This is a hard moment to be a superhero fan. I was in the middle of reading Ikenga when the news broke about Chadwick Boseman’s death. He was an invaluable part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and was the hero of so many kids, especially black kids, all over the world. So going back into this story after learning of the sudden ending of his was difficult, if I’m being completely honest.
But it was also cathartic, in a way. Ikenga is a middle grade book about a 12 year-old boy in Nigeria who’s father, the former police chief of their town, Kalaria, has recently been killed. Nnamdi is passed down magical powers that he doesn’t fully understand, but he still tries to carry on his father’s legacy and protect his town.
The themes of this book carry the emotional weight of it. Nnamdi and his best friend, Chioma, grapple with grief, friendship and a thirst for justice. Nnamdi in particular struggles to control his feelings of anger at the loss of his father and all the injustices he’s had to put up with since. When he suddenly has all of this strength and power, what is going to do with it? Will he hold himself to a higher standard, or will he succumb to his urge to seek vengeance?
As always, Nnedi Okorafor is such an evocative writer, conveying the world built in her head vividly out onto the page. As many comparisons can be made between this and Black Panther, I also think this book would be great for kids who are fans of Spider-Man. Especially in the way the story is more localized, with Nnamdi trying to protect his town, there’s a lot of overlap between his motivations and those of a character like Peter Parker. But really I can’t think of anyone who I wouldn’t suggest this book to. Even as an adult, I enjoyed the action and arcs just as much as I would have when I was Nnamdi’s age.
But it was also cathartic, in a way. Ikenga is a middle grade book about a 12 year-old boy in Nigeria who’s father, the former police chief of their town, Kalaria, has recently been killed. Nnamdi is passed down magical powers that he doesn’t fully understand, but he still tries to carry on his father’s legacy and protect his town.
The themes of this book carry the emotional weight of it. Nnamdi and his best friend, Chioma, grapple with grief, friendship and a thirst for justice. Nnamdi in particular struggles to control his feelings of anger at the loss of his father and all the injustices he’s had to put up with since. When he suddenly has all of this strength and power, what is going to do with it? Will he hold himself to a higher standard, or will he succumb to his urge to seek vengeance?
As always, Nnedi Okorafor is such an evocative writer, conveying the world built in her head vividly out onto the page. As many comparisons can be made between this and Black Panther, I also think this book would be great for kids who are fans of Spider-Man. Especially in the way the story is more localized, with Nnamdi trying to protect his town, there’s a lot of overlap between his motivations and those of a character like Peter Parker. But really I can’t think of anyone who I wouldn’t suggest this book to. Even as an adult, I enjoyed the action and arcs just as much as I would have when I was Nnamdi’s age.