The Book of Wonders (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Book of Wonders Kate Quealy-Gainer Richards, Jasmine . The Book of Wonders. Harper/HarperCollins, 2012. [416p]. Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-06-201007-0 $16.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-06-209918-1 $9.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 5-8. Zardi (short for Scheherazade) is just about to turn thirteen when the sultan of Arabithia kidnaps her older sister, Zubedaya, as punishment for her father's treason, threatening to kill the girl in ninety days and to return to do the same for Zardi. Disguising herself as a boy and joined by her best friend, Rhidan, Zardi finds her way onto the ship of Sinbad with the intention of finding a magical item that will allow her to save her sister and possibly oust the sultan for good. The journey is fraught with danger, and the days fly by as Zardi and her fellow pirates battle storms, [End Page 317] end up on snake-infested desert islands, clash with mechanical giants, and outwit tricky djinn only to discover that their tale doesn't end with Zubedaya's salvation. The Middle Eastern overtones here make this a refreshing addition to the mostly European-oriented genre of middle-grade fantasy, and Richards borrows heavily from the Arabian Nights and various Arabic folktales to offer up a strikingly vivid setting populated with awe-inspiring creatures. Once Zardi joins up with Sinbad, the adventure comes fast and furious, and although the characters are mostly two-dimensional, the action-packed plot makes up for any blandness amidst the sea-faring crew. Whether readers are familiar with original Scheherazade or not, the quick pace and high-seas adventure make this widely appealing and may in fact send some readers to the 398s to check out what else her tales have to offer. Copyright © 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois