Ikenga
Nnedi Okorafor
(Author)
Description
Nnedi Okorafor's acclaimed first novel for middle grade readers introduces a boy who can access super powers with the help of the magical Ikenga. Nnamdi's father was a good chief of police, perhaps the best Kalaria had ever had. He was determined to root out the criminals that had invaded the town. But then he was murdered, and most people believed the Chief of Chiefs, most powerful of the criminals, was responsible. Nnamdi has vowed to avenge his father, but he wonders what a twelve-year-old boy can do. Until a mysterious nighttime meeting, the gift of a magical object that enables super powers, and a charge to use those powers for good changes his life forever. How can he fulfill his mission? How will he learn to control his newfound powers? Award-winning Nnedi Okorafor, acclaimed for her Akata novels, introduces a new and engaging hero in her first novel for middle grade readers set against a richly textured background of contemporary Nigeria.Product Details
Price
$16.99
$15.80
Publisher
Viking Books for Young Readers
Publish Date
August 18, 2020
Pages
240
Dimensions
5.65 X 8.5 X 0.85 inches | 0.8 pounds
Language
English
Type
Hardcover
EAN/UPC
9780593113523
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About the Author
Nnedi Okorafor is the daughter of Nigerian-born (Igbo) parents. She grew up in the Chicago area, with frequent trips back to Nigeria. There she absorbed the history and mythology that infuse her works of science fiction and fantasy. She has received the Hugo, the Nebula, the World Fantasy Award, and the Locus Award for her work, and her fans include Neil Gaiman, Rick Riordan, John Green, and Ursula Le Guin. Ms. Okorafor holds a PhD in English. She lives with her daughter in the suburbs of Chicago.
Reviews
An NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR An AMAZON BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF 2020
★ "This wonderfully fresh superhero origin story offers a look into the shadowy, inexplicable powers that are suddenly in the hands of an ordinary child...Okorafor has created unique, multifaceted characters that will have young readers hoping for Nnamdi's next adventure." --School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW ★ "In her first middle-grade novel, Nnedi Okorafor deftly explores grief and corruption through this southeast Nigerian Igbo superhero origin story. With its enduring themes, charismatic characters and exhilarating events, Ikenga powerfully shows spiritual and fantastical elements confronting real-world problems." --Shelf Awareness, STARRED REVIEW "Ikenga, the powerhouse speculative fiction writer Nnedi Okorafor's middle grade debut, is a propulsive, juju-filled novel set in a fictional Nigerian town...Okorafor's narrative provides comfort precisely because she refuses to gloss over violence, loss and pain." --The New York Times "Smart, exciting and well plotted, Ikenga offers all the traditional superhero satisfactions--colorful baddies, thrilling fight scenes, a hero with morality and justice on his side--in a fresh and distinctive modern-day setting where magic hums just below the surface." --The Wall Street Journal
"Fans of classic superheroes--including Nnamdi's favorite, the Incredible Hulk--and readers looking for a young superhero will find a champion in Nnamdi." --Publishers Weekly "A memorable middle-grade murder mystery that's darkly humorous in some places and delightfully creepy in others." --Kirkus Reviews "A tightly paced action-adventure." --Booklist
"This is a dynamic tale of a boy thrust into the role of a superhero....A rich Igbo cultural presence prevails in this novel, sparking an interest for more Nigerian-based stories." --BCCB
"A roller coaster of action...Okorafor succeeds in imbuing West African culture throughout the origin story of a memorable new superhero." --Horn Book
★ "This wonderfully fresh superhero origin story offers a look into the shadowy, inexplicable powers that are suddenly in the hands of an ordinary child...Okorafor has created unique, multifaceted characters that will have young readers hoping for Nnamdi's next adventure." --School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW ★ "In her first middle-grade novel, Nnedi Okorafor deftly explores grief and corruption through this southeast Nigerian Igbo superhero origin story. With its enduring themes, charismatic characters and exhilarating events, Ikenga powerfully shows spiritual and fantastical elements confronting real-world problems." --Shelf Awareness, STARRED REVIEW "Ikenga, the powerhouse speculative fiction writer Nnedi Okorafor's middle grade debut, is a propulsive, juju-filled novel set in a fictional Nigerian town...Okorafor's narrative provides comfort precisely because she refuses to gloss over violence, loss and pain." --The New York Times "Smart, exciting and well plotted, Ikenga offers all the traditional superhero satisfactions--colorful baddies, thrilling fight scenes, a hero with morality and justice on his side--in a fresh and distinctive modern-day setting where magic hums just below the surface." --The Wall Street Journal
"Fans of classic superheroes--including Nnamdi's favorite, the Incredible Hulk--and readers looking for a young superhero will find a champion in Nnamdi." --Publishers Weekly "A memorable middle-grade murder mystery that's darkly humorous in some places and delightfully creepy in others." --Kirkus Reviews "A tightly paced action-adventure." --Booklist
"This is a dynamic tale of a boy thrust into the role of a superhero....A rich Igbo cultural presence prevails in this novel, sparking an interest for more Nigerian-based stories." --BCCB
"A roller coaster of action...Okorafor succeeds in imbuing West African culture throughout the origin story of a memorable new superhero." --Horn Book
