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psydneigh's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I felt like this was a bit slow to start, and I really didn’t like TJ’s relationship with his mom, but the world is definitely intriguing. On to the next one!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, and Grief
irl_bookworms's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
I have been slowly moving away from YA for a few years now, having found the stories just not for me anymore. However, when the author reached out to me to review this book - I couldn’t resist. I’ve read Bandele’s novels in the past (Demons, Monks, & Lovers is still one of my faves) and I was even more excited to have the opportunity to review the audiobook version.
So, first off, I legit have no idea how I’m going to write this review, I just want to rave about so much!
The Gatekeeper’s staff is the first book in a series inspired by the mythology of the West African Orishas. 14 year old TJ Young comes from a family of diviners, a secret community spread across the world, with the ability to perform magic. Except TJ has never been able to connect much to magic at all. His world is suddenly flipped upside down when his older, beloved sister dies mysteriously. Desperate to piece together the questions left behind by her loss, TJ enrolls in Camp Olosa - think fast track magic school. It is here he realizes that all isn’t what it seems and that he’s going to need to learn fast if he ever hopes to unlock magic of his own.
Grief plays a strong part in this book and Bandele doesn’t gloss over it. What I loved was the attention he gave to the family’s grieving process and Dayo’s funeral. As someone who is pushing for more Death Positivity in novels, this was a breath of fresh air - funerals are sad, they’re about processing loss, but they can also be about celebrating someone’s life. And Dayo’s is a life that deserves to be celebrated.
As for TJ, he is a kid that I think so many of us, young and old(er), can relate to. Wanting to fit in, wanting to make his family proud, nervous about making new friends, all of these build TJ up to be a great character at the center of a series.
Camp Olosa draws inspiration from Percy Jackson but I honestly think it stands entirely on its own. I can see this in the hands of so many kids and them becoming obsessed with creating their own, real-life Camp Olosa. There is well written friendship, teachers that you can grow close to or become suspicious of, and one of my favorite alligators that I’ve ever read about.
Now for the audiobook - OMG Nekia Renee is the voice I never knew I needed for a YA novel. Her voice and cadence are some of the most addictive I’ve listened to in a long time. I never wanted to press pause (though I’m sure the story helped with that as well). Not to mention the audio production is next level, with music and ambience to wrap you up in the world with every chapter. An incredible job from everyone involved!
The Gatekeeper’s Staff book is full of adventure, full of magic, and full of heart - I just want to shove this beautiful book into the hands of every teenager and pre-teen.
CW: Loss of a sibling, grief, some fatphobia, & inspiration from HP (but no mentions that I noticed).
**I received an audiobook ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review**
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death
Minor: Fatphobia
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