Book Week featuring author Nnedi Okorafor Thursday, October 25, 2018 | 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

McNamara Alumni Center

Book Week is the annual celebration of children’s books and authors organized at the University of Minnesota since 1941. The event attracts teachers, librarians, educators, students, and audiences passionate about young readers’ literacy. Over the past 77 years, Book Week has featured some of the most notable authors of children’s and YA literature, including Madeleine L’Engle, Kate DiCamillo, Christopher Paul Curtis, and Gene Luen Yang. Book Week is hosted by faculty and graduate students from the children’s literature program in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. The guest author’s books are available for sale and autographing.

2018 Book Week features author Nnedi Okorafor

Nigerian American writer and professor Nnedi Okorafor has incorporated Nigerian cosmology, creatures her mother told her about, and stories she overheard the elders tell in Nigeria, into her books and short stories. Despite the fact that her work is classified as speculative, it's actually not so easy to tell what's fact and what is fiction in her work. Nnedi Okorafor will discuss the inspirations behind her highly imaginative works of science fiction and fantasy and prove to you that "realistic" fiction has many faces.

Nnedi Okorafor is an international award-winning author of Africa-based science fiction and fantasy. Born in the United States to two Nigerian immigrant parents, she is known for weaving African culture into evocative settings, memorable characters, and wonder-filled plots. Nnedi’s books for the young audience include, among others, the Binti series, Akata Witch, The Shadow Speaker and Akata Warrior. She is currently the author of Black Panther comics in Marvel's latest series Wakanda Forever. Nnedi's World Fantasy Award winning novel Who Fears Death is currently adapted by HBO into a TV series produced by Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin.

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Event details:

5:30-6:15 p.m. Reception and Opening
6:15-7:00 p.m. Nnedi Okorafor, "Many Faces of Fiction"
7:00-7:30 p.m. Discussion and Q&A
7:30-8:30 p.m. Book signing