Okorafor's Akata Witch is one of my all-time favorites, so I was excited to see a middle grade book written by her. When Nnamdi's father, the police chief in their village is murdered, Nnamdi and his mother are left devastated and struggling - with grief and making ends meet. After a year of no investigation, Nnamdi is also angry, he believes he knows who committed the crime, the police have done nothing. When he discovers a magical object that gives him magical super powers, he decides he will solve his father's murder, but his anger overpowers him each time this super powers take hold of him. Okorafor does an excellent job portraying Nnamdi's anger and his feelings of powerlessness, but also the fear he develops when he uses his new powers and goes too far. The beautiful blend of the magical with every day struggles and feelings is what makes this story so powerful. Okorafor is a must-read author for me, and I hope she does write another middle grade novel soon.

This book is full of action. The plot kind of stalled when the same thing happened to the main character over and over: He fought the bad guys, the paper called him the villain, and then he hides. Seemed repetitive. But young readers who like superheroes and who want a hero unlike the ordinary ones they read about will enjoy this book.

Nnamdi wants to find out who killed his father. He is almost certain it is the notorious Chief of Chiefs, but needs proof. In a town that is being overrun by criminals, no one is safe. But a mysterious gift gives Nnamdi the power to do what he needs, but unless he can control it, will he hurt those he loves instead? This mix of mystery, folklore and magic is a look at the grief of one boy discovering the secrets of his town.

I have really enjoyed the Akata Witch books by Nnedi Okorafor and I was excited to get a copy of this arc. I think that Ikenga has some of the same magic in a way that will be appropriate and exciting for a younger audience. This book will be really exciting for kids who are superhero fans and might be good for readers struggling to find the right book. I really enjoyed reading more about Nigerian culture and stories and I am excited to read more about Nnamdi

I truly enjoyed this unique twist on the superhero genre. I immediately fell for young Nnamdi and my heart broke as we met him at his murdered police chief father's funeral. Fast-forward a year and Nnamdi is "gifted" with powers similar to his idol, the Hulk, and struggles to learn to control them. Although the storyline is not new, the characters and setting are fresh sparking this to be a favorite for all champions of the underdog.

I love to be able to recommend a diverse middle-grade book. I've never read something like this before!!

Okorafor has written a middle grade novel that will draw readers into contemporary Nigeria, even as they follow Nnamdi's search for his father's killer. I felt like I was walking through Nnamdi's world, meeting his friends and neighbors. Nnamdi struggles with grief that sometimes turns to rage, even as he transforms into the superhero-like Man through the power of the traditional Ikenga figure. He longs to fight for justice but only slowly develops the maturity to make good decisions and wisely use his power. While the mystery drives the plot forward, it's the characters and setting that set this book apart. Recommended.

I love Nnedi Okorafor's writing, the books in both the Binti series and the Akata Witch series are some of my favourites. Since I was comparing Ikenga with the level of world-building found in both those series, I was a bit disappointed with the world-building and backstory in Ikenga. I wish there was more than we got from the novel.
What I really loved about the book were the bad guys found in the novel. They were so interesting, each one of them having some degree of magic/mysticism to their character, but their characteristics were not just explicitly told to us, they were slowly developed by showing us what each of them could do. This is such an enjoyable way of discovering characters and so much more accurate to real life, not many people, upon first meeting, give you their entire backstory, so I really enjoy when authors use this more natural way of showing us the features of their characters.
Overall, I would still recommend this to a young reader as I think they would really enjoy the story, but for any adult readers of Okorafor's, I would warn them that this is not as rich of a world as some of her other stories, but that it is still an enjoyable read.

Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor; Viking Books for Young Readers, 240 pages ($16.99) Ages 10 to 12.

...

In her first novel for middle-grade readers, acclaimed author Nnedi Okorafor (“Akata Witch,” “Akata Warrior” and more) offers a marvelous mystery, set in modern-day Nigeria, of a 12-year-old boy seeking to solve his father’s murder and bring the killer to justice.

As the novel begins, Nnamdi is at the funeral for his father, the local police chief who had been battling corruption when he was shot to death. Nnamdi is certain the culprit is the Chief of Chiefs, who shows up at the funeral wearing his father’s ring.

A year later, no arrest has been made, and Nnamdi encounters his father’s ghost, who gives him a small figurine called an Ikenga. Through it Nnamdi can transform into a tall, shadowy figure with super-human senses and strength, and he begins his crime-fighting career as The Man, making headlines and attracting criticism for what is seen as vigilante justice. Nnamdi is a fan of comic books (particularly "The Incredible Hulk"), and the author does a marvelous job portraying a superhero as struggling adolescent, who has difficulty controlling his emotions and his powers, often frightening himself with his violent impulses and his rush to judgment.

The author is the daughter of Nigerian immigrants, and her fascinating novel brings modern-day Nigeria to vivid life: "Cars zoomed by. Banana and bread hawkers screamed their wares, their large trays balanced on their heads. Auto mechanics cooled off beneath mango trees, drinking cold water from small plastic bags." In describing a lengthy bus ride Nnamdi takes with his friend she notes passengers had to pay "20 naira to use the restroom, a small zinc shack that stank like a burning zoo." The sinister cast of villains includes Mama GoSlow (who commands an army of thugs in camouflage body suits plucking valuables from people in cars stuck in traffic) and the dirty carjacker Three Days’ Journey, who "despite his constant drunkenness, managed to steal close to a hundred cars each year."

“Ikenga” is a cleverly crafted mystery; it's also a poignant tale of father and son and a richly drawn superhero origin story.

