War Girls

by Tochi Onyebuchi

Paperback, 2020

Status

Available

Call number

813.6

Publication

Razorbill (2020), Edition: Reprint, 480 pages

Description

In 2172, when much of the world is unlivable, sisters Onyii and Ify dream of escaping war-torn Nigeria and finding a better future together but are, instead, torn apart.

User reviews

LibraryThing member NadineC.Keels
Wow. A story with a thousand parts to clench and twist your heart, maybe even break it.

Granted, science fiction isn't my go-to or most-read genre, and some of the more technical or science-y scenes would lose me, sometimes even during the action. (I'm not exactly sure how to word that.) Also, I
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just found a lot of the novel to be rather slow, with scenes taking too long to get where they were going. Even while the climax was spectacular, it seems the stretch after that went on too long. It's almost like the story had too much of an ending before getting to the ending.

Don't know yet if I'll check out the sequel, but it's great to come across diverse fiction in spaces that could use more of it.
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LibraryThing member bookbrig
If you're in the mood for action packed sci-fi with intricate world building and real world parallels you should absolutely pick this up. It's got amazing mech fights, fascinating and heartbreaking interpersonal stuff, and wonderfully complex teen girls. Also it's set during a civil war, so the
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violence feels guttingly realistic at times (hi, when you get to the part with roses call me if you are also VERY UPSET).

My favorite bit is the first of the 3 segments, as I got to know the main characters and learn about the technology and world. I particularly love the balletic and cinematic way Onyebuchi writes the mech fights and the other battles, giving the story a hectic and overwhelming feel during those scenes. For my taste, some of the later parts a little slow after the opening action, but ymmv depending on how you like your sci-fi. I also have some spoilery thoughts about frustrations with a few characters' motivations, if you do read this and want to talk!

Finally, read the author's note. I knew so little about the actual history that inspired this story, so I'm planning to read several of the non-fiction titles referenced in the note.
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LibraryThing member rgruberexcel
RGG: Science fiction set in a future Nigeria / Biafra civil war. Powerful fighting scenes, weapon technology don't overwhelm the real emotional toal of war on humans. Interesting companion to Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone. Some implicit romance between some of the war girls. Reading Interest:
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13-YA.
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LibraryThing member managedbybooks
This was such a good book! I've never read anything like this before and I really loved the author's writing style. I was completely immersed in the plot and I felt all sorts of emotions over the course of the book. I'm really excited to see what else this author comes up with because I'm going to
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remember this reading experience for a long time. The way the author seamlessly wove factual Nigerian history into the narrative was so well done and it inspired me to research the Nigerian Civil War that took place in the 1960's. The author's note gives a very good explanation of the basics for those who are going into this book with little knowledge of the history behind it, so I highly recommend reading that first if you're confused!
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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
With the news of Gaza echoing around this read it may have suffered from not being read at the right time for me, but I failed to connect with the characters; I mean, honestly, there are still lies and claims made in Ireland about our civil war that just passed it's centenary, so I'm here for
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ambiguity and messes but I just didn't engage with the characters. My age may also be a factor, this is a YA book.

We meet two girls who are sisters in all but blood and they both are fighting in the revitalised war between Biafra and Nigeria, in 2172, where parts of the earth are a nuclear wasteland, where it's eerily similar to today (but with better tech) and a lot of the class and race politics are still set stonelike in the present.

It was interesting but I really didn't have an interest in reading the preview for the next one. With someone else this might have been a better read but it was just not me.
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Awards

Locus Award (Finalist — Young Adult Novel — 2020)
Children's Africana Book Award (Honor Book — Older Readers — 2020)
ALA Rainbow Book List (Selection — 2021)
Nommo Award (Shortlist — 2020)

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2019-10-15

Physical description

480 p.; 8.25 inches

ISBN

0451481690 / 9780451481696
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