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26 December 2024
Teen Librarian

The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko

Book Cover of The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko
The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko is a super cool book about a girl named Small Sade. She has vitiligo and a disability, and she wants to find work and be independent. She goes to a magical city called Oluwan where she learns that she has a special power called "Curse Eating." This power lets her change people's fates by doing certain cleaning rituals. Sade starts working at an inn with lots of secrets, and she meets the Crocodile God, who's really scary and famous in stories. The book is about Sade learning to be strong, finding out who she really is, and how she makes choices that change everything. It's all about power, not judging people, and learning to be brave!
The book is really well-written and makes you think about important stuff. Jordan Ifueko creates an amazing, magical world, but also talks about real things like fairness and how we make choices. Sade’s journey is super interesting because she learns to accept who she is and how powerful she can be. The story has a great mix of emotional moments and exciting action, so it keeps you hooked the whole time!
The idea of curse-eating is really cool and makes the story stand out in a big way. It’s not just a part of the plot, but it also shows how Sade takes charge of her own life and changes the fates of others. It’s such a unique concept, and it really helps show how powerful she becomes as she learns to use her gift. The way curse-eating works is super interesting and adds a lot of depth to the story. Plus, the city of Oluwan is really memorable, too. It's full of magic, but also has a big contrast between the rich and poor, which makes it feel real and complicated. The social differences in Oluwan make Sade’s journey even more important and give the story a lot of meaning. All of these elements together really make the book unforgettable and make you think about the choices people make in the world.
Reviewed by Kemi K., Varina
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