Akata Witch

How does Akata Witch explore questions of racial and ethnic identity? In your answer, you might consider other characters’ reactions to Sunny’s albinism or Sasha’s attitude toward his Black American identity. How are racial and ethnic identity approached from both a Lamb and Leopard perspective?

How does Okorafor use excerpts from the fictional text Fast Facts for Free Agents to reveal information about story and setting? What effect do these short excerpts have on the novel? Consider discussing possible impact on tone, setting, theme, character, or plot.

Sunny is a “free agent” in the Leopard world, a status that Fast Facts for Free Agents assumes as a negative. Is being a “free agent” an advantage or disadvantage to Sunny in the novel? Argue your answer using textual evidence.

How does the cultural value of education differ in the Lamb and Leopard worlds, and how does this affect the role of teachers and the practice of teaching in the novel? Use textual evidence in your answer, and consider both kinds of school that Sunny attends.

The word “akata” is considered a slur in some West African cultures. What does it mean to Sunny to be called that in the novel? Thinking about the novel’s themes and Sunny’s character growth, discuss reasons why Okorafor may have chosen to title her novel Akata Witch.

Sunny worries that she can’t tell her family about her Leopard Person identity. Analyze why Sunny is worried about always having to keep this side of her life secret, and the implications this has for her sense of self.

Analyze Black Hat Otokoto as an antagonist of this novel. What role does he play in the text? Consider his impact on theme, mood, conflict, and plot, particularly the climax of the novel. How important is his character in the end?

Books for young adult readers sometimes feature young protagonists who have very little adult guidance. What kind of guidance do the adult characters provide in Akata Witch? Are the relationships between young characters and adult characters positive, negative, or both? Explain your answer with specific examples from the text.