Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms

Gr 3-7–Percy Jackson fans, rejoice! Imagine a magical book whose pages come to life to show memories of events from the land of one’s ancestors. Cameron grew up reading The Book of Chidani, and now finds himself transported through its pages to the fabled kingdom of Nigeria, home of the Igbo people. It’s full of wondrous creatures, such as humanlike fish, the mondao, who wear gold chains and sunbathe, and deeply loyal gryphons. But it is also home to the mmo, spirits of the dead who are trapped in limbo due to the traumatic nature of their deaths. The ancestral homeland holds powerful lessons about survival as well as plenty of questions about the harm that was inflicted on its people. Cameron is a true Descendant, trained in the art of Dambe, tasked with recovering Queen Ramala’s ring, crown, and scepter, lost to a bargain with the gods to protect the Igbo people from enslavers. But Cameron soon realizes that the fated role of Descendant may come at great cost. Teachers might want to use a character map to help students develop a clear understanding of who’s who in this epic mythological adventure. Perry has a gift for creating dialogue and writing fast-paced, suspenseful scenes that will both enchant readers and leave them wincing in empathy. Cliff-hanger endings abound that will have students begging for more. Devoted readers of this genre will want to dive into this adventure and savor it alone, but it is also perfect for a class read-aloud.