Sticky Notes: Children of Blood & Bone

Howdy. Thanks for joining me for the first edition of Sticky Notes, a serial reader response blog for Young Adult Literature. Today's focus is Children of Blood & Bone (244 pages) by Tomi Adeyemi. This fantasy novel was a tour de force in 2018 when it was published. It was a #1 New York Times Bestseller, Hugo Award nominee (Best Novel), Nebula Award nominee, Andre Norton Award Finalist (SFWA), and finally labeled One of the Best Fantasy Books of All Time by Time Magazine. Phew, had to catch my breath after that.

Brief, No-Spoiler Summary

Set in the richly imagined land of Orïsha, Children of Blood & Bone follows Zelie, a teenage girl living in a world where magic has been violently erased and where those connected to that magic are brutally oppressed. When an unexpected opportunity to restore magic appears, Zelie is pulled into a dangerous quest that puts her on a collision course with the monarchy, her own grief, and the limits of her power.

The story blends epic fantasy stakes with deeply personal emotional arcs, weaving together magic, political violence, friendship, and resistance. It’s fast-paced, intense, and emotionally heavy in all the ways that work.

Why I Chose This Book

I am not sure why it took me this long to read given its many accolades, and also how much I love fantasy. I’ll say that again since its doubly true. I love fantasy. Full stop. Magic systems, quests, big worlds, all of it. But I realized that most of the fantasy I’ve read draws from European mythologies and traditions. I had very little exposure to African, Nigerian or even more specifically Yoruba culture, mythology and folklore traditions. That alone made this book feel important to me as a reader and as a future ELA teacher. I wanted to expand my own reading life beyond the defaults I’m used to. Also randomly, we are teaching A Raisin in the Sun in my 10th Grade ELA room, and I noticed that George Asagai, the love interest of Beneatha Younger, mentions he is Yoruba. I just love literary coincidences like that.

Teaching & Content Considerations

Thinking about with who and how I might include this book in my own classroom…This feels like a strong fit for older teens (11th–12th grade). Given the length, intensity, and themes, I’d be more likely to use this in small groups or as part of a choice-based book club rather than whole-class instruction.

Some themes and/or instructional opportunities that stood out to me:

• The Hero’s Journey: This book is a textbook example of the classic hero’s journey arc. It would be great for mapping story structure and tracing how Zelie’s character evolves over time.
• Culture of Power: The social hierarchy in Orïsha offers a powerful way to talk about who holds power, how it’s maintained, and who pays the cost. I’d absolutely want to contextualize this alongside modern conversations about power, oppression, and resistance.
• Parallel Character Plots: The shifting perspectives, especially between Zelie and Amari , invite strong discussions about privilege, agency, and moral choice.

Possible read aloud opportunities if I were focused on the Hero’s Journey:

• “It is not I that was meant to do this child.” (p. 92)
  This is a great example of the call to adventure in a hero’s journey and it frames Zelie’s role in the larger quest.
• “The admirals sword plunges through Lekan’s heart”(p. 183)
  This is a great example of “the ordeal” or false climax where the hero’s mentor falls.

Final Thoughts

I really loved this book. It’s gripping, suspenseful, and emotionally charged from start to finish. The pacing makes it hard to put down, but what really stuck with me were the characters. Zelie and Amari feel incredibly real as teens (full of anger, doubt, courage, and that constant tension between who they are and who the world expects them to be). That push-and-pull feels especially resonant for adolescent readers.

This book absolutely made me want to read more Nigerian and African-inspired fantasy. It opened a door to mythologies and storytelling traditions I haven’t spent enough time with, which feels exciting both personally and professionally. If this series is any indication, there’s a whole universe of fantasy out there that I’ve barely started to explore.

Tune in for more Sticky Notes. Next up is Nimona, by ND Stevenson.