MYSTERY OF THE KHAR CHULUU

Two kids with supernatural abilities fight to keep a potent stone away from an evil parent in this middle-grade adventure.

Ten-year-old Chul Sun is extraordinary, able to generate electromagnetic pulses and run at incredible speeds. His abusive, adoptive father in America, Thorium Dare, exploits the boy’s powers and forces him to steal precious items. But when Chul grabs a black onyx stone (a khar chuluu), he fears what Dare will do with its power—so he flees with the object. Chul quickly earns an unexpected ally in Anita Aminou, a tween who comes from a family with astonishing abilities. She can “plinch,” a gift that teleports the two youngsters to the Aminous’ camouflaged home in the Sahara. Though they’re safe there, Anita wants to defeat Dare on her own, mostly to show her judgmental ancestors that she’s worthy. The skilled girl manages to conjure and magically bind the Djinn of All Deserts (who’s also the book’s rather charming narrator). It’s a potentially dangerous move, but the Djinn can easily find Dare. Anita travels via magic carpet to Algiers to face the diabolical man and his bumbling goons, but Chul isn’t far behind. Readers of all ages will relish Whitlow’s smart tale starring two young, captivating protagonists. The descriptive prose is often lyrical, as when the Djinn hunts for someone: “I searched kitchens, sleeping chambers, hallways, ball rooms, and rooftop gardens. I searched barrios, tenements, glitzy boulevards, and the outskirts of ten thousand cities.” The brisk narrative churns out a few surprises, especially involving the khar chuluu, which, despite its unique power, Dare insists is a “key.” The characters’ arcs are engaging, from Chul and Anita’s developing friendship to the boy’s learning about his biological parents. But the villains, while entertaining, are a meager threat since Anita has the Djinn at her beck and call. Still, this gripping tale displays real series potential.

Charismatic, superpowered adolescents electrify a riveting tale.