Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

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Justification

This was recommended by GoodReads on a YA upcoming new release list. In addition, my favorite genre has always been fantasy, though I felt YA fantasy was in short supply when I was in middle and high school. The premise seemed interesting and I really love seeing diversity in fantasy.

Response

This book is beautiful. I finished it in just under 36 hours. It took that long because I worked and slept, and because it felt painful to let go of. I love fantasy because it should do exactly what Raybearer does--give the reader an opportunity to look into a world that is so unlike our own and escape, while still reminding us that there are terrible things that we can do something about.

(F) Fantasy books that are based on myths can be tricky, but Ifueko does it well. Very obviously, there are some West African influences, but ultimately, the world that Ifueko crafts is wholly original and intricately done. It was so easy to fall into Aritsar as if I'd known it all my life. There was an automatic familiarity, which for me, is the hallmark of great fantasy--the ease with which the reader can enter into the metaphorical pool of the fantasy world without getting caught up in trying to understand a new vocabulary. I think this is especially important in children's and YA fantasy novels because the made-up vocabulary can be such a deterrent to certain demographics, but is a helpful world-building tool. This was a joy to read and I found myself immensely disappointed that my visit to Aritsar was over.

(B) Using colonialist themes to criticize our society, we see the main character, Tarisai becomes a tool for her mother's plans of political uprising. I loved the way Ifueko utilized this to enhance the plot. Cultural erasure is not the main conflict but does add an element of realism to the book, as it feels like the attitudes of those Americans who believe that if you come here, you should always speak English and adapt to "our" ways. Ifueko uses these themes to drive the plot and the characters to action, and thus encourages the reader to remember that we have a choice to do better, regardless of what we learned in childhood. She writes "But my mother is part of me, Jeet. Just like your father is part of you. No, it isn't fair. No, we don't deserve the burdens our parents gave us. But we can't defeat the monsters we won't face." This was especially heartwrenching to read after Jeet and Tarisai had shared their stories and pain with one another--both of them on the margins of their circle because of 


Conclusion

Ifueko writes beautifully and is a master worldbuilder, on par with my favorite worldbuilding authors like Tolkien and Robert Jordan. The only concern I have is that there is a sexist undercurrent within the society of Aritsar (specifically where women rulers are concerned). The main character does fight the status quo, which is a great example for young people that we do not always have to go with the norms and can even change them. The other instance of concern was with the enslavement of Tarisai's father, which was for the sole purpose of creating her. It is not explicitly said, but her father is raped by her mother in order to create an embodied wish that can carry out the execution of another being. Again, it is not explicit, but definitely could be an issue with parents.

Citation

Ifueko, J. (2020). Raybearer. New York: Amulet Books.

Genre: Science-fiction/Fantasy