An incredible idea and set of bones for a story here, but ultimately it suffered from pacing and logic issues that took away from the really great characters and setting.

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun centres around Onyeka and her marvellous hair - which she has a lot of!
It's eye-catching, makes people talk and it just might have magic powers!
Onyeka lives alone with her mum (who has many secrets) and she has a best friend named Cheyenne. It's during a swimming session that Onyeka truly begins to believe that her hair has powers. When Cheyenne almost drowns its as if her hair knows how to save her. Onyeka then begins to ask questions. As the story unravels, we learn that Onyeka's mum has psychokinetic powers, and belongs to the Solari - a group of powerful Nigerians (with powers of their own).
Onyeka is taken to Nigeria to live and learn with the Solari whilst her mum goes to locate Onyeka's missing father.
The story is fast-paced, and leaves readers on the edge of their seats. It's a tale of intrigue, friendship, family and believing in yourself.

This was such a fun and fast paced book that I couldn't put down! I loved the X-Men vibes I got from this one and I really enjoyed the concept of it all!

The characters are really well written and I loved watching as they developed as the book went on! We got to watch Onyeka grow into herself and accept her powers which I really liked.

Overall this was a great middle grade novel that I recommend to anyone who loves anything superpower related or those who love the Marvel universe!

I'm excited to see where this story takes us next!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Quick Summary
– Black main character and majority of the book – black characters
– Afro hair positive
– Black author
– Based briefly in London and then Nigeria
– Fast paced
– Action, adventure, super-powers
– Sci-fi/ fantasy
– Positive role models
– Accepting and loving who you are

I can totally see why this book has had so much hype. What a brilliant middle grade read suitable from around 8 years plus +. Although I’d be tempted to read this one to my daughter aged 6 as I think she’d love the action.

I loved the Nigerian food references throughout. Especially the details of what the foods were at the back of the book. Zobo is needed in my life! Also the use of Nigerian Pidgin English by one of the characters taught me new things and the use felt very natural and valued.

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun tells the story of Onyeka a Nigerian born girl living in London. She doesn’t feel like she fits in. Her afro hair seems to have a mind of its own and just won’t be tamed to let her fit in with her peers.

When her best friend Cheyenne has a freak accident at the pool not even Onyeka can explain what happened. Her mother knows and knows it’s time they must return to Nigeria, even with the danger this poses. They must find Onyeka’s father.

Back in Nigeria Onyeka begins to understand and embrace her own identity as she learns of the superpowers of the Solari. Yet there are dark forces at work who will stop at nothing to build their army and destroy those who get in their way.

It’s pacey, rich and empowering. I loved how Onyeka, with the help of unlikely allies and an old friend, learns to use her superpower – her afro hair.

The beauty, magic and power of Onyeka’s hair is interwoven throughout the story and I can see lots of children reading this story wanting hair just like Onyeka’s. However, the book shows the true treasure is embracing you and what makes you unique. Each character having their own superpower – even in the case of Cheyenne where her superpower is simply being an incredible friend.

My favourite part of the book is when Onyeka makes a stand in the canteen. This is before she really starts to truly understand herself more and her background yet the strength of her character, even in a vulnerable position, was incredible and shone through. What fierce bravery. It had me shouting out loud how proud I was of her!

I’ve always had a fondness for anything maths so particularly enjoyed Onyeka’s self regulating using the Fibonacci sequence. Adanna’s synaesthesia was also an interest point.

There’s also lots of sci-fi – well carefully married with hints of science fact. Hyperloops took me down an internet searching, fascinating rabbit hole – thank you for that Tola.

Other reviewers have mentioned that they thought the plot was quite predictable. I would say the plot was perfect for a middle grade reader. The hints and clues at where to look were in my opinion perfectly placed and timed and would give children a very satisfying feeling if they put the pieces together before the big reveal. Equally, it wouldn’t matter if they hadn’t pieced things together.

Final Thoughts
Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun is a perfect, fiery, action packed middle grade, must-read. Enjoy!

