The War to Save the Worlds (Amira & Hamza #1)

by Samira Ahmed (Author)

The War to Save the Worlds (Amira & Hamza #1)
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Series: Amira & Hamza

From bestselling author Samira Ahmed comes a thrilling fantasy adventure intertwining Islamic legend and history, perfect for fans of Aru Shah and the Land of Stories.

On the day of a rare super blue blood moon eclipse, twelve-year-old Amira and her little brother, Hamza, can't stop their bickering while attending a special exhibit on medieval Islamic astronomy. While stargazer Amira is wowed by the amazing gadgets, a bored Hamza wanders off, stumbling across the mesmerizing and forbidden Box of the Moon. Amira can only watch in horror as Hamza grabs the defunct box and it springs to life, setting off a series of events that could shatter their world--literally. Suddenly, day turns to night, everyone around Amira and Hamza falls under a sleep spell, and a chunk of the moon breaks off, hurtling toward them at lightning speed, as they come face-to-face with two otherworldly creatures: jinn. The jinn reveal that the siblings have a role to play in an ancient prophecy.

Together, they must journey to the mystical land of Qaf, battle a great evil, and end a civil war to prevent the moon--the stopper between realms--from breaking apart and unleashing terrifying jinn, devs, and ghuls onto earth. Or they might have to say goodbye to their parents and life as they know it, forever....

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Publisher's Weekly

A budding astronomer and self-proclaimed "nerd," 12-year-old Amira, this novel’s Muslim, Indian American narrator, can’t wait to witness an upcoming lunar extravaganza. In Chicago, the Islamic Society of Ancient Astronomy is celebrating the coincidence of a supermoon, blood moon, and blue moon (a "celestial trifecta of awesomeness") with an exhibition attended by Amira, her irksome younger brother Hamza, and their parents. When Hamza wanders off, he becomes entranced by the Box of the Moon-an ancient analogue computer made of unidentified alloys. A sibling tussle over the artifact restarts it, unleashing staggering consequences. As the adults drop into an enchanted sleep, a broken piece of the moon heads directly for Earth, and an army of jinn spirits the siblings away, Amira and Hamza discover that it falls to them to save the world from a great battle between the realms. Ahmed (Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know) centers her fast-paced middle grade debut on a deeply engaging heroine, foil to her more reckless and charming brother. The siblings’ relationship-characterized by equal amounts of affection and bickering-lends authenticity and humor to the folklore-inspired narrative. Ages 8-12.

Copyright 2021 Publisher’s Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780316540469
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date
September 20, 2021
Series
Amira & Hamza
BISAC categories
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV013070 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Siblings
JUV033270 - Juvenile Fiction | Religious | Muslim
JUV039280 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Religion & Faith
Library of Congress categories
Brothers and sisters
United States
Chicago (Ill.)
Fate and fatalism
Supernatural
Good and evil
Muslims

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