Book Review: Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Akata Witch

by Nnedi Okorafor

I have found myself gravitating toward YA Literature again lately. I simply find that there are really great books being written in that area with strong voices - incredible, accessible, fast-paced stories.

About six months ago I came across Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor on a list of best sci-fi and fantasy books and immediately added it to my collection. I love anything that uses mythology in it and this sounded great.

Sunny Nwazue is a young woman who walks in two worlds.

Sunny’s parents came from Nigeria to America, had three children, then something told Sunny’s mother that they needed to go back to Nigeria so they did. The story begins there, in Nigeria. “You see why I confuse people? I’m Nigerian by blood, American by birth, and Nigerian because I live here.” Sunny is also albino.

There is a good bit of pain in this book. The author doesn’t flinch away from it, and she doesn’t sugar coat it. Sunny’s mother loves her very much, but her father is less caring. He is very, very strict, almost contemptuous of her, hitting her if she gets out of line. Corporal punishment is used in the school. Sunny is bullied and physically attacked by a classmate named Jibaku. These are regular facets of Sunny’s life, but the worst is yet to come.

There is a ritual serial killer on the loose, named Black Hat Otokoto, killing and maiming little children. Then Sunny sees something in a candle flame one night, a scene of apocalyptic proportions. She doesn’t know what to make of it, but she soon will, as she learns about the Leopard People and her own abilities. (Lambs are ordinary folk who don’t have talent with Juju.)

Sunny makes new Leopard friends – Orlu, Sasha, and Chichi. They become a team destined to fight off this darkness together using Juju and teamwork. They are more than the team though, they are each wonderful individual characters. 

In this world, learning is more than its own reward, the Leopard people are also rewarded FOR it, in a very interesting way. World defining elements are explained in boxed entries as the issue comes up – such as money leopard people earn for learning, called chittim, and spirits called masquerades.

There is also a lot of lovely, happy bits to balance the fear and pain. Sunny loves to play soccer. Ghost Hoppers, giant grasshoppers, start appearing in Sunny’s house. A wasp artist is one of those fantastical details. (I don’t want to give how it comes about away, but it is an incredibly charming detail, watch for it.)

It is a richly developed book full of mythology and intricate with original details. I highly recommend Akata Witch. I’m about to start Akata Warrior myself.