Serwa Boateng's Guide to Witchcraft and Mayhem

August 1, 2023
When a 12-year-old Slayer-in-training finds herself on the other side of the supernatural divide, her complicated family history might lead to answers--or to the end of everything she loves. When Ghanaian American Serwa Boateng learns she's half obayifo--a wielder of black magic--after having dedicated herself to the other side of the Akan supernatural spectrum, the prospect of controlling the contradictory forces within her seems impossible. Still, Auntie Effi, who is now Serwa's only support system, believes that her one-of-a-kind union of black magic and divine wisdom is the key to freeing Serwa's grandmother, who has been trapped for decades due to tragic events. In this sequel, all the connections that Serwa relied on and all the secrets she learned about magic and mythology are flipped on their heads. When she sets out to gain intel from Declan Amankwah, a young rival Slayer, her realization that she's been in denial of how cute this boy is further upsets everything, making her allegiances even more complicated. Serwa continues to be a humorous narrator and an accessible guide to life, reluctant middle school crushes, the joys of tasting mumbo sauce for the first time, and return trips to the underworld of Asamando. Joyful, unexpected reunions give Serwa firmer footing for a high-stakes deal with Owuo, the god of death, suggesting a lot more is in store for this headstrong hero. Family means everything in this thrilling, heart-wrenching sequel. (author's note, glossary, Adinkra dictionary) (Adventure. 10-13)

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Starred review from September 1, 2023
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* This sequel to Brown's explosive Ghanaian contemporary fantasy brings all the action and heart of the first book and turns it up to 11. Serwa's growing pains have only increased since the discovery of her true lineage, and she must battle not only against the agency she's always wanted to join but also with who and what she is and everything she's ever been taught. This struggle keeps Serwa extremely relatable. As she learns to control her new powers, she's going through vampire puberty and human puberty, too, with all the necessary raging emotions (including a first crush on her most hated rival). And while most of us may not be vampire hunters who just found out they're half vampire, many understand how it feels to be caught between two worlds, to not know who you really are, to feel betrayed by the people you trusted most, and, above all, to question the beliefs you've always held. The themes of friendship are as strong and heartfelt here as in the first book, but it's the burgeoning relationship between Serwa and her aunt, once her sworn enemy, that really speaks to the message of the story, which is beautifully related in the author's note: "I challenge anyone who reads this book to ask themselves exactly who gets to decide what makes another person a monster and why."

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