Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Sankofa by Nnedi Okorafor

67 reviews

amanda_mh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective

5.0

I think what I love about this story is that there are no answers. Yes, that is what most people don’t like to hear, but nothing is truly ever explained and that’s the beauty of it. It is a gripping, emotional, contemplative story about a young girl followed by the shadow of death.  It’s a short sci fi read on the surface but incredibly powerful, and real. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child death, Death of parent, and Physical abuse

krys_kilz's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-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

5.0

This novella was recommended to me by my favorite librarian and it really blew me away! The world building alongside Sankofa's complex and melancholy character hooked me from the start and I finished this book in one sitting. I have so many questions especially after the ending. It was ambiguous, but what it implied - at least to me - was fascinating. 

This almost reads as an anti-futurist work of science fiction, which is really different than anything within the genre that I've read before. The character's name - Sankofa - obviously introduces themes of the past in the present and future and a movement away from linear time. The ending also reminded me of Afropessimist concepts of ending/destroying the world in order to start again.

This book also raises really interesting questions about grief, storytelling, agency and belonging.

I am left with many questions, which is simultaneously exciting and frustrating. This definitely feels like a book I could return to and get even more out of the second read through. I am also really excited to dive into Okorafor's other work!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Death, and Child death

freckled_frog_boi's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Animal death, Physical abuse, Child death, Violence, Murder, Death of parent, Grief, and Gore

sparklefarm's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Nnedi Okorafor packs a punch in this novella. Set in a not-too-distant-future Ghana, our main character is a girl blessed/cursed with unique abilities. Filled with tragedy and heart, and exploration of family and home. Excellent audiobook narration by Adjoa Andoh. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Child death

montereads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Child death, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Car accident

Moderate: Fatphobia

roxanned's review against another edition

mysterious medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Car accident

Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, Animal death, and Blood

zombiezami's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Child death, Physical abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Animal death, and Car accident

Moderate: Body horror, Gun violence, Cancer, and Blood

Minor: Sexual violence and Kidnapping

bblanka's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Animal death, and Child death

thepermageek's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

An Afro-futuristic story about the personification of “Death.” 

A quick, compelling meditation on grief, belonging, and finding meaning & purpose in one’s life. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Child death

books4bee's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Animal death, Child death, and Violence

Minor: Terminal illness, Bullying, and Cancer