Reviews with content warning for Kidnapping - Akata Witch

My brother gave me the first book in this series last year as a Holiday gift, and I feel like getting started on it about a year later is really pretty good, for me! But for real, it was such a great surprise book choice because I have read, and loved, Binti (and Home and The Night Masquerade). So, of course, I had wanted to read more from her. This helped me move it up my list! (I have also been listening to the audiobooks for them, as I read - they are available through my library on Hoopla - and the narrator is fantastic!)

Sunny Nwazue was born in the United States, but moved back to Nigeria with her parents (and brothers) when she was nine. She is Nigerian and she is albino. And it seems to her that, no matter where she is, she doesn't fit in. When she discovers that she is a "free agent," a person born with magical power (but not one born to magical parents, so she is finding out late in life), everything changes. Her "in-between-ness" begins to change from a liability to a strength. And as she begins training, she finds out she is part of a pre-ordained set of four, along with her peers Chichi, Orlu and Sasha, and they are being tasked with tracking down a magical criminal (a criminal that, Sunny learns, may have something to do with her mysterious maternal grandmother) and stop him from calling an unspeakable evil.

I don't know what I was expecting, exactly, but this story met all my expectations. I will say, it is written in that in-between middle grade and young adult style, and, while there are definitely some mature topics and scenes that could be kind of scary depending on the reader (like horror-style bug swarms), the whole vibe (writing and character interaction, etc.) leans more middle grade, in my opinion. If I were to compare it to that most popular of MG/YA magic school series, it would line up really closely. I would recommend it as an alternative, follow-up, or "comp" read in a heartbeat (in fact, I plan to). But other than that, this is familiar Okorafor through and through.

I absolutely loved the world-building. It is reminiscent of Binti, but is clearly more grounded in the recognizable, as it's an earth-based fantasy, versus space opera sci-fi. The West African traditions and cultures that are the setting and inspiration for the story are strong and beautifully rendered. And the magic system, juju, as an extension of that, is stunning. To steal a bit from the intro to book two (yes, I started reading that before even writing this review, because I couldn't wait for more), juju is "what we West Africans like to loosely call magic, manipulative mysticism, or alluring allures. And it was all of that in these pages. The lines of family/inheritance in magical ability, the way knowledge and learning are central to the system (both in improving skill and in being rewarded for it in its own right), and the use of magical items and writings and internal processes/foci to perform magic was all so much fun to read about. Like really, there is little I enjoy more than a well-developed magic system. And a magical world! The creativity in the greater magical community was great. I particularly loved some of the touches like the spirit faces, the "idea brewery" in the library, the little bee that creates art - so good. Plus, there was a gorgeous reimagining and reclaiming of traditional “weaknesses” (like dyslexia, defiance/ADHD, albinism, etc.). The way Okorafor writes finding strength and power in what sets you apart/makes you unique is an important message for young and older readers alike.

Character-wise, it seemed like Sunny was mostly just along for the ride here (makes sense, being new to things). But then randomly has a pivotal role at the end, that she sort of struggles to understand/explain. I am curious to see if we get more depth on her abilities as we go, and hoping (and expecting) that we do. The one thing that stuck out to me as a bit awkward was the entire soccer storyline. The “she’s special and extra good at soccer randomly without ever actually playing for real” was a weird vibe to add, and I'm sure why it was there or necessary within the greater story. Otherwise, these four friends were great. The way they challenged and balanced each other is another great lesson and so sweetly written. I also appreciated the moments when they called out the adults, demanding that they “speak clearly.” It’s such a magical mentor trope that guides/mentors speak in riddles and I was totally here for these young people calling out the more knowledgeable elders like, "we can - and want to - help, but tell us what we need to do because maybe you don’t remember not knowing all that you know now, and can’t conceive that, if we have such a role to play, we don’t know everything you know, but should." It was just, really insightful. Not something you usually get in I loved that, again for readers of all ages to remember: ask for help/clarity and offer it!

