Akata Warrior

My Thoughts:

This is a follow up to Okorafor's Akata Witch, the story of part American, part Nigerian Sunny Nwazue, the powerful teen "witch" known as the Leopard People. Similar to Harry Potter, where her family knows there is something about Sunny, but she is unable to reveal her self to them, Sunny, like Harry is powerful beyond their comprehension. Also like the Harry Potter series, although these teens have mentors, they seem to have to face things on their own a lot, often with the adult authorities chasing them or punishing them. What makes this different is the African cultural aspects that make this very unique for fantasy and sci fi readers. I think this Afrofuturistic lens is untapped territory. Not enough Indigenous, minority authors are writing their own cultural histories and stories into the future and I would like more of that. I remember reading Nalo Hopkins' Brown Girl in the Ring and that brought so much promise, so finding Ms. Okorafor's Binti novella started that fascination for me again.

I am not sure what to read next, but I am looking for more of this. 

On a side note, I had to actually look up grasscutter. It looks like part of the rodent family and it is farmed in Nigeria for food. 

From the Publisher:

A year ago, Sunny Nwazue, an American-born girl Nigerian girl, was inducted into the secret Leopard Society. As she began to develop her magical powers, Sunny learned that she had been chosen to lead a dangerous mission to avert an apocalypse, brought about by the terrifying masquerade, Ekwensu. Now, stronger, feistier, and a bit older, Sunny is studying with her mentor Sugar Cream and struggling to unlock the secrets in her strange Nsibidi book.

Eventually, Sunny knows she must confront her destiny. With the support of her Leopard Society friends, Orlu, Chichi, and Sasha, and of her spirit face, Anyanwu, she will travel through worlds both visible and invisible to the mysteries town of Osisi, where she will fight a climactic battle to save humanity.

Much-honored Nnedi Okorafor, winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards, merges today’s Nigeria with a unique world she creates. Akata Warrior blends mythology, fantasy, history and magic into a compelling tale that will keep readers spellbound.