Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction

A lot of recent fantasy novels in the YA genre focus on coming of age. They’re filled to the brim with values and finding one’s place in the world. (I’ve mentioned this before in an earlier post, “The Witchcraft of Coming of Age”, if you’re interested.) While not exactly YA like Akata Witch , The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern definitely fits into these patterns. Though the novel generally teaches through nonexamples, rather than pointing clearly at which values it champions, it’s still a story about strong moral compasses. From a young age, our two main characters are given expectations that they never fully understand. Throughout their trials and tribulations, they’re never sure if they’re properly living up to their parents' expectations. One main character’s father constantly reminds her that she’ll never be good enough unless she keeps training. The other main character begs for feedback and never gets more than a vague answer - if he ever hears from his father figure. Ev...

Unlike the witch tales of yonder years, most magic-centered novels (especially YA) are now centered on the theme of “coming of age”. There’s something appealing about how “magic” can represent adulthood and all the maturity that comes with it. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor is no exception to this. It is unique, however, in how it executes this concept. Like most coming of age stories, Akata Witch is centered on a twelve-year-old who is trying to find her place in the world. Sunny, though, has a lot of places to find: a place for herself as an American in Nigeria; as an albino in an intolerant society; and as a newly discovered Leopard Person (or, magic user). In most ways, she’s an isolated individual who wants to fit into a community. Throughout the novel, she finds a small circle of friends who accept her and she discovers her own autonomy. Her individuality is emphasized by the reveal of her spirit face, which is a spiritual reflection of her own self. Culture shock is a big...