Sixteen-year-old Chela knows the drill: in the village of Tamboyon, only men are allowed to practice magic. She's surprised and frightened, then, when one night she receives a vision of a mysterious raven telling her that she will have to use her own magic to save her people, the Kipsigis. Chela doesn't understand: surely it's impossible for her to even have any magical powers, let alone wield them..?

She decides to go to the village council and confess to them what she has seen and heard. The wise men don't believe her, however, and want to punish her. When Chela is forced to apologize for something that isn't her fault, she can't deal with the injustice and feels a power growing inside her that she's never felt before - the power of the moon....

Before she knows what's happening, Chela is banished from the village and must roam the wilderness, assisted only by her best friends Kibelei and Chebet. Will she discover what magical powers are dormant within her and face the unknown dangers that threaten her people?

'The Call of the Raven' is a collaboration between Kenyan author Mercy Ngeno and Dutch author Jen Minkman, who have joined forces to write a magical young adult novel steeped in African influences and mythology.

Reserved for my review :)

Lovely narration of terrible events in history. I loved all the details that are managed in this short book without feeling it was unnecessary or taking away of the main storyline

Participants:

- Greenbadger
- Shepparm
-Arvores
- Penelopewanders

Off it went to Greenbadger, the first reader of this ray. Happy reading!

It's arrived, thank you!

A young adult fantasy based on African mythology, this is a hard-hitting story which doesn't hold back from confronting real world issues. When sixteen-year-old Chela is spoken to in a dream by a raven, she is told she must use magic to save her tribe, the Kipsigis. But in her tribe women are subordinate, and only men are allowed to use magic, so Chela and her friends are banished by the old men of the village council. Chela must overcome their opposition to save her village from invaders. It's a short book so doesn't go into any of the issues it covers in any depth, and mixes the region's difficult past with issues which are still being dealt with today, but it's still a well-told and enjoyable read.

Posted to Shepparm, next in the ray.

received today.

It was a well told book which touched on a lot of difficult issues in quite a sensitive way. I really enjoyed it.

Now being sent to Penelope Wanders. Who will pass it on to Arvores.

This was waiting for me when I got back from a short break further south (not too, too far from Arvores where I gather this travels next). I hope to get to it soon, thanks for sending!