Kòkú Àkànbí and the Heart of Midnight is a fast-paced adventure straddling two worlds, two identities and two sides of a magical war battling for control of the night. When 13 year-old orphan Kòkú accidentally releases a demon on a trip to the British Museum, he is sent to Olori for the summer – his West African birthplace where his mother died in war. It’s the last place he wants to go but Uncle Tunji won’t change his mind.
What follows is a wonderfully exciting fantasy celebrating British and African identities. Magical tribes, dangerous jungles, a powerful talisman and sidekicks with stories all their own combine to bring this unique story to life.
Author Maria Motúnráyọ̀ Adébísí honours West African mythology making it accessible and so engaging for children across the world. She empowers even more children through representation in the story with Kòkú’s sickle cell anaemia. With a voice quite different from other middle grade novels, this is a story that will appeal to so many readers age 9+!
Which character from Kòkú Àkànbí and the Heart of Midnight are you?
Click here to take the quiz and find out.
I’m Kòkú!
Don’t miss the rest of the blog tour with more details about this exciting debut novel from Maria Motúnráyọ̀ Adébísí
Thank you to Hachette Children’s Books and Lucy Clayton for inviting me to take part!
Follow these links to find out more or purchase on-line:
Bookshop.org:
Amazon:
Books by Kate Heap:
Scope for Imagination 