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cimoreneI found this book by accident. Someone on my dreamwidth rlist had linked to the author's blog, where she gave a scathing review of the newish film District 9 on race lines. Okorafor-Mbachu is a Nigerian living in the US, and the race representation issues she detailed, and especially the portrayal of Nigerians in the film, so thoroughly disgusted me that I decided then and there not to see it. I should have disseminated the link, because I've since been bothered by a number of people talking excitedly about the film and several brushing aside my concerns when I brought them up ("She probably didn't really understand... that he was doing that on purpose and using the aliens as an allegory", someone told me. Yes, I'm sure this African professor of literature and published SF author was underqualified to understand an SF film set in Africa! To my issues with representation I was told by someone else that "there are white people in South Africa too". Oh! Nevermind! No biggie, then!) So, before you move on to my review of her book, READ THIS POST.
Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu: My response to District 419…I mean District 9. ;-)
Now, on to the happier issue. While reading this review at her blog, I saw the gorgeous cover art of her newest YA novel in the sidebar, and immediately clicked through to the description. I liked what I saw, and I need more sf by authors of color to read, so I ordered it. I ended up reading the book on the plane to America and finishing it while on vacation.
Here is the summary at the author's website, which is rather better than the one on the back of the book (shocker, right?):
This book has a definite YA fantasy feel, unlike some of the "YA"-marketed novels I grew up on which were really fantasy novels with teenaged heroes which were simply sold as YA presumably because of the segment of the publishing world that was unaware that adults read fantasy, or possibly the portion of the sf world that still feels that heroines don't belong in the genre. At any rate, this book is more like some of Diana Wynne Jones's books with child heroes, something you could read aloud to an average child, and shorter than a typical adult novel, with an accessible, clear narration that's fully believable as a child's voice. This isn't a criticism of the book and doesn't at all work to its detriment; on the contrary, it's charming to watch the heroine's journey as she struggles to come into her own, and to see the adolescent struggle with belonging, with the rules of society when they come in conflict with the dictates of your own heart, projected onto Okorafor-Mbachu's absolutely enchanting original fantasy world. It's a fully realized, modern and green setting, with an African-inspired society based around plants - computers are grown from seeds, homes and buildings are placed inside giant trees, and a magical "dada" person is identified by the vine shoots they're born with in their hair, which they are then destined to wear in dreads instead of the fluffy naturals of their peers. It's a wonderful world that only leaves you wanting more, and best of all, the author gives you glimpses of civilized life as well as a satisfying exploration of the wilder world of the Forbidden Greeny Jungle, filled with magic and intelligent, talking animals, during the heroine's quest. She also leaves the door open to more novels in this world - Earth is another reality, but travel between them is possible; other continents, completely unknown to Zahrah's Ooni people, are populated by foreign cultures.
Original cover illustration by Amanda Hall, found at http://nnedi.com
In fact, I've just discovered the author has several other books out, and I'm definitely going to be buying them as well.
Now, on to the happier issue. While reading this review at her blog, I saw the gorgeous cover art of her newest YA novel in the sidebar, and immediately clicked through to the description. I liked what I saw, and I need more sf by authors of color to read, so I ordered it. I ended up reading the book on the plane to America and finishing it while on vacation.
Here is the summary at the author's website, which is rather better than the one on the back of the book (shocker, right?):
In the northern Ooni Kingdom fear of the unknown runs deep, and children born dada are rumored to have special powers. Thirteen year old Zahrah Tsami feels like a normal kid - she grows her own flora computer; has mirrors sewn onto her cloths; and stays clear of the Forbidden Greeny Jungle.
But unlike other kids in the village of Kirki , Zahrah was born with the telling dadalocks. Only her best friend, Dari, isn't afraid of her - even when something unusual begins happening to her - something that definitely makes her different.
The two friends determine to investigate, edging closer and closer to danger. When Dari's life is endangered, Zahrah must face her worst fears all by herself, including the very thing that makes her different.
This book has a definite YA fantasy feel, unlike some of the "YA"-marketed novels I grew up on which were really fantasy novels with teenaged heroes which were simply sold as YA presumably because of the segment of the publishing world that was unaware that adults read fantasy, or possibly the portion of the sf world that still feels that heroines don't belong in the genre. At any rate, this book is more like some of Diana Wynne Jones's books with child heroes, something you could read aloud to an average child, and shorter than a typical adult novel, with an accessible, clear narration that's fully believable as a child's voice. This isn't a criticism of the book and doesn't at all work to its detriment; on the contrary, it's charming to watch the heroine's journey as she struggles to come into her own, and to see the adolescent struggle with belonging, with the rules of society when they come in conflict with the dictates of your own heart, projected onto Okorafor-Mbachu's absolutely enchanting original fantasy world. It's a fully realized, modern and green setting, with an African-inspired society based around plants - computers are grown from seeds, homes and buildings are placed inside giant trees, and a magical "dada" person is identified by the vine shoots they're born with in their hair, which they are then destined to wear in dreads instead of the fluffy naturals of their peers. It's a wonderful world that only leaves you wanting more, and best of all, the author gives you glimpses of civilized life as well as a satisfying exploration of the wilder world of the Forbidden Greeny Jungle, filled with magic and intelligent, talking animals, during the heroine's quest. She also leaves the door open to more novels in this world - Earth is another reality, but travel between them is possible; other continents, completely unknown to Zahrah's Ooni people, are populated by foreign cultures.
Original cover illustration by Amanda Hall, found at http://nnedi.com
In fact, I've just discovered the author has several other books out, and I'm definitely going to be buying them as well.
