that it’s an inherited trait from her grandmother, which further works to disconnect it from the stereotype. Still – something to be aware of.

Another note, Sasha and Sunny are both treated a little differently because they’ve lived in the US for extended periods of time. You do get a bit of the mistreated immigrant story line, mostly through microaggressions, like calling Sunny akata which is a negative term used for black Americans. Sunny, however, tries to accept and then find power in the term – so we get an immigrant narrative in a country that is not the US (!) and someone subverting an insult to find power.

Awesome Factor: Right between Good Effort and A+ Success

I really loved getting to know Sunny and her friends. I loved the world that she discovers as she learns more about the Leopard People and I LOVE a magical realm that is centered somewhere besides Europe with a distinctly African flavor, but which does not totally ignore the existence of magic across the globe. And, this is very specifically placed in a particular country and town (because Africa isn’t a country!). I would love to know more about what happens and how Sunny’s life changes as she grows into a young woman. I also would love to see how she balances the two lives and her relationship with her family…You know a book is good when it leaves you wondering what happens after you close it.

The one downside is that it felt like the end wrapped up very, very quickly and in a much tighter little ball than expected. I have seen Okorafor post on twitter that the published ending was not her intended one, so hopefully she will get a chance to expand on the story and flesh things out for us! (Note: A sequel should be here late 2016!)

Favorite Character

Orlu – I feel for him so much! He is like little-me – the rules are there for a reason, the rules help and guide us, don’t break the rules! And yet, he finds the strength to do what he must.

Favorite Line

“Neither (brother) even glaced at the counter. She smiled. Her dumb brothers never cooked. She didn’t think they even knew how! A human being who needs food to live but cannot prepare that food to eat? Pathetic. In this case, it was an advantage. They weren’t interested in any food until it had been cooked for them.”

Okorafor has a way of pulling out issues with just a few phrases – showing inequality, family dynamics, and Sunny’s personality.

Is this worth a book hangover?

Absolutely! It’s fun, it’s about magic and magic school, and the characters are engaging. And, it’s closer to middle grade so you get some of that innocence and joy that can be missing in “older” YA.

Fun Author Fact

Nnedi Okorafor is a heavily awarded writer and at least 3 of her stories are optioned for film or being adapted into a screenplay at this very moment.

Reviews say this is the Nigerian Harry Potter but there is so much more to this. A female character, ostracized for her skin color, gains strength through the very thing that albinos have been hunted, magic. Sunny is a 13 year old girl with two brothers, a loving mother, and a father who is always upset with her. Abused at school by the other girls she is an outcast in her village until she discovers the world of magic and that she is a leopard person. This new found power gains her friends (Sasha, Orlu, and Chichi) and the four of them work together to learn lessons from their teacher Anatov, earning "money" every time they learn a lesson. A great read that I flew through in only two days

This is what YA should be -- an enchanting story of Sunny overcoming sexism, racism, and colorism through the power of magic. A feel-good story that doesn't shy away from difficult topics but approaches them with a light hand. I loved that Sunny doesn't have all the answers, doesn't always make the right decisions, and doesn't always get her way -- but she does always learn. I loved the infusion of Nigerian culture and the fresh, feminist take on it. I adored this book in so many different ways. It's certainly my favorite YA novel I've read in 2018 and somewhere in my top 5 of all time.

Over the past couple of months I kept seeing reviews for Akata Witch, everywhere from Ms. and Bust Magazine to Locus and Publishers Weekly. I finally read it, and I can't recommend it enough. Classic coming-of-age template, but a truly unique story and a carefully fleshed-out world. Fast-paced and well-written, I hope that Akata Witch is just the first book of a series--I want more of these characters. Can't wait to read Shadow Speaker et al.

Akata Witch does some great things, some not so great things, and some important things.

The great, which as you should surmise from my 4 star rating, outweighed the not so great. Okorafor's world building is amongst the best in the genre, and what makes Akata Witch truly remarkable is that she is building two worlds simultaneously, weaving them together seamlessly. The characters have their own distinct personalities, convictions, idiosyncrasies, and most convincingly, their own flaws.

