Lastly, the plot. The plot was pretty good I guess, but definitely the weakest part of the story in comparison to the characters, writing and worldbuilding. It had quite a slow start and the middle felt a tiny bit rushed, with lots of time skips. Those plot twists tho?? SO GOOD. But I do think the book would’ve benefited from being a little bit longer and having a bit more happening, particularly in the middle part. Until that day at the swimming pool when it’s her hair that saves her, and best friend Cheyenne, from drowning.

Arriving at the School, Onyeka is overwhelmed by it all. She has to learn about this entire hidden world she knew nothing about before. Her eyes shift to my head and the tangle of curls, coils, and kinks sitting on top. It springs straight out of my head in an impressive riot that Mum finds overwhelming, so I rarely leave it loose. My hair has broken more combs, trashed more hair dryers, and made more hairstylists cry than I can count… so maybe Mum has a point. Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun would make a brilliant class read, rich in cultural references, for children in UKS2, both those who love superheroes and those who love a good story. The ending implies there is more to come from Onyeka, which I look forward to reading! I would definitely recommend this book to any Middle Grade Reader, particularly if you are looking for diverse, culture-filled, immersive OWN-voices stories. ONYEKA has been a book I've been following since its announcement, from the cover reveal to the Netflix deal, so I've been excited to read this for some time.The pacing of the book was interesting. There were quite a few twists and turns towards the end that I didn't necessarily see coming and were strongly connected to Onyeka's missing father. It will definitely read a little slow because a lot doesn't necessarily happen until the end of the book. This is a first in a series, so a great portion of this was dedicated to the set up of the characters, the school environment, the magic system, vast descriptions of abilities, and more. This definitely provided a touch of issue for me because I typically gravitate towards books that are heavy on the action, but I could respect how this was primarily about introducing readers to a new and exciting world. Having recently finished Tolá Okogwu’s first installment of Onyeka I was eager to begin Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels. Book 2 is brilliant, yet another middle grade wonder for readers of around 8 years plus. Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels Synopsis So here I am, trying to fit the ugly thing over my hair, and all Cheyenne can do is laugh. She finally stops spluttering long enough for me to get a word in. Cheyenne hesitates for a moment, then pulls it from my clenched fist. “I don’t know why you let what other people think bother you so much,” she says, smoothing it out. She reaches toward me, the cap resting between her small fingers. “We don’t need to fit in.” But Onyeka’s new reality brings challenges and she soon finds herself in the midst of a battle for truth, freedom and life itself.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Margaret K. McElderry Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. She knows it too and pounces immediately, like a cheetah from one of the wildlife documentaries Mum loves. We watch them together the rare times she isn’t working. I plastered an innocent smile on my face. Mum is the only person who uses my full name and it’s usually when I’m in trouble. What had me less enthusiastic, however, was the ending. Imagine any derivative kids' film where the generic villain reveals their dastardly evil plan and then gets foiled at the last second by sheer stupidity. That's ONYEKA's climax. The villain first thoroughly underestimates Onyeka and friends. Powers get hurled around everywhere in a confusing word mishmash of limbs and bodies, and even though there are a dozen or so trained adults who presumably know the dangers of fighting Solari as they understand what Ike is, they lose badly to four thirteen-year-olds. Then the villain gets captured, only to mysteriously manage to escape so there can be higher stakes in the second book. I wasn't expecting anything hugely mind-blowing, but come on, maybe something a little more exciting than that? I also really liked the worldbuilding in this book. The Nigerian culture was elegantly and subtly woven into the plot, with little details here and there that just really enhanced the story as a whole. I really liked the Nigerian setting, as it’s one I haven’t really seen in books before, so I found it interesting. The concept of the Solari and their powers, how they came to be, etc. was also VERY unique and the simplicity of the magic system really worked. So, yeah, that was great!I absolutely adored this story from the very first chapter. Getting to know Onyeka, she is such a special character, the kind who is easy to root for. I can totally see why this book has had so much hype. What a brilliant middle grade read suitable from around 8 years plus +. Although I’d be tempted to read this one to my daughter aged 6 as I think she’d love the action. This is the first book in a series. There was a lot of setting up the world and the villain was fairly generic and easy to predict.It's not earning any points for twists because everything is laid out very standardly. But that did make it easier to follow. Her hands stilled and silence descended on the salon. All conversation stopped as eager ears waited to hear Mum’s reply. Cheyenne’s got Turner’s syndrome, and she has to take special hormones to help her grow properly. Her mouth is plenty big though. I once watched her shut down a Year Eleven girl with just one sentence. The girl was chatting about my hair, so I guess she deserved it.

Children's and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels | Children and teenagers | The Guardian". theguardian.com . Retrieved 2022-12-10. That said, for all its faults, I enjoyed ONYEKA (probably on par with SKANDAR honestly). Original? No. Fun? Absolutely. For fans of the classic middle grade boarding school adventure, ONYEKA AND THE ACADEMY OF THE SUN is sure to be a hit.

Throughout the novel, Onyeka is on a journey of self discovery. She learns to value and celebrate her Nigerian roots and embrace her hair which is essential to understanding her powers. All Onyeka knows is that when they moved to the U.K. it was just the two of them. Onyeka's Mom keeps their past shrouded in mystery, preferring to ignore the topic rather than answering any of Onyeka's questions. In London, Onyeka only has 1 friend and her mother. While at AOS, she gains a group of friends and a relative she didn’t know existed. She learns that family isn’t just who you come from. Sometimes it’s the people you surround yourself with. Mum kissed her teeth at me. “I do not want you out and about with so many strangers. You’re not like everyone else.”