Chibundu Onuzo was born in Lagos, Nigeria but moved to England as a teenager. She signed the deal for her first book, the Betty Trask Award-winning The Spider King's Daughter, at nineteen. Her second book, Welcome to Lagos, was published in 2016 and in 2018 she was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Chibundu's most recent novel for adults, Sankofa, was an October 2021 pick for the Reese Witherspoon Book Club. Mayowa and the Sea of Words is her debut children's novel.

"Joyful and truly original" --Katherine Rundell, author of IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES

"A future classic that fizzes with originality, pulses with compassion and calls for us to use our power for good. When it arrives, I will be jumping on the sequel with my whole heart" --A.F. Steadman, author of the SKANDAR series

"Beautiful storytelling. I love the unique concept, and the vivid, exciting setting made this a joy to read. Mayowa is someone I can't wait to spend more time with" --Clare Weze, author of THE LIGHTNING CATCHER and THE STORM SWIMMER

"An imaginative series opener that will warm readers' hearts." --Kirkus Reviews

"Onuzo has crafted an exhilarating fantasy tale" --Financial Times

"[A] gleeful children's debut from Onuzo. . . . [A] winsome trilogy launch." --Publishers Weekly

"Inventive and heartfelt, this novel explores race, empathy, and social change in a way young readers can grasp." --Booklist

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Pub date: 2026-02-17

Length: 288 pages