Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun
by Tọlá Okogwu
Black Panther meets X-Men in this “fast-paced, action-packed, and empowering” (A. F. Steadman, New York Times bestselling author of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief ) middle grade adventure about a British Nigerian girl who learns that her Afro hair has psychokinetic powers—perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers, The Marvellers, and Rick Riordan!
Onyeka has a lot of hair—the kind that makes strangers stop in the street and her peers whisper behind her back. At least she has Cheyenne, her best friend, who couldn’t care less what other people think. Still, Onyeka has always felt insecure about her vibrant curls…until the day Cheyenne almost drowns and Onyeka’s hair takes on a life of its own, inexplicably pulling Cheyenne from the water.
At home, Onyeka’s mother tells her the shocking Onyeka’s psychokinetic powers make her a Solari, one of a secret group of people with superpowers unique to Nigeria. Her mother quickly whisks her off to the Academy of the Sun, a school in Nigeria where Solari are trained. But Onyeka and her new friends at the academy soon have to put their powers to the test as they find themselves embroiled in a momentous battle between truth and lies… (Goodreads synopsis)
How Self-Paced Book Club Classes Work
Participation in the self-paced book club includes immediate access to a set of resources and activities to be completed at your own pace.
Families are welcome to use as many or as few of the suggested resources and activities as they'd like to fit their interest and schedules.
Book Club Materials
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Suggested Reading Schedule
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Reading Guides with Comprehension Questions (PDF)
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Vocabulary and Reading Activities
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Writing/Multimodal Project Prompts
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Video Discussion of the Book
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Final Project Feedback Rubrics
Ages:
10-13
Content Note:
This book is generally appropriate for tween readers.
Racism, anti-Black hair sentiments, loss of family member, emotional trauma, peer conflict, bullying, institutional abuses of power, child soldiers.
Supplies:
- A copy of the book Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tọlá Okogwu
- (ISBN: 9781665912617).
Used and borrowed copies will work just fine! If your learner is going to participate in final projects and reading guides, I recommend having a physical copy even if they primarily read the ebook or audiobook. (Dayla Learning Bookshop Link) - PDF reader
- Access to printer recommended
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