Reviews

Okoye to the People: A Black Panther Novel by Ibi Zoboi

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canopy_'s review

3.0

I loved the story and will always love Okoye but felt the writing was a bit juvenile compared to others for the same age range

izzys_internet_bookshelf's review

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3.0

3/5

Really enjoyed getting some background on one of my favorite characters but I felt the plot lacked action. The characters were interesting though and I did enjoy the plot.

_sirreadsalot_'s review

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emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

roadtripreader's review

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emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

“What part of Brooklyn is Wakanda, anyway?” - (geography challenged Brooklynite)

So, I actually loved the movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Granted, I only watched it for the first time in January so I wasn't part of the "Oh No!he should have been re-cast" fantatics or the "it was a farewell and Shuri is a worthy successor" fans either. It was just a lovely piece of theatre and I was really there for the Indigenous representation. That's why for BHM2024, I had to get something Wakanda related and Okoye to the People was perfect for this month.

It was nice, like a cup of tea and scones - sugarless scones deserving of a 2.75⭐ rounded up to 3. Plus it's middle grade, technically "for the kids" so I got to take a break from all the heavy books. Lies - this book deals with... a lot.

Plot/Storyline/Themes:

Yeah okay I fully admit that I put on Ludwig Goransson's Black Panther OST and Wakanda Forever OST on while reading and let me just say..it worked for a few scenes. This book had way too many unlikeable characters hogging up page space and messing with the vibes I was trying to recreate. In a book I can tolerate one or 2 shitty characters. Give me a city block and that's 100 times my unlikeable character quota.

Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Okoye as a young bright-eyed and bald-tailed, Dora Milaje is not something I thought I could imagine. But this was just okay with it's youthful hope and the weight of being tasked with a national mission to international borders. It was lovely "seeing" Wakanda and Brooklyn through Okoye's youthful outlook. They're hella snobs but almost likeable snobs. Almost.

Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:

✔️King T'Chala, Okoye and Aneka go to Brownsville for the firat time. I am still surprised African Americans can be ao ahitty to Africans, that's like Japanese Americans spitting on Motjerland Japanese folk - it's unheard of. Or any other diaspora group. Most other groups kind of have a gentle ribbing or rivalry with the mainland group but they don't call each other names like Dusty African. It's a pity.

Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Okoye fidgets with her wig: a flattering bob that feels as if a lazy hyena is sprawled out over her head.” (On "assimilating" to American expectations of African women in NYC)
🖤 “It is just like Wakanda. Except faster and . . . less civilized.” (New York still exciting even to snobby Wakandans)
🖤 “Here, no one is direct. No one says what they mean and means what they say.” (New York, New York)

Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Dora Milaje (I mean duh)
■Upanga Training Facility
■Kimoyo Beads
■ Xhosa not Huasa but who can write the click sound of XH🤷🏽‍♀️
■Pyrobliss

StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Fantasy Books by 2025

lovelife1008's review

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adventurous challenging inspiring relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

bookstobarbells's review

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3.0

I liked this book, but I definitely need to stay away from these middle/YA books because it’s too straightforward for me to keep interested. This definitely falls between middle reader and YA. You have a level of complexity that goes into the world, while still having things be direct enough to comprehend it easily.

However, the characters were great. I loved going back to Wakanda and seeing a Marvel story that wasn’t about the obvious superheroes. I also liked that it took her out of Wakanda and into the city because it forced her and those who read it to look at things from a new perspective.

It’s definitely perfect for younger readers and is great in terms of representation. It’s a good read, just not my thing! Thank you to Disney and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.