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“Onyeka’s journey with her hair, both as the vessel of her magic and as a Black girl, is beautiful to witness. The rich worldbuilding makes the solar-powered Nigerian techno-wonderland feel palpable. The final twist will create a hunger for more. A delightful blend of adventure, heart, and Afrofuturism.”

– Kirkus Reviews

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun (Onyeka #1)

Written by Tolá Okogwu
Published by Simon & Schuster - Margaret K. McElderry Books

Onyeka has a lot of hair­—the kind that makes strangers stop in the street and her peers whisper behind her back. At least she has Cheyenne, her best friend, who couldn’t care less what other people think. Still, Onyeka has always felt insecure about her vibrant curls…until the day Cheyenne almost drowns and Onyeka’s hair takes on a life of its own, inexplicably pulling Cheyenne from the water.

At home, Onyeka’s mother tells her the shocking truth: Onyeka’s psycho-kinetic powers make her a Solari, one of a secret group of people with super powers unique to Nigeria. Her mother quickly whisks her off to the Academy of the Sun, a school in Nigeria where Solari are trained. But Onyeka and her new friends at the academy soon have to put their powers to the test as they find themselves embroiled in a momentous battle between truth and lies…

Primary ISBN: 9781665912617
Publication Date: June 2022
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 08 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , ,

Setting: UK (England), Nigeria (Lagos)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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Book Trailer

Read Aloud with Author Tolá Okogwu

Source: Simon Kids