Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor. Published by Penguin Group, 2011.

Sunny is almost used to being different. She lives in Nigeria but was born in New York. She looks West African but is an albino with blonde hair, white skin and hazel eyes. She is athletic but can’t go outside to play sports because of her skin. Her classmates and even her brothers make fun of her.

Now, Sunny is learning things about herself that explain some of these contradictions. She has magical abilities and is a “free agent”. Although she is powerful, she hasn’t been educated in the use of magic. She has to quickly learn (she is only twelve years old, but she is behind) shape-shifting, dimensional travel and spell casting.

The tricky thing is, she has to do all this while keeping it a secret from her family and classmates. She now has magical schoolwork to do in addition to her regular work. She has to practice her new skills and she goes with her friends on trips (some of which are pretty dangerous).

This is all very exciting until Sunny and her friends are asked to find a serial killer. A serial killer who has already passed the highest level tests which have increased his power. A serial killer the adult authorities haven’t been able to kill. A magical, powerful killer who may threaten all of their existence!

Recommended for grades 9 and up. 

Visit Nnedi Okorafor's website.

Legacy by Molly Cochran

Legacy by Molly Cochran. Published by Simon & Schuster, 2011.

Do you believe in witches? Katy doesn’t. But she is starting to after arriving at her new boarding school.

Things are kind of strange there. People call her by the wrong name. She has numerous enemies but having just arrived, she doesn’t understand how so many people could already dislike and shun her. Katy’s father and his girlfriend seem happy to get rid of Katy by shipping her 1500 miles away. However, her father won’t answer her questions when Katy learns her mother’s family live in town.

Katy settles in to her new school and discovers that there are all sorts of things she never knew. Her father changed his name. Twice! Her mother tried to kill a little boy named Eric and then set herself on fire. People in the town are afraid of Katy and think she is bringing an evil spirit called The Darkness to town.

Katy kind of likes Peter, Eric’s older brother. Sometimes he seems to like her. Other times, he’ll tell her to stay away from him and stay away from Eric. It’s very confusing.

Hattie, the owner of Hattie’s Kitchen hires Katy to work at the restaurant. Katy enjoys it and is learning a lot about herself- she is a witch. With the support of her mother’s family and Hattie, she learns about her abilities. She can move objects. She has visions. She can sense things about people. She can see the results of The Darkness.

Katy’s father’s new wife arrives in town and announces plans to build a new Wonderland. Unfortunately, it will be built on the site of Hattie’s restaurant and a magical meadow. This plan results in even more enmity directed at Katy.

Katy is arguing with her father, working on developing her magical powers and trying to fight The Darkness, all while struggling with her feelings for Peter. She definitely needs help.

This fantasy fiction is recommended for grades 9 and up. 

Visit Molly Cochran's website