Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels

I managed to get a preview copy from netgalley. I'm so grateful.

This is a book that needs to be in classrooms and libraries. It continues the story of Onyeka, definitely worth reading book 1 first to be able to fully understand the concept and the current storyline.

It's fast paced, action packed while also managing the idea of being hesitant about your choices, not trusting yourself and managing change.

After meeting Onyeka in The Academy of the Sun, she, along with her new friends, has to find a way to deal with Dr Dòyìnbó and his plans for the Solari army. Add in the Rogues, kidnapping and spies, you have an even more action packed story than last time! The colours and tastes of Nigeria enrich the adventure - everything is so vibrant. Onyeka has a lot to deal to deal with and her friendships, and the making of them, once again come to the fore. This will be another classroom hit.

Quick Summary
– Black characters including man characters
– Afro hair positive
– Black author
– Based in Nigeria
– Fast paced
– Action, adventure, super-powers
– Sci-fi/ fantasy
– Positive role models
– Not allowing obstacles and difficulties to swallow up everything
– The power of friendship, trust and relying on others

Having recently finished Tolá Okogwu's first installment of Onyeka I was eager to begin Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels. Book 2 is brilliant, yet another middle grade wonder for readers of around 8 years plus.

Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels continues just where we left off in book 1. I want to be careful not to give away any spoilers for either book 1 or 2. Here goes... Onyeka and the rest of Nchebe are on the run. Each safe haven becomes more perilous. Soon they are forced to ally themselves with the most unlikely of people to try and help return Niyì's Ike superpower and save those they love. Not to mention trying to enlighten and save the whole Solari race.

It's thoroughly fulfilling getting to know the characters we met in the first book even more deeply. Tolá masterly creates such vivid imagery of her characters in your mind. Each so unique with diverse skills that blend together wonderfully. In book 2 we start to see cracks appear as some friendships are strained. The storyline plays out these rifts so well helping the reader to understand that some things are more complicated, are deep rooted and take more time to resolve. Rise of the Rebels is such an empowering book with strong, flawed, yet loveable characters that you will be rooting for throughout.

Again, as with book one, the action is fast and you are left desperate to keep reading to know what's happening next. If you've already read book 1 you must read this one and I was delighted to see that there will be a book 3 in 2024!

My hopes were high after reading The Academy of the Sun and wow! Those hopes were realised and more! This is a thrilling sequel. Believable yet fantastical in the best way. The characters are so well drawn. The action and adventure builds and builds. A page turning, adrenalin rush of a book with real heart and love running through it like a seam of gold. I’m already recommending it to children in school and eagerly look forward to briefly clutching, then inevitable loaning out, the physical book once I have it in my hands! What a winner!

This is becoming one of my favourite middle grade series. I love the range of characters and how much each one is able to develop throughout the story while a whole load of adventure is going on as well. I cannot wait for the next instalment of this series,