Wicked read!
Something very different to read but powerful too. superheros are found in the most unlikely places with some really unusual powers.
Onyeka really does have some magic in her wild hair.

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun is an action-packed, thrilling, wildly enjoyable adventure that kept me utterly gripped throughout.

British-Nigerian Onyeka lives with her over-protective mother. She hates feeling different and having people stare at her due to her hair, and is desperate to feel that she belongs. When swimming with her best friend, Cheyenne, she makes an incredible discovery: her hair has psychokinetic powers which she uses to save Cheyenne from drowning.

After an argument with her mother and another display of her power, she reveals that Onyeka is a Solari and has inherited her supernatural power from her father, a father who disappeared shortly before they had to leave Nigeria to remain safe.

Onyeka returns to Nigeria with her mother where she is taken to an elite school for Solari, the Academy of the Sun in Lagos where they are taught how to use their powers to keep Nigeria safe. Onyeka is to train and learn about her powers in the Academy whilst her mother searches for her father, but the Academy may not be quite what it seems …

So begins a fast-paced, heart-racing adventure as Onyeka and her friends unearth hidden truths which lead them into dangerous situations … is there something sinister behind the Academy’s secretive nature and intense interest in the Solari and in keeping their powers hidden from others? Are the Rogues who attack the Academy the villains they appear to be? I absolutely loved the twists and turns in this adventure which took me on a such an exciting rollercoaster. I’m so ready for the next book in this series after that ending!

As well as being an exhilarating adventure, this is also a powerful story of family, friendship and believing in and accepting yourself. Onyeka has a wonderfully supportive friend in Cheyenne who anchors her, and I loved that this friendship continues after Onyeka leaves London. I also enjoyed the slow building of her friendship with Adanna who has her own reasons for finding it hard to trust others. Onyeka shows incredible courage and inner strength as she fights to help her friends and uncover terrible truths.

This is an exhilarating, heart-warming adventure that is sure to be a winner with readers of 9+.

Fun, action packed childrens fiction with much to say about parental figures, self esteem and confidence this rip roaring adventure is also packed with heart and character development, and the alt future Nigerian setting is genius, a rich story mine to well for future instalments.

I always get excited when I read a book that I just know that my Year 6s will enjoy. This book is jampacked with adventure, drama, friendship and a whole lot of power. Onyeka is a fantastic protagonist that you are rooting for throughout the whole novel; her character is believable and it is a pleasure to read and watch her go through a journey of self love and understanding of her roots. It is so vital that young people can seem themselves in the stories that they read and the representation in this book is one that has been lacking so I am thrilled that this is now widely available for all to read. The descriptive language throughout the book provides the reader with a picture perfect image of the scene (and one that I can imagine on screen one day) and there are many twists throughout that take you by surprise. I can't wait to see what will happen in the sequel!
For those who loved the magic of Amari and the Night Brothers, Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, then this book is for you!

If the glorious golden cover artwork by Jackson hasn’t already given the reader enough of a clue, our superhero in this story has big beautiful magical afro hair. There’s a new superhero on the kids books scene, and excitedly it's the first in a series of a Marvel/DC meets Nollywood (that’s Nigerian Hollywood FYI) fantasy thriller.

It’s 2025. British-Nigerian, Onyeka and best friend Cheyenne are London school girls, best friends, fused at the hip and when not together are texting or calling to stay in touch - such a sweet friendship. Onyeka and Cheyenne are off to the swimming pool. It’s not much fun in the changing room when Onyeka’s big afro hair is hard to fit into the swimming cap her mum told her to wear… a dilemma perhaps familiar to many. Wear it and it’s ill-fitting, a menace to get on properly and uncomfortable; don’t wear it and then it’s going to be a job to wash and condition when you get home.

Cheyenne is a trustworthy, supportive and bubbly best friend who frequently uses her good nature and humour to help Onyeka with her anxiety and frustrations throughout the story. She also knows Onyeka’s mum and how she won’t be best pleased if she goes home with wet hair. Embarrassed, worried about the stares and jeers, she manages to put on the swimming hat with some help. The worst happens, the hat pings off in the water and Cheyenne zooms after it to retrieve it, but the pool is busy, she’s struggling. Onyeka panics, she isn’t a strong swimmer. Something takes over, she has to save her best friend. When it feels like she’s drowning and can’t come up for air, her scalp feels strange, something very magical and powerful saves them both that day - Onyeka’s hair!

Freaked out and confused by this new superpower, she confides in her mum, who bizarrely isn’t taken aback. It was only a matter of time before her powers kicked in, she learns. Shrouded in mystery, her mum immediately packs their bags and they set off for Nigeria, where Onyeka was born. And it is in Nigeria that most of this story is set, which is a total delight!

Onyeka marvels as she flies over the capital city, Lagos, green lush spaces, and even vertical farms… the reality before her eyes beating anything she’s witnessed before on TV! Onyeka heads to somewhere called the Academy of the Sun (AOS) with her mum. Why ‘of the sun’? It was founded 25 years ago, and the Academy is solar-powered by Nigeria’s globally leading solar energy resources, they grow their own food, and recycle water by harvesting rainwater. Dr Dòyìnbó is the founder/‘headmaster’/protector of this training academy of about 160 young people collectively known as ‘Solari’ with a wild array of superpowers or ‘Ike’ (an Igbo east Nigerian word meaning might or power) that are neatly organised into four Ike: Enhancers, Emitters, Transformers, Psionic (Onyeka's Ike). The tech is out of this world with DAMI (think Siri for superheros), ‘Wakanda’-style aircraft like the Gyrfalcon and second sight vision glasses that connect with your thoughts and more!

Worried, mum leaves Onyeka at the AOS while she goes to look for Onyeka’s long-lost father, as it seems he may know much more about how she can get to grips with her powers. Onyeka gradually finds a group of friends to trust and hang out with, although it isn’t without its challenges.

Here’s a quick guide to Onyeka's faithful crew:
Niyì Ike = Emitter… creates different types of energy external to his body - ice!
Hassan Ike = Transformer… can change his physical form, becomes invisible
Adanna Dual Ike= Psionic... can move objects, is a technopath and a synaesthetic empath (can smell and hear people’s emotions e.g. new students smell like cherries), she also educates Onyeka about her hair care and helps her find a style she can live with using Bantu knots (see photos below)!

With all the combat training and lessons, it’s obvious that something more than learning to be responsible and help the planet is going on. The AOS gets frequent attacks from rebel ex-students for one! Having been educated in London, Onyeka’s knowledge of Nigerian history is poor. As AOS’s Professor Sàlàkó tells her, “We only had the fragile systems that the British left us with”. Okogwu takes this opportunity to teach or remind the reader of the event of Nigeria’s independence from the British in 1960. The evolution of Nigeria’s government post-independence in the book is loosely based on true history.

Okogwu echoes the immediate years after independence when the Hausa in the North, Igbo in the East and Yoruba in the West of Nigeria formed political parties as part of a coalition government (the north and the east) with an opposition party (the west). Nigeria became a Republic in 1963 with a Prime Minister appointed and a ceremonial President and then follows a complex period of turmoil and growth.

In the story, however, even by 2025, ‘Unity Councils’ made up of the North, East and West, are still the system of government and instead of oil as Nigeria's global commodity, in the story it is a metal called trarium. In real life, in 1983 the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation noticed pollution and contamination in the water supply, and Okogwu has neatly woven this narrative into her story as the cause of the DNA mutation leading to the Solari Ike - via trarium production to make solar energy cells contaminating local water supplies.

Within a few weeks Onyeka is competing in the highly competitive Ìdánwò inter-house games. Yet just as she starts enjoying and thriving in her new school community, Onyeka's mum's phone calls suddenly stop and she finds out her mum has gone missing! Perhaps Dr Dòyìnbó isn't quite all that he seems? Why is Onyeka getting increasingly sick whenever she uses her powers? What ensues is a quest to find out the truth, save the future of the Solari and her parents.

