Scan barcode
therearenobadbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Very fun main character. He has the best, hilarious thoughts. The cover of this book is amazing and makes a great collectible. Can't wait for the next volume.
Themes explored: loss of kin, dealing with grief, Ghanaian lore, mythology, gods. Environmental issues, ASL, struggling with society's normalized prejudice towards race and impairment. Lots of action, Amazon props. The humor is my favorite part of the author's style.
It's hard to put down. I hope this becomes a movie. Audio is awesome too.)
The Gods are keen on destroying humans because they are destroying Mother Earth's gift to them. Kwame and amazing sidekicks join a quest to save humanity, learning valuable lessons as they go.
(P.S. Love Woo)
Will continue to collect this series.
Themes explored: loss of kin, dealing with grief, Ghanaian lore, mythology, gods. Environmental issues, ASL, struggling with society's normalized prejudice towards race and impairment. Lots of action, Amazon props. The humor is my favorite part of the author's style.
It's hard to put down. I hope this becomes a movie. Audio is awesome too.)
The Gods are keen on destroying humans because they are destroying Mother Earth's gift to them. Kwame and amazing sidekicks join a quest to save humanity, learning valuable lessons as they go.
(P.S. Love Woo)
Will continue to collect this series.
readingwithtemperance's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Kwame Crashes the Underworld Truly had it all. This book was chopped full of adventure, magic, friendship, and Ghanaian mythology. It's main message focused on grief. How it can be all consuming and such a tough thing to process. But ultimately how we can accept/live alongside it.
The Ghanaian Underworld was such a fantastic setting. Each section of it posing a new trial for our heroes. Me personally, I really loved the giant cows and of course Woo.
There was so many different layers to the villains. Each of them in the midst of their own grief. I love how the author showed how this emotion can manifest in different ways; denial, anger, and depression. It really added depth.
I was also a big fan of the deaf/ASL representation. And how ASL was used as a tool on several occasions throughout the story. Autumn is such an incredible friend and warrior!
I must say I am so thoroughly impressed with this debut. And the narrator did such a fantastic job! This book is so incredibly engaging. I was completely wrapped up in it. I'm excited to see what Craig Kofi Farmer cones up with next! But seriously, more Kwame please and thank you.
The Ghanaian Underworld was such a fantastic setting. Each section of it posing a new trial for our heroes. Me personally, I really loved the giant cows and of course Woo.
There was so many different layers to the villains. Each of them in the midst of their own grief. I love how the author showed how this emotion can manifest in different ways; denial, anger, and depression. It really added depth.
I was also a big fan of the deaf/ASL representation. And how ASL was used as a tool on several occasions throughout the story. Autumn is such an incredible friend and warrior!
I must say I am so thoroughly impressed with this debut. And the narrator did such a fantastic job! This book is so incredibly engaging. I was completely wrapped up in it. I'm excited to see what Craig Kofi Farmer cones up with next! But seriously, more Kwame please and thank you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Death
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
amrsalehduat's review against another edition
5.0
There isn’t a single thing I didn’t absolutely love about Kwame Crashes the Underworld. I’m always on the lookout for fantasy inspired by African culture so I was very excited when I read that Craig Kofi Farmer’s debut was inspired by Ghanaian mythology. This story didn’t just live up to my already high expectations, it lived up to the title and crushed them.
The story explores important themes like grief, hope, identity, family, and culture. I was really happy that Farmer didn’t shy away from these topics in his MG debut but gave them the attention and care they deserved. So much in fact that even I, an adult, found the way these topics were handled in the story to be inspiring. So, hats off to the author.
But on the other hand, this is a very funny story. I found myself constantly laughing out loud. There is a line specifically that Kwame’s Mom said in the early chapters that had me rolling.
Speaking of which, Kwame was an awesome protagonist. As a son of immigrants myself, I was able to identify with his struggles since I lived through them myself when I was his age. But I also loved his resourcefulness, adaptability, intelligence, and courage. Really, he was just the type of protagonist one couldn’t help but get behind.
Autumn, however, was the highlight of the story for me. Her friendship with Kwame was so wholesome and inspiring. But to add to that, she was an incredible person in her own right, often dictating the narrative herself as she found her own strength. I really appreciate that the book didn’t treat her as the protagonist’s sidekick but rather as her own person with her own story that is just as important and valid.
The mythology aspect of the novel was fantastic. I wasn’t quite familiar with Ghanaian mythology, hence my search for stories inspired by African cultures. But quite honestly Kwame Crashes the Underworld inspired me to research this rich culture on my own. I found the integration into the story to be very well executed and I wasn’t lost for even a second. Quite the opposite. I was constantly looking forward to the new thing I was going to learn.
Kwame Crashes the Underworld is an incredible debut by Craig Kofi Farmer that will leave you screaming “woooooo!”
laileanah's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Craig Kofi Farmer, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley.
The narrator of this audiobook is Joshua Quinn. Joshua did an amazing job with this from the accents to the emotion in the voice during the narration. I truly enjoyed this narration.
This is a delightful middle grade adventure fantasy set in Ghanaian mythology. I am largely unfamiliar with Ghanaian mythological figures so this was a true treat. The representation in this felt organic and as a disabled reader I appreciated seeing a disabled character go on a heroes journey. The normalization of the kids use of sign language was wonderfully handled and didn't impact the flow of the narrative at all.
I'm a grandmother and I loved that this highlights the important role that grandparents can play in the life of their grandkids. I can not wait until my own grandkids are old enough for us to read this together.
I demand a sequel to this story🥰
Thank you to Craig Kofi Farmer, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
The narrator of this audiobook is Joshua Quinn. Joshua did an amazing job with this from the accents to the emotion in the voice during the narration. I truly enjoyed this narration.
This is a delightful middle grade adventure fantasy set in Ghanaian mythology. I am largely unfamiliar with Ghanaian mythological figures so this was a true treat. The representation in this felt organic and as a disabled reader I appreciated seeing a disabled character go on a heroes journey. The normalization of the kids use of sign language was wonderfully handled and didn't impact the flow of the narrative at all.
I'm a grandmother and I loved that this highlights the important role that grandparents can play in the life of their grandkids. I can not wait until my own grandkids are old enough for us to read this together.
I demand a sequel to this story🥰
Thank you to Craig Kofi Farmer, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
theladydoor's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0