(2) 4-6 His father, the police chief, is dead, and eleven-year-old Nnamdi knows who murdered him--the Chief of Chiefs, an infamous criminal in their Nigerian province. Vowing to bring justice, Nnamdi is unsure how to proceed until a supernatural encounter on the day of his father's memorial celebration leaves him in possession of an artifact known as an Ikenga, a "place of strength." With the Ikenga, Nnamdi gains the ability to shapeshift into a seven-foot-tall shadowy being who carries a strength--and a rage--similar to his favorite comic-book character, the Incredible Hulk. Simply nicknamed "The Man" by the local ­newspaper, Nnamdi becomes a crime-fighting vigilante. But as The Man's anger ­threatens to consume him (including a violent confrontation with his best friend), Nnamdi is also running out of time to fulfill his promise of bringing his father's murderer to justice. The story puts its readers on a roller coaster of action as Nnamdi battles to harness his newfound power as a tool for good. Peppering her work with Igbo phrases, folklore, and local pop references, Okorafor (Akata Witch, rev. 5/11; Akata Warrior, rev. 9/17) succeeds in imbuing West African culture throughout the origin story of a memorable new superhero.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(2) YA Sunny (Akata Witch) survives separation from her spirit face because her visions guide her coven to where the living and spirit worlds coincide; there Sunny can take on supernatural Ekwensu before she destroys the earth. Sunny grows stronger physically and emotionally in this volume. The West African mythological foundation of this contemporary Nigeria–set fantasy series will satisfy fans of Okorafor's signature brand of magic.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2017

(2) YA Sunny, albino daughter of Nigerian parents, is used to being called a witch; even so, it's a surprise to learn she is one. Along with her coven, she must take on Okotoko the Black Hat, a serial killer who preys on children. Sunny's world of pepper soup and afrobeat music, the audacious personalities, and Okorafor's lively writing make this offering stand out.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2011

(4) YA In an alternate-reality Nigeria, 2070, fourteen-year-old Ejii, a telepathic "shadow speaker," learns that she will avert a war. With her affectionate talking camel, Ejii heads into the Sahara Desert to prepare. The novel is brimful with ideas about war, destiny, and identity, but the overly transparent moral message mitigates its power.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker