The Nsibidi Scripts series by Nnedi Okorafor--Starting with Akata Witch on January 15th, 2022

[Dr. Andy]

Akata Witch transports the reader to a magical place where nothing is quite as it seems. Born in New York, but living in Aba, Nigeria, twelve-year old Sunny is understandably a little lost. She is albino and thus, incredibly sensitive to the sun. All Sunny wants to do is be able to play football and get through another day of school without being bullied. But once she befriends Orlu and Chichi, Sunny is plunged in to the world of the Leopard People, where your worst defect becomes your greatest asset. Together, Sunny, Orlu, Chichi and Sasha form the youngest ever Oha Coven. Their mission is to track down Black Hat Otokoto, the man responsible for kidnapping and maiming children. Will Sunny be able to overcome the killer with powers stronger than her own, or will the future she saw in the flames become reality?

[Celia]

Chapters 1-2 (view spoiler)[I forgot how much I love the beginning of this novel. The first chapter draws you in, especially that last sentence, "And I couldn't help what I eventually became." It's so ominous, and I honestly can't think of a book that pulls you into the character's world as much from the first few pages the way Akata Witch does. (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

Chapters 3-13 (view spoiler)[I forgot how much I like Sugar Cream. She is the first person to be truly open and honest with Sunny, something the young girl desperately needs. I'm hoping we see more of her when I (finally after 5 reads) start the sequels.

I love the idea that adults are so receptive to children in this world, and that they work closely together. I feel like this aspect is lacking in a lot of YA fantasy, so it's great to see it working in real time here.

At the same time, I also love Chichi, partly because she was the first person to bring Sunny into the world, and partly because she just makes sense. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Ooo I forgot to make comments for akata witch! Will do that tomorrow

[Celia]

Andy wrote: "Ooo I forgot to make comments for akata witch! Will do that tomorrow"

Yeah I was wondering since I'd seen you post the review on some of the pages.

[Celia]

Chapters 14 - 18 (view spoiler)[Despite all the action and the fact that it's a kind of turning point in the story, I never liked the Abuja scenes, except maybe the soccer game. Actually, I love seeing Sunny and Sasha's relationship in that chapter because that's a pairing you don't see a lot of. Orlu and Chichi knew each other forever, Sunny and Orlu are school friends, Sunny and Chichi have a strong female friendship relationship, and Chichi and Sasha are the most similar to each other. However, Sasha and Sunny don't get much time to develop their friendship outside of the group, so I really like that.

I get that the match and the masquerade were important lessons for them to learn, but I just don't like reading these scenes. (hide spoiler)]

I am impressed that after four or five rereads, Akata Witch still manages to completely pull me in.

[Dr. Andy]

Celia wrote: "Andy wrote: "Ooo I forgot to make comments for akata witch! Will do that tomorrow"

Yeah I was wondering since I'd seen you post the review on some of the pages."

I am sneaky lol

[Dr. Andy]

ch 5 (view spoiler)[ I'm so curious about the Leopard world. I love seeing how curious Sunny is. I'm really loving the group dynamics too! (hide spoiler)]

Ch 9 (view spoiler)[ It's very interesting how the kids are taught. The situation with the bird was fascinating. I don't know how the scholars think this coven could be ready or responsible for facing Black Hat. Seems a bit wild they'd place young kids in that kind of danger. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Ch 14 (view spoiler)[ The football cup never fails to enthrall me. I love seeing Sunny put those misogynistic assholes in their place. I love seeing her get to participate in something she loves. I bet if they come back next time they'll win. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Ugh that ending is something else!! I still can't believe they faced down Black Hat and made it out. I wonder what that entity he raised was. I have a feeling Sunny will be seeing it again. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Celia wrote: "Chapters 3-13 [spoilers removed] ..."

That's a good point!

