A review by laurareads87
Abeni's Song by P. Djèlí Clark

adventurous inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I requested this ARC because I absolutely love P. Djèlí Clark’s work and I will read absolutely everything he publishes. I read exclusively adult fiction 99.99% of the time so I will say in rating this, I really can’t compare it to what middle grade fiction tends to be like and I certainly can’t speak for the book’s intended audience. 

Abeni’s Song follows a young girl, Abeni, who sets out on an adventure to rescue her village thwart a Witch King. Along the way, Abeni meets and befriends spirits, develops her magical and fighting abilities, and learns a lot about herself. A lot of what I love in Clark’s adult fiction is present here: a complex, multi-faceted female protagonist, a well developed and compelling world, and an exciting plot. The book tackles intense themes mindfully, and is a great adventure story that I think middle graders will really enjoy. I particularly love the cast of girls, their friendship dynamic and their bravery - Abeni, Asha, Nyomi, and Zaneeya - and think many young readers would too. One of the things that really stands out to me in Clark’s adult fiction is that he’s written some female characters I’m truly, truly grateful for, and I’m so happy to see this in his middle grade debut as well. I would absolutely buy this book for young readers in my life, and if this is going to be a series, I’d happily read a sequel. 

Content warnings: references to slavery, colonialism, violence, grief 

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing / Starscape for providing an ARC in exchange for this review. 
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