This gripping debut fantasy middle grade adventure ends on a total cliff hanger, so I can’t wait for the next instalment! I CANNOT wait-o!

Okogwu's final pages of the book include a Glossary, which basically makes my mouth water, including so many Nigerian dishes that I haven’t eaten in too long, and a Nigerian Pidgin English overview with some common words

Obviously I’m not black and don’t have afro hair. Of course I have absolutely no idea what it’s like to care for afro hair, first hand, I am a Nordic white woman. I have, however lived with Nigerian families (the ‘white sister’ - long story) and although I didn’t get involved in any chemical processes like relaxing (I’ll never forget the smell and the shrieks with scalp burns), I became a goto for a hair cut at home! I have huge respect for black women and over-stand the importance of being non-judgemental about whether someone wears their hair naturally or with a weave/extensions. Because I’d always been around and living with black girls from the age of 6, I never truly appreciated the anxiety, oppression and stigmatisation until a few years ago. Now I’m living outside a major city and away from my mainly black circle of friends, I have born witness on many occasion to a gross ignorance when it comes to the whys and wherefores of afro hair.

Afro hair not only is a unique celebration and reminder of the source of the DNA of our entire human race, but the styles and accessories tell a story of culture, history and sometimes even religion. Our hair is deeply personal, just like any other part of our bodies, don’t ever assume it’s ok to ask to touch. If it has never occurred to you before, take an interest in afro hair.

Thanks to S&S for my copy of this book. I loved the premise of this book and would have loved to have this to read when I was younger!!
It was such an enjoyable read, the pacing felt good and the change of scene midway kept things fresh.

2.5 🌟

This is a case of “It’s not the book, it’s me” syndrome, because there was nothing too bad about it, I just don’t like this kind of fantasy. I hoped it would be one of the rare exceptions, because usually I am luckier with middle grades, but sadly this wasn’t the case.
The only objective issue I can highlight is that the characters, aside from Onyeka, fell a bit flat. They all had one main characteristic each and that was that; I couldn’t tell them apart from time to time and that was a shame, because I liked Onyeka as a main character. She was extremely flawed and a bit too stubborn, but she was a strong MC and I would have liked all the other characters to be as well built as she was. Seeing as this is just the first book in a series, maybe they will be more developed in later instalments.
The writing style was nice, and I think there’s room for improvement, which is why I am still not ruling out the possibility of continuing with the series, especially because my main problem with the book was that the plot was too similar to other books I’ve read, but I believe in the next books it can get more original, if given the chance.
The story reminded me a lot of a middle grade version of Raybearer, mixed with Black Panther, Nevermoor and Amari and the Night Brothers. Aside from Black Panther which is my favourite MCU movie alongside Shang Ci, I did not like the other medias I’ve mentioned, so I guess it’s only natural that I did not like this one either. Moreover, the villain was very obvious and I could tell from the first time they appeared that they were bad. I think even children won’t be surprised, if they’ve read more than one book in their life. It wasn’t very well crafted and the reveal felt almost useless at that point.
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.
I think I will keep on reading the series to know more about how the mutation works and what Solari will do to fight the sickness that comes with it. I would still recommend this book if you enjoy fantasy books and middle grade and if you are looking for a story about a powerful Black girl as a main character. I prefer Onyeka over Amari, but I think if you liked one, you could definitely like the other.

Astonishing storytelling - bold, empowering, and endlessly uplifting. This is a book we'll ALL be talking about.

An incredible book on so many levels.

Onyeka will rightly get accolades for it's value in terms of representation in kid lit but this is also just a fantastic story, about wonderful characters, all flawlessly written.

Heritage, heroism & miraculous hair! An absolute MUST read🇳🇬

Simply superb!

