The story begun in Binti continues with even more depth… Spoiler alert: if you haven’t yet read Binti, you’ll want to do so before reading this review.

Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor. Tor, 2017.
Binti has achieved the dream she set out to accomplish in the first book: becoming a full-time student at Oomza Uni, its own space station.  She still feels closest to Okwu, the friend that, against all probability, she made among the Meduse who slaughtered the rest of the human students on her trip there.  And yet – she finds herself frequently flooded with waves of overwhelming anger.  Eventually, she decides that the best way to deal with this is to go home and take the traditional desert pilgrimage of her people.

But going home is never what you expect.  Her family is still upset with her for leaving in the first place, and assumes she’s there to stay, needing just some good scolding.  Okwu comes along as an ambassador, but is unable to resist provoking the Khoush people who also live in her country, the Meduse’s historic enemies.  Coming back home reveals secrets about her heritage that she never even suspected – but there is nothing to break down her ability to be a master harmonizer like contempt from an older sister.

Binti: Home is filled with unexpected discoveries and the difficult bonds of family and friendship, going even deeper than the already amazing Binti while never letting the plot bog down.  It’s still short and fast to read, so if you’re looking for a good entry point for the amazing Okorafor, now is the time to start!