In the fourth part of the "Mercury Witch" story, the main character, Emily, finds herself faced with a difficult decision. After discovering her newfound powers and discovering the existence of a secret magical society, Emily is torn between wanting to embrace her destiny as a witch and wanting to live a normal life. Throughout this section, the author explores Emily's inner struggle as she grapples with the consequences of her choice. On one hand, she is mesmerized by the exhilaration and power that comes with being a witch. She is seduced by the idea of joining a community of individuals who understand her and her abilities. However, on the other hand, Emily is also aware of the potential dangers that come with becoming a part of the magical society.
This book title, Akata Witch, ISBN: 9780670011964, by Nnedi Okorafor, published by Penguin Young Readers Group (April 14, 2011) is available in hardcover. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
Because that whole mess is avoided, the large bulk of the story that we get is instead Sunny finding out about her magic, and going to talk to different magical adults, and playing soccer with a bunch of boys that don t believe that she ll be any good, and avoiding being slaughtered by this random bit of old magic that her friends get into It s very slow and meandering and ultimately pointless to this story because there s nothing else driving the story. Written well enough that this um, let s say non -twelve year-old, sufficiently enjoyed the reading experience, even though I wasn t overly enamored with where the story went.
However, on the other hand, Emily is also aware of the potential dangers that come with becoming a part of the magical society. As the story unfolds, Emily is faced with a series of challenges that test her resolve. She is presented with opportunities to use her powers for personal gain but also encounters situations that require her to make difficult ethical choices.
Review: Akata Witch
Do you know what the biggest problem is for an author trying to write a novel about kids that are caught in the middle of very dangerous events? Parents. Well, adults in general. How do you keep the grown-ups from coming in and hijacking the story completely while still making it all believable. I have a difficult time believing that any story that is told expressly about kids has a more important question to answer. This was a very interesting novel to read, given that perspective. Because on the one hand, this story totally has adults “dealing with the important stuff”, but on the other hand, there are also several adults that are more than willing to throw children into deadly situations, shrug their shoulders, and say, “If they live, they live. If they don’t, they don’t.” Was an interesting dichotomy to try and swallow, and not the only one I found in this read.
AKATA WITCH (Amazon) is the first of the Akata Witch series of books by author Nnedi Okorafor. It’s a relatively old book for us to be reviewing (2011), but when I went looking for “the best” books that included diverse backgrounds, this was one that I found listed near the top of nearly all sources I came across.
Sunny Nwazue is a twelve year-old black albino girl that was born in America but moved to Nigeria when she was nine. As an American and an albino, she very literally sticks out like a sore thumb in every aspect of her life there. If you don’t remember much about middle school… it can be tough. And that’s if you actually fit in, it’s tough. Sunny doesn’t fit in. She’s bullied, and mocked, and even beaten on by some her classmates, one in particular, and it isn’t until one of the other onlookers in her class steps up to defend Sunny during a fight that she has what might even meagerly be called a friend.
It doesn’t take long to by sympathetically drawn to this young girl and her plight. Okorafor’s writing is well wrought and yet still simple. Feels almost scarce in some ways. And yet, it is what I would expect the target audience of this book (twelve year-olds) to soak up immediately. The world Sunny lives in is simple. Straight-forward. They live in huts. Have a communal school. She can’t spend very much time in the sun because of her sensitive skin, but loves to play soccer. She has brothers that tease her and yet stand up for her when put to the test. Her parents are distracted, but both strict and loving when the time comes for it.
And then the boy from school, Orlu, and his two friends introduce her to a world of magic, and suddenly nothing is ever the same again.
A simple story about a bullied twelve year-old black girl that spends it's time developing the world and nearly forgets the actual conflict in the process.
She finds that she is one of the Leopard people and can do magic where other mundane people (Lambs) can’t. It is the introduction of this magical world that exists behind and amongst the real world that the large majority of this book spends its time. That evolution is beautiful and imaginative and threaded throughout the life of this unique little girl. It is also just about all there is to this book.
The actual story at large — the one that the “adults” are dealing with — is that there is another adult Leopard Person that has chosen the path of darkness. In order to perpetuate his abilities, it requires that he capture and kill children. There are a handful of references to this murderer throughout the book, but the kids in Sunny’s group of friends are never really a part of that story. In the opening of the book, Sunny peers into the depths of a candle flame and sees an apocalyptic end to the world that she knows. This is the idea that makes it obvious from the get-go that this will be a “fantasy” story. I mean, she’s obviously not tripping on any kind of psychedelics when she sees this stuff, so as an adult, I’m immediately assuming that this is magic. Still, this little piece of information is pretty much ignored until near the end of the book when the adults come into play… and decide to throw Sunny and her friends at the kid-murderer to see if they can stop him. See what the story did right there? The whole time you’re thinking, “Kid murder running around slaughtering children. Obviously the adults are taking care of that issue.” Oh, ho ho, no! That wouldn’t be the way to do things.
