War Girls

By Tochi Onyebuchi

Book Overview

In a postapocalyptic Nigeria plagued by violence and political unrest, two sisters dream of peace, hope, and a future together. They're willing to fight an entire war to get there.

"Onyebuchi has created a fascinating futuristic Nigeria and a plot filled with left hooks and upper cuts."--The New York Times Book Review

"High action and high drama in equal measure . . . Perfect for fans of Paolo Bacigalupi's novels and the Pacific Rim films."--School Library Journal

The year is 2172.

Climate change and nuclear disasters have rendered much of Earth unlivable. The lucky ones have escaped to newly formed space colonies, but those remaining are left to deal with the aftermath.

A civil war between Nigerians and Biafrans over mineral-rich land is wreaking havoc on the country. Battles are fought using flying, deadly robots, and soldiers are outfitted with bionic limbs and artificial organs meant to protect them from the harsh, radioactive environment. Survival has become the only way of life.

In a technologically advanced camp that serves as a refuge for former child soldiers and girls orphaned by the war, Onyii and her little sister, Ify, are largely protected from the fighting. But all that changes when Nigerian soldiers intercept a signal from them. A bomb is dropped. Their home is decimated. And Onyii and Ify are ripped apart, forced onto opposite sides of the conflict.

Four years later, the war rages on. Onyii has become a decorated solider for the rebellion, known as the Demon of Biafra. She is hell-bent on revenge. Ify is the most promising student at her STEM-based school in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria. She dreams of escaping to space. Both girls believe they will never see each other again. But then top-secret information is leaked. A mission goes wrong. Suddenly, reuniting might be within reach. But in their war-torn homeland, being together means risking everything.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451481674
• ISBN13: 9780451481672
• Release Date: October 2019
• Publisher: Razorbill
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 1.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 5.7" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Wow!

Set in the far distant future of 2172, two sisters are dreaming of more than the years long civil war that is all they have known. This story is a sci-fi set in a future version of Nigeria, but although it is set in the future, this story was actually inspired by the Nigerian Civil War which was in 1967. I loved so much stuff about this book! There can never be too many stories about sisters! I fell in love with Onyii and Ify, the main characters. Much of the sci-fi elements and world building felt fresh and were really well done. I did feel like the plot and pacing could have been polished a little bit. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to seeing more once the sequel comes out.

You should read it

The year is 2172. Climate change and nuclear disasters have rendered much of earth unlivable. Only the lucky ones have escaped to space colonies in the sky. In a war-torn Nigeria, battles are fought using flying, deadly mechs and soldiers are outfitted with bionic limbs and artificial organs meant to protect them from the harsh, radiation-heavy climate. Across the nation, as the years-long civil war wages on, survival becomes the only way of life. Two sisters, Onyii and Ify, dream of more. Their lives have been marked by violence and political unrest. Still, they dream of peace, of hope, of a future together. And they're willing to fight an entire war to get there. Acclaimed author Tochi Onyebuchi has written an immersive, action-packed, deeply personal novel perfect for fans of Nnedi Okorafor, Marie Lu, and Paolo Bacigalupi. How cool of a concept is that? I just recently got a copy of this and I'm so excited to read it.