Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor

     I just finish reading this book yesterday, and I enjoyed this read a great deal. This story is about the main character Onyesonwu who is the product of a brutal rape. Ms. Okorafor gives voice to the issues women face surrounding being violated. Onyesonwu was born in the desert, but her mother moved the two of them to Jwahir.  In this town, both mother and daughter, are a shame since a child was born through a violent act.  Onyesonwu is ewu because she is daughter of a brutal Nuru general, and her mother is from the Okeke people.  In addition, ewu are children of rape who will live a life of violence due to the nature of their birth.  There is a long standing strife between Nuru and Okeke people. Nuru consider Okeke to be slaves and worthy of the abuse they suffer.
  As a result of her lineage, Onyesonwu is a sorcerer by birth since her abilities were handed down to her by her father Daib.  Her abilities begin to show themselves by certain events that happen to her without her knowledge until she relentlessly convinces Aro to teach her how to control her abilities and teach her the Mystic Points.  Aro, at first refuses, he refuses because she is a girl; this is another issue Ms. Okorafor reveals how girls and women are viewed as non-important and treated as slaves. One of Onyesonwu abilities she taps into a great deal is shape shifting into a vulture; the symbolism in the vulture dealing with the element of air; in addition, it is the symbolism of the mind, thoughts, and intelligence.
    Another important issue Ms. Okorafor deals with the concerning young girls is circumcision.  In the town of Jwahir, Onyesonwu befriends Binti, Diti, & Luyu....Even though she does not have to, she decides to take part in the Eleventh Rite along with Binti, Diti, & Luyu....She takes part of the Eleven Rite primarily to remove the shame from her and her mother Najeeba because she was a product of rape. The Eleventh Rite is a process were young girls have a part of their clitoris removed to prevent them from deriving pleasure from sexual intercourse--as a result, this causes extreme pain during sexual intercourse--it is truly a barbaric act inflicted upon young girls.
     In order to exact revenge on her father for his terrible deeds, Onyesonwu envision she must face death to right the wrongs inaugurated by Daib.