Scan barcode
karrama's review against another edition
5.0
Magical realism in Nigeria! Sunny is all things, but at the same time she is completely different than one might expect. She has a long list of descriptors: albino Nigerian-descendant born in America who returned, only to be teased by the local children, she befriends a boy who lives next to a "free agent" who doesn't play by society's rules. Turns out our athletic, smart heroine is a magic user.
This is a well-written, quickly paced magic school story where the students have to stop the bad guy. Like Sunny, though, it's much more. A very good read.
This is a well-written, quickly paced magic school story where the students have to stop the bad guy. Like Sunny, though, it's much more. A very good read.
bluberrybooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Maybe 3.75 but round up
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Ableism
Moderate: Body horror, Physical abuse, Bullying, Child abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Police brutality
multilingual_s's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I'm clearly not the target audience but what held me was the feeling that I would have loved it, if I had read it instead of Harry Potter when I was 10. It has everything: magic, creatures, friendship and of course mortal danger.
linksthesun's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
dangerpronedaphne2023's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kiara_barus's review against another edition
I have better things to read and it was kinda boring.
sloreads_ca's review against another edition
3.0
Full Review
I picked this book based on an insta recommendation and dove right in without checking the blurb. I knew it was fantasy, I knew Nnedi Okorafor has been really well reviewed and I knew lots of people really liked this book, but I didn’t know it was YA. I generally don’t read YA and if I do it’s usually older teens, so this book wasn’t a great fit for me.
That’s not to say that Okorafor didn’t crush it. Excellent world building and well developed magic. The elements were consistent and creative. The writing was well polished and clear.
I picked this book based on an insta recommendation and dove right in without checking the blurb. I knew it was fantasy, I knew Nnedi Okorafor has been really well reviewed and I knew lots of people really liked this book, but I didn’t know it was YA. I generally don’t read YA and if I do it’s usually older teens, so this book wasn’t a great fit for me.
That’s not to say that Okorafor didn’t crush it. Excellent world building and well developed magic. The elements were consistent and creative. The writing was well polished and clear.
trapwomanistcyborgwitch's review against another edition
4.0
Re-read for the third book in the series. Very imaginative and unique. Love all of the Nigerian folklore and magic interwoven in the story. Great Character growth for Sunny.