That part of the story, which is where the actual conflict resided, was pretty weak. Like really weak. And the fact that it was essentially ignored for the entirety of the story, bothered me more than just a bit. Because that whole mess is avoided, the large bulk of the story that we get is instead Sunny finding out about her magic, and going to talk to different magical adults, and playing soccer with a bunch of boys that don’t believe that she’ll be any good, and avoiding being slaughtered by this random bit of old magic that her friends get into… It’s very slow and meandering and ultimately pointless (to this story) because there’s nothing else driving the story. Yes, as I said earlier, it’s also beautiful and imaginative. But for me, this story was only half– well, maybe just less than half of a story. It’s the background. It’s the set pieces for what should be the story. At least that’s my two cents. I’m sure there’ll be loads of people that will love it because of the beauty and the imagination and the newness of it. I just expect a bit more from my fiction. At least from the stuff that I like, I do.
By-and-large this read was disappointing because of the overwhelming emphasis on the world-building and the lack of a consistent plot. Put a solid story into this world and with these characters though, and you’ve got yourself a winner-winner chicken dinner. Written well enough that this… um, let’s say non-twelve year-old, sufficiently enjoyed the reading experience, even though I wasn’t overly enamored with where the story went. I’ll likely pick something up by her again, if I see it. Maybe I’ll have to get the next one in the series. That could be the deciding factor as to whether I’ll read anything else by her without serious consideration. Now that she has a world, I hope she understands that it behooves her to actually do something with that world, rather than just let it lie fallow. Guess we’ll see.
- Recommended Age: 12+
- Language: Very infrequent and mild
- Violence: Some bullying, reported (fairly gruesome) deaths of children, and the threat of death
- Sex: Some kissing
In this section, the author also delves into the themes of identity, acceptance, and the power of choice. Emily's struggle to reconcile her desire for a normal life with her newfound powers provides readers with a thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of human nature. The fourth part of the "Mercury Witch" story serves as a turning point for Emily's character development. It highlights the internal conflict she faces and sets the stage for the final chapters, where she eventually makes a decision that will shape her destiny. Throughout this section, the author skillfully keeps readers engaged by creating tension and suspense, gradually building towards the climax. The character development and exploration of key themes make this part of the story a compelling read that keeps readers longing for the resolution. In conclusion, the fourth part of the "Mercury Witch" story delves into Emily's struggle to balance her desire for a normal life with her newfound powers as a witch. The author masterfully explores themes of identity, acceptance, and the power of choice as readers are taken on a journey through Emily's internal conflict. The tension and suspense created in this section make it a compelling read that leaves readers eagerly anticipating the climax and resolution of the story..
Reviews for "The Mercury Witch's True Destiny: Part Four of a Spellbinding Tale"
1. John Doe - 1/5 stars
I found the fourth part of the mercury witch story to be extremely disappointing. The plot was all over the place, with no clear direction or purpose. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard to connect with any of them. The writing style was also not engaging, with long, unnecessary descriptions that only added to the confusion. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written story.
2. Mary Smith - 2/5 stars
I had high hopes for the fourth part of the mercury witch story, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow, making it hard to stay engaged throughout the book. The author introduced new plotlines and characters without properly exploring or resolving them, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. Additionally, the ending felt rushed and lacked a sense of closure. While the concept of the story was intriguing, the execution left much to be desired.
3. David Johnson - 2/5 stars
I had to really push myself to finish the fourth part of the mercury witch story. The story lacked a clear focus and wandered aimlessly, making it hard to stay interested. The writing was mediocre at best, with weak dialogue and repetitive descriptions. The characters were also unremarkable, with little to no growth or development throughout the book. Overall, this installment felt like a filler, lacking the depth and excitement of the previous parts in the series.
4. Sarah Adams - 1/5 stars
I regret wasting my time on the fourth part of the mercury witch story. The plot was convoluted and confusing, leaving me scratching my head in confusion. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any relatability. The writing style was also lacking, with clumsy prose and a lack of attention to detail. I was sorely disappointed by this installment and would not recommend it to anyone seeking a well-crafted and enjoyable book.