Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi

FABER & FABER, £7.99 (EBOOK, £7.99) REVIEW BY PRUDENCE WADE

This is Akwaeke Emezi’s second YA novel, set in the same sci-fi universe as Pet. Bitter is a young orphaned artist who has survived abusive foster homes, and now lives in the safe creative school of Eucalyptus. Unfortunately, things aren’t quite as secure outside in the city of Lucille, where capitalist overlords rule over the poor citizens. Bitter tries to stay out of the demonstrations but soon gets drawn in. It’s a captivating book, with Emezi building a fully realised world full of injustice, and the sci-fi elements are quite terrifying and imaginative. It’s not always an easy read – Emezi doesn’t shy away from the realities of abuse and violence – but it’s important and moving.