Ms. Hen reviews Remote Control

 

Remote Control

Nnedi Okorafor

Tordotcom Books

2020

Ms. Hen decided to read this novel, because she had read another by this author recently, NOOR, and wanted more. This novel is very different in the way that it is a fable or a fairy tale, and is very short. Ms. Hen read this quickly.

This novel is about a young girl named, Sankofa, known as the adopted child of the Angel of Death. She has powers that others do not understand. She can glow green, and she cannot touch technology, because she will break it. She travels to towns in Ghana where she is invited into people's houses, but everyone is afraid of her.

She received her power from a seed. Her family and entire town died because of her, but she didn't understand why. She is alone in the world, and wants to go back home, and when she goes home, her town is transformed. 

This novel is written like a fable. It's about a girl who is alone, and she wants to be accepted. Some of this novel reminded Ms. Hen of stories of witch hunts. People do not understand Sankofa; they drive her out, and try to kill her. Other aspects remind her of the story of the Midas touch, where the characters turns everything into gold by touching it. This is similar, but instead of turning things to gold, Sankofa breaks them, or she kills people.

Ms. Hen liked the simple way this novel is written. It's almost like a children's book, except adult issues are discussed. Ms. Hen admires the writing style.

Ms. Hen recommends this novel, but the reader has to be prepared for something weird. When she first started reading it, she wasn't into it, because her head was still swimming with the previous novel she read. That happens sometimes, when her head is so full, that it needs to take a break. REMOTE CONTROL packs a punch, but be ready to travel to a strange place.