Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun: A superhero adventure perfect for Marvel and DC fans!

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a b "Q&A: Tọlá Okogwu, Author of 'Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun' ". The Nerd Daily. 2022-06-14 . Retrieved 2022-12-10. 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. The world building was still interesting, even if it wasn’t the most original, and I found interesting how the powers worked (especially Onyeka’s hair and all it meant and symbolised) and how they were affected by emotions. I also really liked that the book was almost entirely set in Nigeria, it’s not often that we get fantasy books set in a different location than the USA or Europe/England, so I always appreciate “visiting” new countries. Mum kissed her teeth at me. “I do not want you out and about with so many strangers. You’re not like everyone else.” The friendship she developed with some of the other Solari was also really sweet. Although they felt very typical at first, I ended up liking them in the end! Adanna in particular. She seemed like a very cliche character at first, but as we got to know her, I really grew to like her. Cheyenne, Onyeka’s best friend in London, was also a really cool character, even if she didn’t play as big a role as some of the other characters in the story.

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.” My mouth twists and her voice trails off. Cheyenne meets my gaze again, but there’s no curiosity or pity. Not like I get from others. To Cheyenne, my hair is just another part of me, like the gap between my front teeth and my massive size-eight feet. The same way I see her love of furry fox ears and Marmite. It’s the way I wish the world would see both of us, instead of only focusing on the things that make us different. It’s what drew Cheyenne and me together in the first place.Author Tọlá Okogwu's note at the end of the story not only offers meanings for the words used, but gives a short explanation to help the reader put this into context. The Academy is brilliantly described and bursting with technological advances and inventions. Divided into four houses, each represented by a different colour containing children with different abilities, there are the usual school rivalries, tensions and falling outs showing human nature remains the same whether you have super powers or not! Chey’s having a pool party for her birthday,” I replied, not bothering to mention it was a party of two. At the sound of Cheyenne’s name, Mum smiled, and I tried not to get my hopes up. “Please, Mum,” I begged in a loud voice. “You never let me go anywhere.” My eyebrows lift at her tone, but she’s right, and I don’t want to mess up her special day. I snatch the ugly cap from her. Her Mom is a strong woman who only wants the best for Onyeka. It's not all sunshine and rainbows, but you can tell the two love each other fiercely even if they don't always see eye-to-eye.

Jones |, Iyana. "What's the Buzz?: 'Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun' ". PublishersWeekly.com . Retrieved 2022-12-10. An incredible story that reinvents the concept of a school for magical kids. So inspiring and creatively original.’ L. D. Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel AgencyUntil that day at the swimming pool when it’s her hair that saves her, and best friend Cheyenne, from drowning. The winners of The Farshore Reading for Pleasure Teacher Awards 2023, highlighting the work schools are doing to encourage a love of reading, have...

This is definitely the beginning of what is going to turn out to be an extremely fun middle grade fantasy series. As a comic book fan, it was nice to see the way Okogwu used certain comic elements to create this narrative. If you're a fan of superheroes like X-Men, I think you'll enjoy this one. But Onyeka and her new friends at the Academy soon have to put their powers to the test as they find themselves caught up in an epic battle . . . one that puts the future of all Solari at risk.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. As Onyeka comes to terms with her newly-discovered powers, she initially struggles to control them and has to do a lot of growing up in a short space of time. With her sense of liberation comes the realisation of the responsibility she holds, both to herself and to others. I don’t fit in here either, but it’s not always a bad thing” she replies with a grin. “Besides, it’s not as if you can change who you are, so you might as well own it.”

Onyeka has always felt conscious about her hair, which is exuberant and often difficult to manage. She feels it draws unwanted attention which enhances her feeling that she does not quite fit in. She and her mother left Nigeria to come to England and her mother, although loving, is overprotective and unwilling to discuss Onyeka's father. When Onyeka goes to the pool with her best friend, Cheyenne, things go very wrong and Cheyenne nearly drowns; however, somehow Onyeka - and her hair - manage to save Cheyenne, leading to the discovery that Onyeka is not entirely human and her father was Solari, someone with amazing powers, and who is now missing. Together, they leave for Nigeria to get help from Dr. Dòyìnbó, her father's mentor and there, Onyeka meets other Solari children, notably Niyì, Hassan and Adanna, at a school where Solari children are trained. When her mother goes missing, Onyeka finds herself embroiled in a battle for the truth. Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun (Onyeka #1) by Tolá Okogwu". www.publishersweekly.com . Retrieved 2022-12-10. 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! Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for an eARC of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun in exchange for an honest review.When our story begins Onyeka and her best friend, Cheyenne, are visiting the local public pool on a hot day. Even though Onyeka doesn't adore swimming, for Cheyenne she's willing to join in the fun. 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. 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. 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.