Thank you to DAW for sending me a copy of She Who Knows in exchange for an honest review.
She Who Knows by Nnedi Okorafor
When 13-year-old Najeeba receives The Call to travel the Salt Roads, she’s the first girl to do so. This unprecedented event occurs without fanfare or protest as she departs with her father and brothers to mine salt at the Dead Lake.
For Najeeba, the journey is a dream come true. Filled with travel by camel, open skies and time with her family, this is the chance to see a place she has only heard about. However, her presence on the road brings unforeseen changes that will alter her family’s life forever.
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Nnedi Okorafor is an expert in complex world building and Africanfuturism, and She Who Knows builds on what she created in Who Fears Death in 2010. This novella is a prequel, but Okaorafor does a great job of introducing new readers, all things considered.
Poetic Writing Style
Like Okorafor’s other work, She Who Knows flawlessly blends West African culture, a post-apocalyptic world and small science fiction elements with the fantastical. I always enjoy the way this author combines new technology with elemental magic. Her writing style is poetic, and the story is steeped in myths and folklore that influence the characters’ daily lives.
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One of the most impactful elements of She Who Knows is the struggle between the expectations versus realities of gender norms and the role of women in a patriarchal society. Najeeba struggles to find herself in a world that doesn’t assign her much value. She’s curious and self-assured, pushing against every boundary she encounters. However, she must also reconcile her desire for acknowledgment and equality with the consequences of breaking societal rules. While it might not be fair, Najeeba’s nonconformity affects everyone around her.
Is It Worth a Read?
She Who Knows will appeal most to existing Okorafor fans. However, it’s also a great place for newcomers to start. Read this quick novella for an inventive, fast-paced journey of self-discovery.
She Who Knows comes out on August 20 and is available for preorder from your local independent bookstore or Bookshop.org.
TW: death, death of a parent, fire/fire injury, genocide, misogyny, murder, racism, rape, religious persecution, sexual harassment/violence, sexism, violence, war, xenophobia
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