Now, the not-so-great things. Sunny and her friends come together, and are identified as a special destined sort of group almost too quickly. And in no time at all, the novel is pointing us towards their destiny. It's either too convenient, or too fatalistic on the part of the adults, who seem to make all the kids' decisions for them. A similar complaint is that for all the build up towards the final confrontation, it lasts all of several pages. It was almost as if the final battle wasn't the point, and for that, only an afterthought. The point in this case, I think, was the world-building, which as I've mentioned, is stellar. For that I am willing to overlook the sparse ending, and look forward simply to returning to the world in another novel.

Finally, the important things. Africa, Nigeria, Black People—none of these are a monolith, but rather a each in of themselves a plurality of cultures, languages, and experiences. This simple truth is never more clear than in the world of Akata Witch. Sunny and her friends present a small cross-section: a second-generation Nigerian-American girl returning to the land of her parents' birth. Simultaneously dealing with the stigma of being a black albino—black in every way except for her skin. Meanwhile, an African-American boy comes face to face with just how far removed he is from his ancestry. Within just Nigeria, we see people speaking Igbo, Yoruba, Efik, French, and English—the native and the colonial experiences melding into a single national identity.

This peek into the complexities of Nigeria, is an important contrast to the meager, harmful representations we see in Western media (and in other places). Okorafor accomplishes so much in a relatively small space, adding to the voices dispelling the myth of Africa as a "dark continent", unseen and misunderstood. If anything, what she has done here is demystified Africa, and Nigeria specifically, in spite of setting her story in a world of magic-users and spirits. It is for these reasons most of all that I recommend Akata Witch, to readers of all ages. Especially young people, as one of many texts that can help them form a more complete and nuanced picture of the world.

I really appreciated that this book took place in a different country other than my own...... i liked the magic system as well with earning money for learning something new and encouraging reading more. However i did not care for the main character towards the end; i understand why she was that way but it got a tad annoying..... anyhow the good outweighs the bad which makes me rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you so much Sam for giving this book to me it was a fun ride. I am definitely going to get the sequel eventually.

Move over Hogwarts, here comes Leopard Knocks, the magical commune where Nigerian students Sunny, Chichi, Sasha, and Orlu learn to harness and improve their natural magic skills while they fight evils that most adults would flee from. Despite the glut of magical stories in recent years, there evidently is room for new tropes and new heroes and heroines. This series has a mythology that will be fresh for readers of European and American-based stories of witchcraft and wizardry. This belongs on every kid’s shelf, right next to Harry Potter.

Akata Witch is a marvelous book of magic and wonder, akin to a Nigerian Harry Potter, right up until the disappointing climax.

One of the book's biggest strengths is that every page is filled with some kind of magic or action. Only the first chapters, when we're meeting some of the other characters, seems a little slow, and even then we see Sunny being attacked by her classmates, so it only seems slow because you're waiting for the magic to start. Once we meet them, though, we find ourselves surrounded by new types of magic. I don't know if the types of magic and unusual creatures come from Nigerian folklore and myth or not, but to an American reader, everything seems new and unusual, and it's fun to immerse ourselves into this unique world.

I compare it to Harry Potter because of this pacing where every moment is us being introduced to the world, the magic, or some kind of conflict. The addition of chittim being rewarded for learning or doing something (reminding me of the house points, although chittim was more practical since you could spend it) and a soccer cup (consisting of a single game, but reminiscent of Quidditch tournaments) added to the comparison.

Where Akata Witch unfortunately falls down is in the climax. The kids are told throughout the book that they're a special group. They have very little training, especially Sunny who has no experience at the beginning and who we see actually being taught all of two spells, neither of which is used in the climax. Suddenly their teacher visits her home and everyone knows that this is the time to go find the Big Bad. It takes them longer to travel to him than fighting him takes. Most disappointing is that only one of the quartet actually uses any abilities we've been exposed to throughout. No foreshadowing leads to Chichi or Sunny's part in the "battle," and the world is saved by a single word.

But if you don't read the book for the climax, but rather for the journey towards that climax, Akata Witch is a delightful read.