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of Tola Okogwu's middle grade debut and it is easily my favourite book of 2022 so far. Brimming with twists and turns, join Onyeka on her superhero origin story. Be prepared to be left breathless as the action unfolds at breakneck speed as Onyeka goes on a journey of self-acceptance, discovering friendship, family and her true identity along the way. Thinking with my primary teacher hat on, this has already been bought to go straight onto my classroom shelves (and has been recommended to my class!), and I'm already itching to read the next book!

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun is an exciting page-turner of a middle grade novel, with excellent worldbuilding and a fantastic main character at its core. I loved how this book turned the thing the character was initially bullied for into her greatest strength, and I loved Onyeka's character journey so so much. I would recommend this book to anyone who loved the Harry Potter series or Amari and the Night Brothers, or anyone looking for a fast-paced, unputdownable read!

This book deserves all the hype it's getting. I loved the characters, their exploration and relationship with their power, the twists and adventures.

I loved the premise of the school and the way Onyeka's family are tied up with it, as well as the twists and turns later in the book. I didn't see that ending coming at all.

I loved how Onyeka's relationship with her hair changed in the book and the power of the friendships she has. Absolutely stunning. Brilliantly written and I can't wait to read more of Onyeka's adventures.

A brilliant story, full of magic and wonder. Onyeka is an awesome main character and i cant wait to see more of her adventures. Her introduction to the academy of the sun in Nigeria is far from simple, but it's full of adventure.

I really liked the sound of this book but struggled massively with the language and the pacing. I can see the appeal to those that would like a glimpse into Nigerian culture and language but I just struggled with the slang too much to enjoy it. The pace also felt a bit weird in places, rushing through an explanation one minute and putting to much information in the next.

Overall I would say this is a decent book and will appeal to those that are of African decent/minority or those older children that want to dip into learning about other cultures in a more fun way, but this book just wasn't for me

Hooray! Courtesy of Simon and Schuster and NetGalley, I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek of this much anticipated middle grade novel that I've heard so much about. And, trust me, readers are in for a treat. Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun is a fantastically fresh superhero novel set in both London and Nigeria and Onyeka's superpower, or ike as it is called in Nigeria, just happens to be linked to her hair...

British-Nigerian girl, Onyeka, has spent her whole life battling with her hair. But when she finds out it has psychokinetic powers she is promptly whisked away to The Academy of the Sun in Nigeria - a training programme for Solari (children with superpowers). But it's not long before Onyeka and her new friends are caught up in a battle that threatens the entire future of the Solari.

Firstly, don't be fooled! What begins as a fairly normal story - two friends heading to a swimming pool in London - swiftly tranforms into fast-paced, enthralling adventure as Onyeka develops overnight superpowers and embarks on a journey of acceptance and self-love. Finding herself in Nigeria surrounded by other Solari, Onyeka is not only faced with having to make new friends - as well as making friends with her hair- but she is forced to face serious questions about her identity and her family.

The world-building in the novel is excellent and has such a level of depth and detail that you know a whole world, beyond just one book, is about to open in front of you. The plot is visual, action-packed and dynamic and it's clear to see why it has been snapped up as a feature film. I loved Onyeka's ongoing battle with her hair and her burgeoning friendship with Adanna, compared to her solid relationship with Cheyenne, gives the story heart and warmth. There's humour as Onyeka's hair comes into its own and tons of secrets to unravel.

Reminding me of the Nevermoor series and also comparable to the new Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, this is clearly going to be a epic fantasy series. I loved the Nigerian setting and the authenticity that Tola Okogwu brings to the narrative. There's also some excellent haircare tips woven into the story, braided seamlessly with virtual quests and training battles. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing it on screen as much as I'm hoping for book two.

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun is one of the most creatively original Children's books I have read in recent years. I absolutely loved that Onyeka wasn't a natural with her powers and how she had to really work to control her powers, her emotions and to make friends. The revelation towards the end was shocking and I think Children will really enjoy this book!

The story was well-paced and I am really looking forward to see what happens in the next book already!