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A review by caoilo
Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms by Jamar J. Perry
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ), Bloomsbury Children's Books for an e-ARC for review.
If all your life you believed you were a normal child it might come as a shock that you and your friends get sucked into a portal into another world, a hidden place in West Africa known as Chidani. Well this is exactly what happened to Cameron Battle and his friends Zion and Aliyah.
Cameron quickly realizes this other world has something to do with the deaths of his parents. When they reach safety Cameron is asked to help save this, his ancestrally homeland, to do this Cameron would have to retrieve three objects that would save the Queen of the land and restore peace to not just Chidani but the rest of the world.
While Cameron feels this is his destiny he tries to convince Zion and Aliyah to return home, but as ever they respond by telling him they are all init together, good or bad.
Just like many other good Middle Grade books this work shows exactly what good friendship looks like. At once the reader is aware that there is a connection to the slave trade and how it was African slave came to be held and traded in the US. That these people (slaves) were treated horrendously. The writing gives some insight into the culture of West Africa as well as their legends and gods. It also hints that Cameron and Zion may be more than just friends which is were the LGBTQ+ comes in. Though I don't recall any other characters being members of the community.
I loved the feel of friendship this book gave, and that Aliyah was a strong character and not just a token "girl" of the group. The fact this had West African background was one of the reasons I picked it up and I was not disappointed. I found the descriptions so vivid most of the time I felt the urge to draw them but couldn't bring myself to put the book down. As a slow reader it would usually take me weeks to read a 300 page book, how ever I read this work in around four sittings.
The only things that I didn't particularly like are minute really. Knowing that Cameron and Zion's relationship is to become romantic, the fact they call each other brother is a bit wrong. I can't wait to see their relationship blossom but I wish they stuck to calling each other friends.
The other is that in one part of the book it is mentioned that Cameron is given utensils to eat with, with my limited circle of West African (Nigerian to be specific) acquaintances it seems tradition to eat with their hands when they are in their own home or back in their home country. Most eat with their right hand (as the left is considered dirty/rude) and only use cutlery when they are in other countries.
If you are looking for book with a friendship like Harry Potter, badies reminiscent of Lord of the Rings, a quest like both, POC characters and set in a hidden place like Wakanda this is for you 100%.
Do expect tears at the end.
If all your life you believed you were a normal child it might come as a shock that you and your friends get sucked into a portal into another world, a hidden place in West Africa known as Chidani. Well this is exactly what happened to Cameron Battle and his friends Zion and Aliyah.
Cameron quickly realizes this other world has something to do with the deaths of his parents. When they reach safety Cameron is asked to help save this, his ancestrally homeland, to do this Cameron would have to retrieve three objects that would save the Queen of the land and restore peace to not just Chidani but the rest of the world.
While Cameron feels this is his destiny he tries to convince Zion and Aliyah to return home, but as ever they respond by telling him they are all init together, good or bad.
Just like many other good Middle Grade books this work shows exactly what good friendship looks like. At once the reader is aware that there is a connection to the slave trade and how it was African slave came to be held and traded in the US. That these people (slaves) were treated horrendously. The writing gives some insight into the culture of West Africa as well as their legends and gods. It also hints that Cameron and Zion may be more than just friends which is were the LGBTQ+ comes in. Though I don't recall any other characters being members of the community.
I loved the feel of friendship this book gave, and that Aliyah was a strong character and not just a token "girl" of the group. The fact this had West African background was one of the reasons I picked it up and I was not disappointed. I found the descriptions so vivid most of the time I felt the urge to draw them but couldn't bring myself to put the book down. As a slow reader it would usually take me weeks to read a 300 page book, how ever I read this work in around four sittings.
The only things that I didn't particularly like are minute really. Knowing that Cameron and Zion's relationship is to become romantic, the fact they call each other brother is a bit wrong. I can't wait to see their relationship blossom but I wish they stuck to calling each other friends.
The other is that in one part of the book it is mentioned that Cameron is given utensils to eat with, with my limited circle of West African (Nigerian to be specific) acquaintances it seems tradition to eat with their hands when they are in their own home or back in their home country. Most eat with their right hand (as the left is considered dirty/rude) and only use cutlery when they are in other countries.
If you are looking for book with a friendship like Harry Potter, badies reminiscent of Lord of the Rings, a quest like both, POC characters and set in a hidden place like Wakanda this is for you 100%.
Do expect tears at the end.