Recommended for fans of: multicultural books, interesting magical systems, unique creatures, Harry Potter, books where the journey is far more interesting than the destination

Nnedi Okorafor created a vivid world that pulsed with life. I felt like I was transported every time I opened the pages of the book. The story takes place in Nigeria, but there are times when the characters cross over to a place beyond what we see and I loved experiencing the wonders there. I appreciated that even though a lot of the book was fantasy, it also showed me a view of Nigeria that I hadn't experienced. I knew where it was geographically and had seen pictures of Lagos, but didn't really know a lot about the country. I know I hadn't listened to the music before. There were references so I played some from the Internet while I read. Also, I didn't know of Zuma rock. That is one incredible landform. I definitely have a different picture of Nigeria in my head.

Even more than the setting of the story, the characters captured me. Watching Sunny explore her emerging talents was amazing. Her trio of friends were also equally interesting and highly entertaining. Chichi's confidence and sass brought smiles to my face even as she frustrated me on occasion. Each of the friends have their positives and negatives as they struggle along learning to work together. This is a book about the power of friendship.

I am excited for the series to continue. The next book doesn't come out until Spring of 2015 so it will be hard to wait. If you haven't read it yet, get it soon. This is a fun and exciting fantasy that you won't want to miss.

Review originally posted at Reading Through Life [...]

For me, there is nothing to dislike about Akata Witch. The magical system is based on the characters' strengths and "weaknesses". For instance, one character has a spine bent from scoliosis, and her special ability is to be able to shape shift into a snake. It's just a really nice touch, and something I've never seen done before. The characters and world are well-written. I look forward to reading Akata Warrior.

Sunny was born different. She's an albino, so she has to stay out of the sun and carry an umbrella if she does go out. Being albino and African American means that her classmates pick on her all the time. Sunny feels alone in the world until she befriends Orlu and Chichi. Through them she finds that she might have a very unique place in the world and that her flaws may lend to her strong powers. She is one of the Leopard people, which is a secret society of magical people. Not only that, but she is destined to do great things for the society.

So I borrowed this from the library before buying it for my own, because occasionally multicultural books can fall flat on my teens. This book will not have that issue. It was fun and exciting and there were new secrets around every turn. I really liked Sunny, even if she usually had no idea what was going on. The only thing that bugged me is when they found out the identity of the murderer, Black Hat. It was simply told to Sunny, there was no discovery, the information was just laid out plainly. It was a bit lackluster. The rest of the book was interesting and just quite fabulous. I loved all the detail of the insects(even if they're gross) that Nnedi Okorafor adds to the story. It really made those creepy-crawly scenes more crawly. People who want a little juju in their stories will find some here. I loved learning that people in Nigeria do have cellphones, even if their neighbors are witches in mud huts. It was interesting seeing the prejudice in other countries, and how even something like being born in America can be considered a terrible thing. The magic bits and the history of the Leopard People were completely fascinating and well developed. The story was just filled with fun information and storytelling. When you have a great group of kids that are discovering these powers that live inside them and being told to save the world with said powers it makes for an amazing story. I picked up Zahrah the Windseeker from my library and am eager to start that soon. I can't wait to hear more about Sunny and her friends, and will certainly be purchasing a copy of this for myself and my library. One of you may end up with your own copy soon too...

First Line:
"I've always been fascinated by candles."

Favorite Lines:
"Lambs are on a constant, unrealistic, irrational, and unnatural quest for perfection."

"The masquerade dances, whiling and whirling faster and faster. It whipped thousands of insects to the rhythm and speed of the drums and flute, laughing its shrill womanly laugh and buzzing it's insectile buzz."

This story and setting were unique and I appreciated the world building. Unfortunately, I didn't personally jibe with the distinct YA style of the book. Adults are almost always antagonistic and cruel, and the main character is constantly confused. It just got a little old for me. The book's climax was too brief and rushed as well. I am, however, not the target audience, being in my late 30s.

