Tag Archives: African

Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia

Posted on November 5, 2020 by Katy K.

I read Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, the 2019 Cybils Middle Grade Speculative Fiction Winner, near the end of February this year… just a month out from what would have been KidLitCon had not 2020 intervened.  So … Continue reading →

Posted in Audiobook, Fantasy, Middle Grade | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

African Superheroes: Shuri by Nic Stone and Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor

Posted on October 12, 2020 by Katy K.

Here are two stories of African superheroes by African-American authors: Shuri by Nic Stone and Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor. Continue reading →

Posted in Audiobook, Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Compelling Nonfiction Graphics: Astronauts and When Stars are Scattered

Posted on August 31, 2020 by Katy K.

Here are two recent nonfiction graphics, both with stories strong enough to be interesting for readers who don’t naturally gravitate towards nonfiction as well as those who do.   Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier by Jim Ottaviani and Maris Wicks. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, nonfiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Aftermath: Children of Virtue and Vengeance and Wayward Son

Posted on July 3, 2020 by Katy K.

Here are two teen sequels where characters must deal with the consequences of the magical cataclysm of the first books, Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi and Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fantasy, Print, Reviews, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Black Panther: the Young Prince by Ronald L. Smith

Posted on October 21, 2018 by Katy K.

This book didn’t end up getting nominated for the Cybils (unless Marvel swoops in to nominate it during the last week of the publisher/author nominating period) but it’s still worth reading about. Black Panther: the Young Prince by Ronald L. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Posted on July 6, 2018 by Katy K.

“What to Read after Black Panther” part 3. It’s not quite Afrofuturism because it’s decidedly mythic past without even the alternate technology of Everfair, and it came out after I made my display. It still belongs here. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fantasy, Print, Reviews, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor

Posted on July 1, 2018 by Katy K.

#Afrofuturism from my “What to Read after Black Panther” list part two: a full-length adult novel from Nnedi Okorafor, whose books for younger readers I had aggressively sought out while putting off this intense book.  Not for the faint of … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult, Books, Fantasy, Print | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Everfair by Nisi Shawl

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Katy K.

It’s summer reading time at the library.  I love crowds of kids excited about reading, but it does make it challenging to get anything else done.  But waiting patiently in my own review queue, I have a trio of African-based … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult, Audiobook, Books, Fantasy, Historical | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor

Posted on October 11, 2017 by Katy K.

Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor. Viking, 2017. At last, a long-awaited sequel to Akata Witch, complete with new covers for both books.  It’s been just a year in book time since Sunny Nwazue and her three juju-learning Leopard team mates … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

A Crack in the Sea by H.M. Bouwman

Posted on October 9, 2017 by Katy K.

The last time I wrote about an eligible, not-yet-nominated Cybils book, it was nominated before I posted my review.  Will the same thing work again? (Cybils nominations close October 15, if you haven’t yet nominated!) A Crack in the Sea … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments