Ikenga

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