lvmuth's review
4.0
I devoured this book pretty fast, and I really loved the worldbuilding. I felt steeped in Nigerian culture and I learned a little bit of history along the way.
HOWEVER, I feel like the climax and ending of the book fell just a little flat. It was tough for me to wrap my mind around how the protagonists were shunted off to do their thing without much in the way of guidance. I still think it's an enjoyable read, but it wasn't quite a home run. I'll be back for the second installment nonetheless.
HOWEVER, I feel like the climax and ending of the book fell just a little flat. It was tough for me to wrap my mind around how the protagonists were shunted off to do their thing without much in the way of guidance. I still think it's an enjoyable read, but it wasn't quite a home run. I'll be back for the second installment nonetheless.
bookishstone's review
4.0
I really enjoyed getting to know the world of Akata Witch. Okorafor built a world on top of our own that feels like it could be real. I loved the idea of leopard people; it was a wonderful change from wizards, magicians, etc. I especially loved the focus on knowledge in this book. It made me so happy to know their librarians are the most respected in their society. I wish all of life focused on knowledge as opposed to money. I can't wait to pick up the next book to see what happens next.
lanid's review
adventurous
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Body horror, Bullying, Body shaming, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, and Violence
skinnygetout's review
3.0
A lighthearted story about magic, being and outsider, and finding yourself. The story follows Sunny as she learns that she was born with magical powers and that the magic world of "Leopard People" is thinly veiled from the reality of the "Lambs." This draws from Nigerian magical lore and the traditions of hero's journey cycles to tell Sunny growth as a hero. There are adventures, growing pains, and defeat of a dangerous enemy.
A pretty fun story that is a quick read.
A pretty fun story that is a quick read.
mandygris's review
4.0
Binti was my first intro to Nnedi Okorafor: In reading Akata Witch I have come to appreciate that Okorafor has written two excellent female protagonists of similar age, but that Binti and Sunny are not carbon copies of each other. Sometimes I read across an author's work and they start to have a formula for what makes a woman a strong. It's encouraging to observe striking differences in character, yet admire the outcome!
I don't know about you, but I didn't have many women to look-up to when I was a kid. I had people who manipulated me, people I needed to please or perform for, and those who would ignore me or write me off. Books were an introduction to characters who showed me there were ways I could exist outside of those functions. Strong characters and the authors who wrote them helped to raise me to be curious and kind, and to seek information. To try to be braver. I think fondly of those characters when I come up to difficult decisions, and wonder what advice they might give. I reflect on this now to say that I think Sunny (and Binti) are both excellent characters for kids, or just people in those situations now. That is comforting.
I wanted to wait for Akata Witch #3 to come out to re-read this series, but I just wanted to be immersed in this world again. Okorafor has such a talent for description - this time 'round the food descriptions really made me so dang hungry.
Other reviewers: kindly please stop comparing Akata Witch to HP. It's harmful and reductionist. If you think about it for even TEN seconds you'll figure out that magic + mastery are huge Fantasy tropes and don't belong to one particular story or writer. Same with the monetization/trade of magic, thinking that there might be a teacher/student relationship, etc. Please, think. Then think some more. And if you still can't find anything better to say than that, please consider saying nothing at all and instead maybe doing some research on Fantasy tropes as I promise you it will improve your overall enjoyment of the genre.
I don't know about you, but I didn't have many women to look-up to when I was a kid. I had people who manipulated me, people I needed to please or perform for, and those who would ignore me or write me off. Books were an introduction to characters who showed me there were ways I could exist outside of those functions. Strong characters and the authors who wrote them helped to raise me to be curious and kind, and to seek information. To try to be braver. I think fondly of those characters when I come up to difficult decisions, and wonder what advice they might give. I reflect on this now to say that I think Sunny (and Binti) are both excellent characters for kids, or just people in those situations now. That is comforting.
I wanted to wait for Akata Witch #3 to come out to re-read this series, but I just wanted to be immersed in this world again. Okorafor has such a talent for description - this time 'round the food descriptions really made me so dang hungry.
Other reviewers: kindly please stop comparing Akata Witch to HP. It's harmful and reductionist. If you think about it for even TEN seconds you'll figure out that magic + mastery are huge Fantasy tropes and don't belong to one particular story or writer. Same with the monetization/trade of magic, thinking that there might be a teacher/student relationship, etc. Please, think. Then think some more. And if you still can't find anything better to say than that, please consider saying nothing at all and instead maybe doing some research on Fantasy tropes as I promise you it will improve your overall enjoyment of the genre.
jenn2d2's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
liawarsa's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I love this book! The characters are amazing and the universe is really great. I can't wait to know more about itÂ
carolynf's review
4.0
A great young adult coming of age story about a twelve-year old witch in Nigeria. Sunny is ostracized from her peers because she lived in the US until the age of nine, and because she is albino. But she learns that she has an aptitude for magic, and works with her new friends to prevent the end of the world. This book is a welcome change from the usual northern European witchery in magic books - instead we have juju, leopard people, masquerades, tungwa, chittim...