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carolined314's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Black boy magic, with some heavy violence and crime.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, and Grief
Minor: Confinement and Kidnapping
megmro's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
This is a superhero origin story set in modern-day Nigeria. The city where Nnamdi lives is filled with criminals and corruption, much like Gotham. The book opens with Nnamdi attending his father's funeral. His father was the chief of police, but was murdered -- shot three times in the chest. Nnamdi is given a supernatural totem called an ikenga, which transforms him into a large, powerful creature that news outlets start calling "The Man." Using this power, he starts to root out crime rings, and investigate his father's murder.
I really enjoyed this, but it was more violent than I expected. The author keeps it PG, I think, but for instance, the opening line is something like, "His father (laid out in his coffin) was wearing a suit just like the one he always wore as chief of police, but this one didn't have three holes in the chest." YEESH.
Before I got oriented in the setting, the crime felt overwhelming. Once I started thinking about it like Batman and Gotham, it was more digestible. Lots of superhero violence, but not too bad. Loved his relationship with his father, and his best friend Chioma. Wonderful, supportive relationships.
A little gritty, but it was wonderful to be immersed in an African setting and storyline. Loved the Nigerian-isms of the characters. I'd recommend this, but probably to older kids. Seventh or eight grade and up.
I really enjoyed this, but it was more violent than I expected. The author keeps it PG, I think, but for instance, the opening line is something like, "His father (laid out in his coffin) was wearing a suit just like the one he always wore as chief of police, but this one didn't have three holes in the chest." YEESH.
Before I got oriented in the setting, the crime felt overwhelming. Once I started thinking about it like Batman and Gotham, it was more digestible. Lots of superhero violence, but not too bad. Loved his relationship with his father, and his best friend Chioma. Wonderful, supportive relationships.
A little gritty, but it was wonderful to be immersed in an African setting and storyline. Loved the Nigerian-isms of the characters. I'd recommend this, but probably to older kids. Seventh or eight grade and up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Gun violence, and Murder
mandkips's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Grief
Moderate: Gun violence, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Physical abuse
madamenovelist's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Violence, and Gun violence
readandfindout's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Style/writing: 3 stars
Themes: 4 stars
Characters: 3.5 stars
Plot: 3.5 stars
Worldbuilding: 4 stars
Themes: 4 stars
Characters: 3.5 stars
Plot: 3.5 stars
Worldbuilding: 4 stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Gun violence, Death of parent, Death, and Grief
betweentheshelves's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
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
First of all, I loved the narrator for the audiobook. His voice brought the story to life, and the way he did different voices for the characters was great. It definitely really pulled me into the story of Nnamdi. This will definitely be a relatable story for middle grade readers who wish they have more power than they do. When Nnamdi suddenly gets it, he's unsure of what to do.
This is also a great example of working through grief, especially when someone is taken from you so suddenly. Nnamdi wants to take action and get revenge for his father's death, but he also realizes that getting revenge won't bring his father back. The way Okorafor deals with this within this book works so well, and it's one of the strongest aspects of the book.
This is also a great example of working through grief, especially when someone is taken from you so suddenly. Nnamdi wants to take action and get revenge for his father's death, but he also realizes that getting revenge won't bring his father back. The way Okorafor deals with this within this book works so well, and it's one of the strongest aspects of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence
sebrittainclark's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Nnamdi is a 12 year old boy who is granted power, not unlike those of the superheros he reads about in comics, by an Ikenga. Nnamdi knows that this power will allow him to avenge his father's murder and save his beloved town from corruption. He must learn that rage and strength aren't enough to fix the injustice in the world.
It's a wonderful middle grade novel that I enjoyed listening to. The narrator does a wonderful job giving each character their own voice.
It's a wonderful middle grade novel that I enjoyed listening to. The narrator does a wonderful job giving each character their own voice.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Violence, Gun violence, Vomit, and Kidnapping
bookdragon217's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, and Grief
linesiunderline's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Strengths:
• It’s essential and important to see a young Black protagonist grappling with his own sense of power and potential as he comes of age. All kids need these stories.
• Solid sense of place - Nigerian setting comes through strongly with Igbo phrases, plenty of food descriptions, the names of the villains - I felt like I was there, in the community.
• A convincing central friendship that I think kids will connect to.
Howevers:
• The pacing was inconsistent; there were times when I was turning the pages quickly (especially during the action sequences) and others where things sort of ground to a halt and it took some effort to keep reading.
• I read a fair amount of middle grade and certain aspects of this text felt more YA to me in theme and therefore jarring (occasional conversation around romantic relationships / interest between the characters - they’re 12), pretty intense action sequences and descriptions of violence.
• Overall, I wanted more. Something didn’t click - the pace, the sometimes flat dialogue, the sense that a superhero story should be more of a pageturner.
• It’s essential and important to see a young Black protagonist grappling with his own sense of power and potential as he comes of age. All kids need these stories.
• Solid sense of place - Nigerian setting comes through strongly with Igbo phrases, plenty of food descriptions, the names of the villains - I felt like I was there, in the community.
• A convincing central friendship that I think kids will connect to.
Howevers:
• The pacing was inconsistent; there were times when I was turning the pages quickly (especially during the action sequences) and others where things sort of ground to a halt and it took some effort to keep reading.
• I read a fair amount of middle grade and certain aspects of this text felt more YA to me in theme and therefore jarring (occasional conversation around romantic relationships / interest between the characters - they’re 12), pretty intense action sequences and descriptions of violence.
• Overall, I wanted more. Something didn’t click - the pace, the sometimes flat dialogue, the sense that a superhero story should be more of a pageturner.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Violence
joyofreading325's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book follows Nnamdi as he piece the puzzles as to who killed his father with the help of an ikenga. The book explores finding courage and resiliency through hardship and the impact supportive people can be in life.
I had fun reading Ikenga. I enjoyed the culture aspect of the book for example foods eaten, clothings worn. I look forward to reading more from Nnedi Okorafor.
I had fun reading Ikenga. I enjoyed the culture aspect of the book for example foods eaten, clothings worn. I look forward to reading more from Nnedi Okorafor.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Gun violence