Ikenga is a creative story with a super hero vibe for readers who like a good adventure with some mystery thrown in. Who killed Nnamdi’s father, the Chief of Police? There are so many criminals and so much corruption in the town of Kaleria, it’s almost impossible to know. But when Nnamdi’s father’s spirit appears to him and gives him an Ikenga that gives him super abilities, he decides to try and solve the murder. The problem is, the more power he uses, the less control he has over himself. This is a fun and mostly fact-paced story that doesn’t have an obvious conclusion (not to mention, there’s lots of room for a sequel). Good lessons in self-control, not jumping to conclusions, patience, and believing in yourself are embedded throughout the story, as well as glimpses of Nigerian culture. A very solid and entertaining story!

A reimagining of a superhero story grounded in reality and in Nigeria at that seemed perfect for what I've been looking for. I just felt like it missed the mark. It had a lot of violence for a book marketed to kids this young and I was sad that for many readers their first exposure to Nigeria would be through the lens of a very corrupt city. There wasn't a lot of development of the wider community as we're thrust into the action right away. I would normally say I like that but because the setting is unfamiliar for most of my patrons, it might be confusing.
I enjoyed the character journey, especially as Nnamdi realized his judgment wasn't sound and he was very quick to misunderstand complex situations.
Overall, it just felt unfinished.

I enjoyed the premise and the details of the setting, tone, and dialogue which portrayed Nigeria so strongly, and I think parts of the story will appeal to comicbook lovers, especially those who enjoy considering the ethical complications of superheroes, but overall it felt overly fast in pacing and never quite seemed to reach a depth of character or to give much time to let events settle, and the ending felt as if it undercut the main character vs. self conflict of the book.

From the acclaimed author of Akata Witch and Binti, comes a middle-grade book about a boy yearning for justice who gains the power he desires to make a difference. A year after the death of his father, the honorable chief of police of Kaleria, 12-year old Nnamdi remains filled with grief and anger over his father’s unsolved murder. Everyone believes the Chief of Chiefs, the kingpin of Kaleria’s criminal world, is responsible, but everyone feels powerless to do anything, especially Nnamdi. One night, the ghost of his father visits him and gives him a gift, an Ikenga. The Ikenga gives him the power he craves, but at what cost? Will he be able to channel his newfound powers to find justice for his father and protect his beloved town from being overrun by crime? Or will his rage consume him instead? Read Ikenga to find out. Available starting August 18, 2020.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, so much so that I read the entirety of it in one sitting. It gives a wonderful glimpse into Nigerian life and culture. I especially loved all the mention of the different food. And you best believe, I googled all of them and plan to try some of the recipes I found.

Our protagonist Nnamdi is a huge superhero fan and this made Nnamdi getting super powers extra fun to read about because he gets to reference his favourite superheroes. But the story also highlights the difference between superhero stories and real life. Nnamdi learns that things aren’t always black and white and things are not always what they seem.

One of the main themes of the story is the importance of dealing and controlling our emotions, and not letting it cloud our judgement or consume us. This book also explores themes of injustice and corrupt systems which can open larger conversations with young readers. Ikenga is a story filled with action and heart and I would definitely recommend this book to teachers and librarians everywhere. I myself will be recommending this to the kiddos at our library.

A year after his father, a respected police officer, is murdered in Nigeria, 12-year-old Nnandi and his mother fall on difficult times. When Nnandi encounters his father’s ghost, his father draws him to an Ikenga, an ebony figure that gives him immense strength and senses. Through his new alter ego, The Man, he calls out the new police chief for his take on vigilante justice. Struggling to control his new powers, he sets out to try and prove that the Chief of Chiefs killed his father. Will Nnandi succeed? Who really is the villain? Filled with Nigerian cultural references and American Comics, readers who enjoy superhero stories will enjoy this engaging, well-developed story. The main character is easy to relate to and makes a great antihero. Fans of superhero books, comics, adventure, and justice will enjoy reading this book.

I will admit I saw the front cover of Ikenga and immediately requested, and I’m so pleased I did.
Ikenga tells the story of Nnamdi, a young boy whose father, the police chief, has been murdered. As the story unfolds we learn about the crime ring that operates in town, and how Kalaria is under threat.
The real star of this book is the descriptive narrative, I could almost feel the hot air, smell the market, and could sense the unease in our young protagonist.
I highly enjoyed Ikenga and would definitely recommend, The only thing stopping it from being a 5/5 for me was the pacing, there was a clear climax in the book that felt like the end - but wasn’t - which meant the remaining 30% or so of the book felt a little slow.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a great story! Go with Nnamdi on his hero’s journey as he struggles to control his new powers and solve his father’s murder. I love his friendship with Chioma and I enjoyed learning about their culture.

Perhaps 3.5 stars for this one.

This is an interesting middle grade novel that tackles some big things: parental death/grief, anger, revenge, and controlling one’s emotions. Nnamdi is gifted a Hulk-like power to change into The Man, who is big and very strong and fast. But being The Man also brings his darker emotions to the forefront - so much anger and grief. Nnamdi has to learn to use his powers for good, basically, without letting his darker side take things too far.

I really loved his friendship with Chioma - she is Nnamdi’s true friend and voice of reason.

I really liked the dive into life in a smaller Nigerian town - I googled a lot of food names, it all sounds delicious!

I did find the story a bit plodding. Despite there being action scenes and supernatural strength, the whole thing felt very...steady. Not sure about middle graders’ attention spans on this, but maybe I’m just thinking of my own two boys who think everything is boring. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

A good middle grades book about power, friendship, grief...lots of adventure and the supernatural elements are well done. I think middle schoolers will really enjoy it.

This book had a fun and unique take on superhero stories. It was fast-paced and included elements of mystery, thriller, adventure and fantasy. I especially loved the Nigerian setting. I wish I had gotten to know the characters a little bit better, but overall it was an exciting read. This will be a great recommendation for comic and graphic novels fans.