[Celia]

Chapters 19 - End - for me, Akata Witch truly has as much staying power as Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. It might be because it was my first diverse YA fantasy read, but I think it will always stick with me (and will definitely be featured in my classroom no matter what grade level I teach)

Andy wrote: "Ch 14 [spoilers removed]

Finished [spoilers removed]"

And yeah I (view spoiler)[also love the soccer game, it's honestly so great how Sasha and actually the whole team supports her participation. And I guess I was naive the previous times, I do think Ekwensu will be the main antagonist in the future as well. It seemed to wrap up so much when I read it in the past, but now I realize from the end conversation with Sugar Cream that it really does set up for a kind of ominous next few years in their lives. (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

Prologue thing (3%) (view spoiler)[Ok, cute, but is anyone really going into this without reading the first one? Lol I guess I'm biased since I've read it five times, but still. (hide spoiler)]

Okay, really excited to explore the world a little bit more, and Sunny's abilities.

[Dr. Andy]

ch 7 (view spoiler)[ I'm enjoying seeing Sunny explore more of her powers. I do wish she had told someone about the dreams, I have an ominous feeling about them. Excited to see where this goes! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Celia wrote: " Prologue thing (3%) [spoilers removed]

Okay, really excited to explore the world a little bit more, and Sunny's abilities."

lmaooo i cant imagine going into this without reading the first, but I love when sequels have a little recap because I forget a ton if I wait long enough.

[Dr. Andy]

ch 17 (view spoiler)[ I was so worried for Sunny when her spirit face was gone! Also I can't believe Chichi is romantically involved with 2 boys already, she's like 13. Why!? They're all still children and definitely don't need to be messing with that. Also i don't like Chichi and Sunny's brother being involved, he's at LEAST 17-18, that's gross af (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

ch 26 (view spoiler)[ Wow things happen been wild in Lagos. This grass cutter is a little punk! Also Orlu admitted he loves Sunny, and it made me soft. (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

Andy wrote: "Celia wrote: " Prologue thing (3%) [spoilers removed]

Okay, really excited to explore the world a little bit more, and Sunny's abilities."

lmaooo i cant imagine ..."

yeah that's fair. the "warning" about juju, though, is what makes it ridiculous to me

[Celia]

Chapters 1 - 12 (30%) (view spoiler)[Okay, this is getting interesting. I love how much Sunny is willing to test the boundaries. I like that she seems to have gotten a lot closer to her family as well, I didn't see that coming but I think that works. (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

Chapters 12 - 17 (50%) (view spoiler)[A lot of the spirit face stuff is super confusing to me, especially with the added background about the baboons. I'm still not exactly sure what it all does. And is Sunny unable to get into Leopard Knocks without it? At first I thought so but now it seems like she can still go to the library - very confusing. (hide spoiler)]

Also (view spoiler)[If Ekwensu is back, why is she waiting so long to strike? (hide spoiler)]

Andy wrote: "ch 17 [spoilers removed]"
Yeah, I agree with that. (view spoiler)[Although we still don't know Chichi's true age, since she never tells anyone, so it's hard to tell. I'm surprised and interested at how much influence Chukwu (and seemingly Ugonna since he's drawing stuff from the leopard world too) might actually have on Sunny and the story in the future. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Celia wrote: "Chapters 12 - 17 (50%) [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ From what I could tell when Anyanwu left the first time, Sunny thought she was like permanently gone. But since they're doubled they're both connected but can do their own thing kinda? At least that's what I thought. (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

Andy wrote: "Celia wrote: "Chapters 12 - 17 (50%) [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Yeah that makes sense after reading more.

68% (view spoiler)[Okay, I feel like I'm reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets again. Follow the spiders to the giant spider the size of a car, where have I seen that one before? (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

ch 9 (view spoiler)[ I'm really curious about the women of Nimm. I hope we learn more about this group of people. Also I love that Sunny keeps being like Look at my Muscles!! Cracks me up (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

50% (view spoiler)[ Guess we won't learn much more about the Nimm people. Not sure I really want to after we found out how they treated Chichi and her mother. I knew her mom wouldn't murder someone without cause. This series is seriously wild. (hide spoiler)]

75% (view spoiler)[ Damn the end of the world is creepy AF. I would not want to be there. Anyanwu getting snapped in a venus flay trap was trippy!! Oh heck no. No thanks. I'd be out of there so fast. I really hope they'll be able to find the ghazal after all this effort. I'm happy Orlu passed the 2nd level. I wonder if Sunny will in this. I feel like she's the most powerful of their coven. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Damnnnnn what an end. I'm glad they all made it back with the ghazal! And that Udide didn't kill Sunny or Chichi when they brought it to her. But also what the heck was that with Sunny's test!? Did she pass? There better be another one :(((( (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

