Akata Witch (5 points)
Usually, I am not a fan of Young Adult novels, even when I was young enough to be the demographic that was catered to. Akata Witch was a surprise for me, though because it was an easy and enjoyable read that didn’t hang on to the YA cliches like they were sacred. I had always hated YA novels growing up for their focus on romance and the politics and social landmines that come with navigating young love and lust. Romantic side plots in an otherwise decent fantasy novel had always felt like filler, nothing I could really relate to. Akata Witch makes a good balance between talking about feelings and relationships while having the main focus being on the fantasy and adventure elements.
It was also refreshing to have a book where the main cast of characters were actually enjoyable people to be around and actually felt genuine love and kinship for each other. The Oha coven felt like a group of close friends because the author, Nuedi Okorafor, took time to prove to the reader that these kids had things in common and worked well together. Other YA books never really take the time to establish these kinds of friendships, making the reader assume that they are present by insinuation.
Akata Witch did follow a lot of YA tropes, like the protagonist being an outsider, but through a unique Nigerian lens that was really interesting to see. Sexist comments and actions in American YA novels, to me, never felt genuine, always kind of tacked on. It felt like the authors realized after the fact that sexism doesn't really go away in fantasy land and is a really good narrative tool for female characters. Okorafor uses the more sexist actions of her father and of the other boys on the soccer team as a way to build the world and as an obstacle for Sunny, used in a more matter-of-fact this is what it is type way.
Lovely read, informative story, and it makes me interested in whatever sequels or other books that are made off this world. I would love to see more of Sunny and the rest of the Oha coven.
It was also refreshing to have a book where the main cast of characters were actually enjoyable people to be around and actually felt genuine love and kinship for each other. The Oha coven felt like a group of close friends because the author, Nuedi Okorafor, took time to prove to the reader that these kids had things in common and worked well together. Other YA books never really take the time to establish these kinds of friendships, making the reader assume that they are present by insinuation.
Akata Witch did follow a lot of YA tropes, like the protagonist being an outsider, but through a unique Nigerian lens that was really interesting to see. Sexist comments and actions in American YA novels, to me, never felt genuine, always kind of tacked on. It felt like the authors realized after the fact that sexism doesn't really go away in fantasy land and is a really good narrative tool for female characters. Okorafor uses the more sexist actions of her father and of the other boys on the soccer team as a way to build the world and as an obstacle for Sunny, used in a more matter-of-fact this is what it is type way.
Lovely read, informative story, and it makes me interested in whatever sequels or other books that are made off this world. I would love to see more of Sunny and the rest of the Oha coven.
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