Akata Witch
2011 • 349 pages

Ratings85

Average rating4

15

This contemporary Afrofuturism and Afrofantasy is set in present day Nigeria. 12 year old albino Sunny Nwazue was born in the United States to Nigerian parents. Now living again in Nigeria with her family, Sunny feels like an outsider at school and at home. Her classmates view her as a “witch or ghost” because of her albinism, and incidents of bullying and prejudice are sprinkled throughout the story. Sunny discovers that she and her closest friends are “Leopard People” – Nigerian witches, and their quest begins to take down a serial killer.
Okorafor's ability to share Nigerian folklore, magic, and elements of Nigerian life will appeal to teens and adults. For those interested in continuing Sunny's story the sequel Akata Warrior can be queued up for their TBR pile.

Note: Yetide Badaki's narration of the audio book version is superb!

March 24, 2019