Great read. I appreciated the cultural dialogue members of the quartet represented - African American, Nigerian, and Nigerian American/ international. These are real world tensions/ conversations, and I liked seeing that addressed here with so much grace. I really loved the juju knives and masks and Leopard Knocks and the mechanics of magic in this world. It was refreshing and imaginative.

I wanted to not read this immediately after _Wild Seed_, because there are similarities between the books. Beyond that both are amazing. Sunny, the main character here is even named Anyanwu (in tribute to that book and Octavia E. Butler?) "her spirit, her chi, the name of her other self, (to) guide her." (326) This is the kind of inventive, amazing, magical book I was hoping the Harry Potter series and Grossman's Magician series would be, but are not. This is the real deal and I hope it finds the kind of audience that the Potter books did.

Sunny's parents are Nigerian, but she was born in New York and lived there until she was nine, when her parents moved back to Nigeria. Sunny is albino, though she loves soccer and is very good at it, she can't play it, because she will burn in the sun. It is here she learns she is a Leopard Person, a person with the ability to do magic. She is trained in magic with three friends. Oh and she and her friends save the world. One of her classmates in regular school, because she attends school with Lambs, as non-magical people are called in this universe, says,
"'You stupid pale-faced akata witch! Your hours are numbered!'
Sunny shut her eyes and gulped down a sob. She hated the word `akata.'It meant `bush animal' and was used to refer to black Americans or foreign born blacks. A very, very rude word." (11)

I would love it Nnedi Okorafor would write more in this, or gee, any universe. I believe I'd happily read her grocery lists!

Akata Witch, a YA fantasy novel set in Nigeria, will please teens who enjoy reading about other cultures and countries as well as lovers of fantasy. It is set in contemporary Nigeria but Sunny, its heroine, was born in New York to Nigerian parents and returned with them to Nigeria. Another principal character has come to Nigeria from Chicago, so there is an element of culture clash and, in Sunny’s case, a need to cope with the stigma of being different, because in addition to being American born, Sunny is albino. But with the help of Sasha, and two other friends, Sunny discovers that she has special powers and that with those powers comes a frightening responsibility. Akata Witch is a fascinating story, beautifully told, rich in ambience and in character development, and always exciting and suspenseful. I highly recommend it for teen readers, and adults will enjoy it as well.

This is a really difficult book for me to review. There were pieces I loved as well as pieces I didn’t. On a whole, the story just never came together into a coherent storyline.

The setting of this book is very cool. It takes place in (what I imagine is) modern Nigera. I know absolutely nothing about Nigera, so it was a little bit of a culture shock for me to read about this area, but it was also cool and enlightening. As Sunny discovers her Leopard (their word for magical people) abilities, we get to know more about that sub-world, which was also cool, if a bit…odd.

The writing of this book feels middle grade, but there are so many situations the characters find themselves in that are beyond the maturity level of middle grade readers. Being touted as “the Nigerian Harry Potter” I feel like they missed the mark a touch. The first two Harry Potter novels, which I would consider to be lower YA/Middle Grade, did not have themes as dark as the later books. Akata Witch dove right in with the very dark themes.

So much of this book is spent building the world and magic system that the plot seems mostly forgotten. At one point we learn that Sunny and her Leopard friends are supposed to take out a Leopard man who has been kidnapping and murdering children. Instead of, you know, training the kids to take on this task… they’re given little tasks that don’t really do a whole lot to train them.

The book starts out with Sunny having a vision. And then that vision is pretty much forgotten throughout the whole book. It’s kind of a big deal, especially if it were to come true, but everyone just brushes it off.

All of the adults/mentors/leaders in this book are pretty useless. They’re mostly mean and more often than not, NOT helpful to these 12/13 year old children.

There’s also talk of Sunny’s mysterious (dead) grandmother. There’s very little talk of her throughout the story until the end. I feel like there was a missed opportunity, not making more use of her. I’d actually rather read her story than Sunny’s!

Do I recommend this book? I don’t know… this book was just all over the place for me. I liked the idea, but I think the plot needed to be tightened. Unfortunately it’s a miss for me. If you want to explore a magical world / culture that is pretty unique, this might be worth reading for you.