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Kariba

Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Kariba is an African fantasy-adventure graphic novel inspired by the mythology of the Zambezi River and the history of the Kariba Dam. It follows Siku, the daughter of the Great River Spirit Nyaminyami, who has been raised by her human father, Tongai. As a great dam displaces the Shonga people, Siku's water-manipulating powers grow uncontrollably. When her father disappears while seeking a cure for her, Siku embarks on a dangerous journey with Amedeo, the son of the dam's chief engineer, through forests, ruins, and peril, discovering hidden truths and facing forces seeking to exploit her. With the fate of her people at stake, she must embrace her destiny and the ritual of rumuko to restore balance to the Zambezi.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for children aged 10 to 14 who enjoy myth-inspired fantasy and adventurous graphic novels rich in African culture and environmental themes.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Age range 10 to 14

The daughter of a river god, raised by a human father and bound to a tragic destiny. An African fantasy-adventure graphic novel inspired by the mythology of the Zambezi River and the history of the Kariba Dam, one of the largest dams ever constructed.

From the director of Aau's Song, a Star Wars: Visions film from Lucasfilm, and the director of the 2023 NYICFF award-winning The Smeds and the Smoos.

Siku has always called the Zambezi River her home. She understands the water - and strangely enough, it seems to understand her too, bending to her will and coming to her aid in times of need. But things are changing on the river - a great dam is being built, displacing thousands of Shonga people - and things are changing in Siku, too, as her ability to manipulate water grows out of control, and visions of a great serpent pull her further from reality and her loving father, Tongai.

When Tongai ventures to the Kariba Dam to find a cure for Siku and never returns, she sets off to find him with the help of Amedeo, the young son of Kariba's chief engineer. Together, they traverse elephant graveyards, rugged jungles, and ancient ruins, outrunning pirates, bootleggers, and shape-shifting prophets ready to use Siku to their own advantage. But Siku soon discovers that her father has been shielding a terrible secret: Siku is actually the daughter of the Great River Spirit, Nyaminyami, and the only way to bring about the necessary rumuko - a ritual which has brought balance to the Zambezi for centuries - is for Siku to give up the only life she's ever known.

With the future of the Shonga resting on her shoulders, Siku must journey to the source of the river to understand the ancient power hidden within her.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781946395825

Publisher: Catalyst Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 19 October 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Catalyst Books

Illustration: Full colour, all pages (graphic novel format)

Contributors:

  • Created by Daniel Clarke
  • Created by James Clarke
  • Created by Daniel Snaddon

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Width: 165.0mm

Height: 254.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 230

About the Author

Daniel Clarke is a Cape Town-based artist working in animation, film and illustration. He started his career in animation in 2008 at Triggerfish Animation Studios, a collaboration that has lasted up until today and has seen him act as Production Designer and Art director on projects such as the feature filmKhumba, BBC'sStick ManandSnail and the Whale Daniel has worked as an illustrator and art director for international feature films such asChronicle(Josh Trank, 2012);The Giver(Philip Noyce, 2014); andChappie Daniel recently directed Aau's Song, a Star Wars: Visionsfilm from Lucasfilm, available on Disney+ in May 2023.

James Clarke was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and educated at the University of Cape Town, where he studied history and literature and completed his Masters in Creative Writing as a Harry Crossley Fellow.In 2016, he was the South Africa finalist in fiction for the PEN International New Young Voices Award.Karibais his first graphic novel collaboration.

Daniel Snaddonis an artist, illustrator, and film director of Scottish-South African and Chinese-Australian descent, who grew up in Nelspruit, a short drive away from the Kruger National Park. He has worked in the animation and film industries for fourteen years, best known for his work with Triggerfish Animation Studios and with Magic Light Pictures' animated BBC Christmas specials. Among these, Daniel served as animation supervisor on the Academy Award nominated 'Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes', co-director on the BAFTA nominated 'Stick Man', and as director on both the Annie award winning 'The Snail and the Whale' and the International Emmy winning 'Zog'. Daniel's most recent work, his fourth Magic Light Pictures Christmas special, 'The Smeds and the Smoos', based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (authors ofThe Gruffalo), was awarded the Audience Award at the NewYork International Children's Film Festival in March 2023.Daniel served as the founding director of CTIAF, South Africa's premiere animation festival, for 4 years.

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