Akata Witch

Diving into this book Akata Witch, I certainly picked up tones of an underdog character who possess a lot of power. She is born an albino and doesn't fit in her community in the United states or in Nigeria.  After dealing with bully problems and feeling rejected by society she is brought into a new unknown world which teaches her she is actually very special and learns to possess a very strong power. Her major flaw in society becomes a powerful tool in the realm of Juju.

The book is written from the perspective of Sunny and follows her journey through learning a very powerful magic, very much like the book series Harry Potter. There are a few other archetypes alike stereotypical American's and school bullies but there are more witch related ones as well. Every witch has to have some sort of mentor ad Sunny does, along with a few other younger witches in her Oha coven. 

Her albino skin means more than just appearance. In the book it is said the albino people are halfway in between the real world and the spiritual realm. This is illustrated in the scene of the goat head magic scene. Where she learns her powers are because of her albino genetics. Her identity is very flexible and she learns she has her freedom in this new world of magic. She is called a free agent, meaning she is both free to practice magic and witchery but also doesn't have a place to call home. Her need to fit in becomes a underlying driving motive, and she eventually finds her place in the magic of Juju. She wants to be self sustaining so her magic abilities teach her she would be just fine in the world she does not fit in.

The male figures in this story are viewed as kind of a point of conflict. She wants to leave and play with her friends, but her father keeps enforcing her to do female/girl activities. Once she becomes powerful, her family has to embrace her for what she is. Instead of her leaving her family for another "family" somewhere else, she stays with them and continues her studies under her parent's roof. I hope to read the sequel to this book one day, as I am very much enjoying the characters and writing.