There was so much imagination in this first book. It had the traditional build of a "first book in a series focused on an MC with a newly discovered magical ability and a chosen one/group facing a major threat," but in a way that was both comfortably predictable and entertainingly new. There was a wonderful mix of lighter, youthful friendship and rivalry and naivete and the delight in learning new things, with just enough darkness from a greater/adult threat and magic used for power/evil to balance it out. And again, the world of culture and magic that Okorafor creates with her words is its own kind of magic. I am excited to keep following this story and these characters.

“Knowledge is the center of all things.”

“Prejudice begets prejudice. […] Knowledge does not always evolve into wisdom.”

“They’re capable of great things, but potential doesn’t equal success.”

"When things get bad, they don't stop until you stop the badness - or die."

Content Warnings

city_girl_writer's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. This is something I would have been ecstatic for as a younger reader, and this book touched that. I really liked our protagonist, Sunny, and her friends. The magic was unique and loved how it was set in Nigeria. It touched me, and I appreciate this book for it. Very curious to see what happens in Akata Warrior.

Content Warnings

queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious 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? No

4.0

4 ⭐ CW: bullying, fantasy violence, death of a child mention, mutilation mention, physical abuse/corporal punishment, swarming insects

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor is book one in the Nsibidi Scripts series. This book was great! This is another of those books I wish had been around when I was in middle school. This would honestly make a great replacement for HP if you need Magic School recs.

We follow Sunny, a girl born in the US to Nigerian/Igbo parents, but raised in Nigeria, and is albino. Sunny starts making friends with a boy named Orlu after he helps stop bullies from hurting her. Orlu has another friend named Chichi who doesn't attend school, is very direct, antagonistic, and mysterious about her age. When Chichi and Orlu tell her about juju, she discovers she's like them: a Leopard Person, a person with magical abilities using natural talents and powders and symbols and such. Sunny gets to join Orlu and Chichi in what is basically juju school, but Sunny is at a huge disadvantage since she's the only one who didn't grow up knowing about any of it.

I loved the group we got. We meet an African-American boy named Sasha who was sent to Nigeria for bad behavior and will be studying with them. This whole group was about balancing each other out: Sasha and Chichi being the hard headed, firery ones; Orlu and Sunny the more calm, sensible, and quiet ones. Together they make an Oha coven, and they are tasked with something no teen should have to deal with alone.

I loved the world-building in this! So many cool and interesting things! In Leopard People world, knowledge is the most valuable thing and so as you learn new things you earn chittim (various precious metals that serve as currency). Since Sunny is completely ignorant of Leopard People ways, she earns big chittim. Each Leopard Person has innate magical abilities they can utilize without powders or using a juju knife. The abilities usually correlate to the person's physical appearance, often a disability or deformity, and is seen as a good thing. I loved the concept of spirit faces and I hope we learn more about them throughout the series. I want Della the Art Wasp! So tiny and desperate for praise.

It was interesting reading about the way Native Nigerians view African-Americans. The word Akata in the title refers to Black Americans or foreign-born blacks as bush animals, and is very rude. Since Sunny is also albina she gets called a witch a lot, and she has taken these names back. I want more African fantasy!

Definitely looking forward to Akata Warrior and to Okorafor's other books.

Content Warnings

emohell's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful mysterious 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

4.0

read for class and absolutely loved it. took a bit for me to get really into it but i’m already looking into reading the sequel. incredibly vivid world building and lovable characters that each had their own arcs and development.

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jenny_librarian's review against another edition

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adventurous informative mysterious medium-paced

3.0

Disappointing. It’s the only word I have to describe this book.

I was interested by the culture in the beginning, but that quickly took a turn with the sheer amount of child abuse and sexism dismissed as a culture quirk.

The editing and flow of the story also lacks. There’s no major buildup and the final confrontation makes you wonder why the adults couldn’t take care of it themselves.

As far as this type of stories go, it was subpar.

Content Warnings

zombiezami's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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

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