Reviews

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi

paig35mith's review against another edition

5.0

Whew Chile, it took me a while to get through this one but I'm glad I did. So I started off thinking I would give this book 3 ⭐ . As I got near the end I realize I felt connected to some of the characters and it really spoke to me about how women/girls are viewed in times of hardships and peace and thought I will probably give it 4 ⭐. Then I got to the author's notes and this both broke my heart when he shared the inspiration of the book and made me appreciate the story that much more 5⭐. Tochi Onyebuchi thank you for the author's notes.

allthestories08's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

lsparrow's review against another edition

4.0

a story of the civil war in Nigeria - retold in a future world. War still remains unchanged in the horrors it inflicts.

emily_housler's review against another edition

Not the vibe for reading right now, might come back to it. 

beansandrice's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

mariagj's review against another edition

5.0

Five stars is not enough to ate this book.

doorisajar's review against another edition

Oooooooof. Not an easy read. 

I had some quibbles here and there, but overall I enjoyed it quite a bit. 

draculaura21's review against another edition

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

theshaggyshepherd's review against another edition

5.0

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi is a book that takes a horrific event in history and turns it into a futuristic story to bring awareness to the world in a way that draws you in and makes you want to learn more about the actual history of this war. Like so many other readers that will be drawn to this book by the beautiful cover and promise of a new adventure, I came into this knowing nothing about the Biafran War. While the word Biafran seemed familiar, I would not have been able to tell you one single detail about this even in history but this book has me yearning to learn more. I appreciate the Author's Note at the end of the book that directs the readers to further reading about this.

Onyii and Ify are two characters that could not be less alike - one a strong leader that will do anything for the people she loves and the other a studious follower intent to believe what she is told in order to survive and attempt to enjoy her life. But throughout the book, they both are thrown into situations they struggle to handle, they both grow into women stronger than they themselves could have imagined, and they both make decisions they never would have expected to be forced to make. Two desperate but strong women show us the struggle of life during war times and what that can turn you into, but also how redemptive everything can turn out to be. War Girls is a beautiful and educational story that every girl should read.

cadyly's review against another edition

4.0

This was a lovely, complex book. It has so much to say about sisterhood, war, moral agency, and personal freedom. It's a lot to unpack.

I read it through pretty quickly for the plot, but I will re-read it again to ponder the themes more closely.

There was so much sadness in this book. But - given that it is based on real-world war between Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra - it makes sense in a tragic way.

I am really glad there is a sequel; that ending!