80% (view spoiler)[Okay, am I the only one who kind of wishes Chukwu had actually managed to get on Grashcoatah? I know it would be bad but I kind of get Rachel from Percy Jackson or Jacob from Fantastic Beasts vibes... (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

FINISHED (view spoiler)[I love that we get the setup for the sequel from early on at the halfway point, at the meeting with Udide. I'm actually kind of surprised that they defeated Ekwensu in this one, I thought that wouldn't happen until the next one, and the meeting with the Supreme Being Chukwu seemed very final in terms of the story arc. So I'm really glad this other story was set up from the middle and not just tacked on at the end as if in a spinoff.

I'm hoping Sunny and her brother Chukwu find a way to break the trust knot with each other, because having him know a little bit about her world would be a real asset to her.

Also super happy they escaped punishment at the end, and again I stress that this is a world where adults listen to and believe children. As a future educator, this is absolutely the kind of fantasy I want to see in my classroom.

Also really happy that Orlu got to keep Grashcoatah as his personal pet, he deserves it. (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

I can't get for a while because my local library has a long hold list and my home library doesn't have it as an ebook yet (though I put in a request).

[Dr. Andy]

Celia wrote: "I can't get for a while because my local library has a long hold list and my home library doesn't have it as an ebook yet (though I put in a request)."

No worries!

[Celia]

One way or another I get Akata Woman this week

[Dr. Andy]

Celia wrote: "One way or another I get Akata Woman this week"

Yay!!

[Celia]

Ok starting this weekend for sure

[Dr. Andy]

Celia wrote: "Ok starting this weekend for sure"

Awesome!!

[Celia]

Celia wrote: "Ok starting this weekend for sure"

Lies, all lies. But I did just start.

[Celia]

- 25% (view spoiler)[This is starting off interestingly. There seems to be a lot under the surface, especially relating to the PTSD Sugar Cream hinted at. It almost seems as if each character has been keeping some secrets, but ones that they think are more important than they actually are. It's so interesting to see Leopard people in all walks of life and as members of Lamb communities and causes. Once again, something I love about this series in its way of being African Urban Fantasy or magical realism and showing that Africa has so many facets. (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

Andy wrote: "

ch 9 [spoilers removed]"

Yes I love that! She's like, (view spoiler)[Yo I lifted a car haha (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Celia wrote: "Celia wrote: "Ok starting this weekend for sure"

Lies, all lies. But I did just start."

lol!

[Dr. Andy]

Celia wrote: " - 25% [spoilers removed]"

Right!! I definitely want more books like this

[Celia]

50% (view spoiler)[It's interesting that the book has a lot more little pieces leading up to the big piece, including going into the Nimm village to monitor it and learn the situation and speak to the queen (I think that's who that was) and almost dying there, and then still having to face a whole lot more. It seems like the first two were a lot more leading up to one large event, namely the battles with Ekwensu. This one is keeping me guessing a lot more. (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

Andy wrote: "
50% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[At this point, I can't tell if we won't. It seems like that's still leading up to something. And I guess they don't have to go back to get the scroll, but they do have to go to the Road...not sure I quite understand what that is. (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

75% (view spoiler)[Okay, that was not what I expected at all. Another world? I guess that's the next place you could go after a bridge between the real and spirit worlds has already been explored. And how did all these Earth people get there if they aren't Leopard People? (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

FINISHED (view spoiler)[OMG I laughed so hard when they said the COVID stuff on the TV. I honestly had no idea that was coming. (hide spoiler)]

Andy wrote: "

Finished [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I don't see it in exactly the same way. I think she faced it acknowledging everything she already knew that was her key to passing. While I'd love to see them fight masquerades during COVID or whatever, I'm actually okay with that being the ending if that's where Okorafor does decide to end this. (hide spoiler)]

I'm going to have to go back and reread this sometime. There are definitely points that I missed in trying to just experience everything as much and as quickly as I could.