Ikenga is a contemporary fantasy story about how 12-year-old Nnamdi processes and deals with the murder of his father, the chief of police. The book opens up with the funeral and the traumatic interactions that Nnamdi has to deal with at such a young age. The subject matter is heavy and dark, but the author handles it so well with honesty and the full spectrum of emotional responses that one would expect for a 12-year-old who loses his father to murder.
Following the funeral, Nnamdi vows to avenge his father's murder. However, a year after his father's death, Nnamdi has not been able to reach this goal. He is a 12-year-old boy without the power or resources he would need to do much of anything. Then, he is visited by a spirit who gifts him with the Ikenga, which enables him to morph into something much more powerful--a superhero of sorts. However, with this great new power comes a responsibility and self-awareness that Nnamdi had not expected. The story follows Nnamdi as he deals with very real, rooted problems of his life in parallel with the fantastical complications of having super powers.
This is such a well-rounded story with so much heart, an unflinching look at loss, grief, anger, crime, and the grey areas of morality that middle grade readers are definitely exploring. I highly recommend this book!
Following the funeral, Nnamdi vows to avenge his father's murder. However, a year after his father's death, Nnamdi has not been able to reach this goal. He is a 12-year-old boy without the power or resources he would need to do much of anything. Then, he is visited by a spirit who gifts him with the Ikenga, which enables him to morph into something much more powerful--a superhero of sorts. However, with this great new power comes a responsibility and self-awareness that Nnamdi had not expected. The story follows Nnamdi as he deals with very real, rooted problems of his life in parallel with the fantastical complications of having super powers.
This is such a well-rounded story with so much heart, an unflinching look at loss, grief, anger, crime, and the grey areas of morality that middle grade readers are definitely exploring. I highly recommend this book!