Ikenga

A little younger than my usual fare, but I really loved Nnedi Okorafor’s debut middle-grade novel IKENGA, recently released by Viking. It’s about a 12-year-old Nigerian boy named Nnamdi who discovers that he has a Hulk-like ability to transform into a large, immensely strong supervening. Nnamdi must learn to control his emotions and hone his powers, all while grieving his late father’s murder. Though it sounds a somewhat familiar superhero story, its rooting in Nigerian folktales and spirituality brings a fresh perspective to the genre.