Ikenga

A memorable middle-grade murder mystery that's darkly humorous in some places and delightfully creepy in others. 

A tightly paced action-adventure.

A roller coaster of action...Okorafor succeeds in imbuing West African culture throughout the origin story of a memorable new superhero. 

A year after his father--respected police chief of Nigerian suburb Kaleria--is murdered and 12-year-old Nnamdi and his mother fall into difficult circumstances, the boy encounters his dad's ghost. The spirit gives him an Ikenga, an ebony figurine that can transform Nnamdi into an enormous space-black figure with immense strength and superhuman senses. Through this alter ego, soon dubbed The Man and called out by the new police chief for embracing vigilante justice, the boy takes on Kaleria's most nefarious criminals, including the feared Chief of Chiefs, whom Nnamdi believes is responsible for his father's death. The powers also ignite equally powerful feelings that Nnamdi struggles to control. Blending Nigerian culture and American comics, Okorafor (the Akata series) has created a black hero struggling to work toward justice while navigating inequitable power structures and others' definitions of who he is. Details, including Igbo phrases, villain names (Three Days Journey, Mama Go-Slow), and food descriptions, evoke a vivid sense of place amid the story's recognizable beats. Fans of classic superheroes--including Nnamdi's favorite, the Incredible Hulk--and readers looking for a young superhero will find a champion in Nnamdi. Ages 10-up. Agent: Donald Maass, Donald Maass Literary. (Aug.)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 4-8—Fans of Okorafor's "Akata" series will enjoy the author's middle grade debut, introducing her work to a new set of readers. When 12-year-old Nnamdi Icheteka's father is murdered, this Nigerian boy draws on the powers of his ancestors and an ancient magic to cope with his loss and deal with the growing criminal underground threatening to take over his hometown of Kaleria. This wonderfully fresh superhero origin story offers a look into the shadowy, inexplicable powers that are suddenly in the hands of an ordinary child. Through the strength bestowed upon him by the Igbo symbol of an Ikenga, Nnamdi transforms into an otherworldly force as he metaphorically deals with the big emotions of grief and tries to solve the mystery of who killed his father. While the themes of good vs. evil and vigilante justice will seem familiar, Okorafor has created unique, multifaceted characters that will have young readers hoping for Nnamdi's next adventure. VERDICT Though violent at times, this fantasy novel will surely appeal to comic-book lovers and mystery-seekers alike, and would be an asset to any library.—Monisha Blair, Rutgers Univ., NJ

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

★ 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

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