War Girls

In a postapocalyptic Nigeria plagued by violence and political unrest, two sisters dream of peace, hope, and a future together. They’re willing to fight an entire war to get there.

“Onyebuchi has created a fascinating futuristic Nigeria and a plot filled with left hooks and upper cuts.”—The New York Times Book Review

“High action and high drama in equal measure . . . Perfect for fans of Paolo Bacigalupi’s novels and the Pacific Rim films.”—School Library Journal

The year is 2172.

Climate change and nuclear disasters have rendered much of Earth unlivable. The lucky ones have escaped to newly formed space colonies, but those remaining are left to deal with the aftermath.

A civil war between Nigerians and Biafrans over mineral-rich land is wreaking havoc on the country. Battles are fought using flying, deadly robots, and soldiers are outfitted with bionic limbs and artificial organs meant to protect them from the harsh, radioactive environment. Survival has become the only way of life.

In a technologically advanced camp that serves as a refuge for former child soldiers and girls orphaned by the war, Onyii and her little sister, Ify, are largely protected from the fighting. But all that changes when Nigerian soldiers intercept a signal from them. A bomb is dropped. Their home is decimated. And Onyii and Ify are ripped apart, forced onto opposite sides of the conflict.

Four years later, the war rages on. Onyii has become a decorated solider for the rebellion, known as the Demon of Biafra. She is hell-bent on revenge. Ify is the most promising student at her STEM-based school in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria. She dreams of escaping to space. Both girls believe they will never see each other again. But then top-secret information is leaked. A mission goes wrong. Suddenly, reuniting might be within reach. But in their war-torn homeland, being together means risking everything.

Tochi Onyebuchi is a writer based in Connecticut. He holds a BA from Yale, an MFA in screenwriting from Tisch, and a JD from Columbia Law School. Tochi is the author of Beasts Made of Night and Crown of Thunder.