Soni and the Life Drinkers by Shiko Nguru

What worked:

Soni and her friends, the Intasiimi Warriors, have superpowers that help them fight evil in the world. Soni blasts sound energy from her hands, Xirsi can talk to animals and is a genius at research, Mwikali is a seer, and Odwar has super strength. Two of them have already acquired Entasims, objects that amplify their powers, and a girl unexpectedly appears and gives Soni a bracelet. She says she’s a relative, and that the bracelet is Soni’s Entasim. It doesn’t work the way her friends’ Entasims did, so readers are left to wonder why not, and Soni assumes she doesn’t know how to activate it yet.

The Life Drinkers, or Takers, are trying to attain immortality by stealing years of life from Soni’s mentor, Mr. Lemayian. This makes the conflict personal and creates sympathetic emotions in readers. Soni and her friends don’t know how his life is being taken, but they realize the person must be close when it happens. This will cause readers to suspect almost every character they encounter, as they try to unravel the mystery. While this is happening, Mr. Lemayian is slowly wasting away and may only have a few days to live. It may be a prelude to an ultimate battle between good and evil.

The author artfully weaves elements from the Kenyan culture to add authenticity. The book opens with Soni and her dance team practicing for a Vunja Mifupa competition. The Intasimi Warriors snack on plantain chips, flavored milk, or mango juice. Mr. Lemayian greets the kids by saying “Karibu” or “Jambo”. The clothes and homes reflect what readers might find if they visit Nairobi. Evil creatures from folklore called shiqqs attack the warriors on multiple occasions and have different appearances; Mwikali is the only one who can see the true face of a shiqq.

What didn’t work as well:

Soni’s cousin gives her the bracelet, but Soni refers to the girl’s mother as her Evil Auntie. It never occurs to Soni and her friends that a gift from an evil aunt and a cousin she just meets might be a bad thing. Also, there was tension in the conflicts, but it didn’t reach the level of being suspenseful.

The final verdict:

The Intasimi Warriors will appeal to a middle-grade audience, and the inclusion of Kenyan culture makes it even better. I was expecting more from the conflicts, but I still recommend you check it out for yourself.