To understand why Amari stole the scroll in Adeyemi’s young adult novel Children of Blood and Bone we must first understand the importance of it. The scroll brings back magic to anyone who touches it; this is important in Orïsha, where the king continues to oppress all those who possess magic (the maji) while keeping the nobles (or kosidán) in places of power.

Amari, the daughter and second child of King Saran, overhears her father discussing a recently discovered ancient scroll that can be used to turn divîners (someone with magical blood) into maji. To test the newfound scroll, the king forces Amari’s best friend and handmaid, Binta, to touch the scroll. The test is successful, and the scroll awakens hidden magic within the maid, but before she is able to become fully magical, the king has her killed. Overcome with loss and grief, Amari steals the scroll from her father and his guards before it can be destroyed and runs away with her brother.