*Please note that this event is now sold out*

Full of action, magic and eye-catching comic book-style illustrations, Maria's new novel Kòkú Àkànbí And The Heart Of Midnight is a thrilling tale of ancient tribes, dangerous demons and vengeful mermaids. 

This hour-long, interactive in-screen event will feature a reading of an extract from the book by the author and a conversation with Maria about what inspired her to write her first novel for young people.

Maria will touch on themes such as the use of West African Mythology in her book, how it tackles themes of identity and belonging and what motivated her to create a character that is coming to terms with an illness (sickle cell anaemia). She will also discuss how she worked with artist Simone Douglas to bring the characters to life through the stunning illustrations featured in the book.

There will also be a Q&A so students (and teachers!) can put their own questions to Maria.

The story of Kòkú Àkànbí starts when thirteen year-old city kid Koku accidentally releases a demon on a trip to the British Museum. As punishment, his uncle sends him to Olori, the West African land of origins, for the summer. Koku thinks life can't get any worse - his sickle cell anaemia has always left him feeling like an outsider, and now he's being parcelled off to a country he barely remembers.

However, when Koku arrives in Olori, he finds himself caught in a war between powerful magical tribes trying to destroy the night and the magical creatures who need it, forever. As the last living descendent of the darkness-controlling Olókun tribe, Koku is the only one who can stop the fight… 

Maria Motúnráyọ̀ Adébísí is a University of Oxford graduate. As part of her degree she focused on post-colonial literature from Nigeria and West Africa, and on graduating she realised that she wanted to write a novel that would speak to children straddling British and African identities and make them proud of both. 

Thanks to local bookshop Round Table Books, you can order pre-order signed copies of the book to collect on the day and take home for the special price of £7.20 each (10% off the RRP). Details of how to pre-order copies for your students and/or school library will be sent you upon booking tickets for the author event.

Want to introduce your students to their local library? Book a slot for your class to the fantastic West Norwood Library, find out about how they can borrow books and get their own library card to take home with them. The library is in the same building as the cinema and will be offering school tours for 30mins before and after the event. Limited tour spaces available - more information will be sent to you upon booking tickets for the author event.

Dark Matter is a collaborative marketing agency focused on amplifying Black voices in film and literature. They help film studios, cinemas and publishers share stories via authentic, culturally inclusive outreach campaigns, partnerships, events. Find out more at www.darkmatteragency.co.uk