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A review by alenka
Amira & Hamza: The War to Save the Worlds by Samira Ahmed
adventurous
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was fun! Amira and Hamza (12 and 10 year old siblings, respectively) are attending a viewing of the very unique blue blood moon eclipse at their local Islamic Center. Hamza, always rambunctious, is drawn to a strange ancient box. Amira is as well, although she doesn't want to admit it, and while she's fighting with him to get him to put it back in its case, the box - which no one has been able to figure out how to work in hundreds of years - suddenly starts moving. When the kids run to get their parents, they find all the adults seemingly in the world have fallen into a soft sleep. Scared and confused, the kids run outside, right into a Jinn Army that claims they are chosen ones who will stop the evil Ifrit from breaking apart the moon and letting his armies overrun the human world.
The structure of this story will be familiar to any Rick Riordan presents fan (or mythology fans in general) and is a good recommendation for any such readers. Amira and Hamza have a fun, familiar sibling dynamic, full of both fighting and aggressive support of each other. The book is all written in Amira's perspective, and despite their issues she feels fiercely protective of her younger brother and takes the older sibling role very seriously, even when it lands her in danger. Amira's also battling feelings of inadequacy after failing her orange belt testing at Karate AGAIN. Hamza is generally fearless, except when it comes to heights, and his optimism overpowers all negativity. This can annoy Amira, but proves to be a bit of a superpower as prospects of winning the fight start to look bad. There is a good arc in the last third,involving the jinn Vizier who never wears his reading glasses realizing the siblings aren't supposed to have been the chosen ones. As a jinn, he doesn't have a strong understanding of linear human time, and picked up the wrong people. However, Amira and Hamza choose themselves as heroes, and forge on anyway. It's very well done, and the siblings see each other's strengths in a way that feels very right. It's not saccharine, just respectful and full of their regular banter.
A very solid, action-filled story with a small hint at a possible sequel. The emotional arc of it will appeal to readers who liked The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes.
The structure of this story will be familiar to any Rick Riordan presents fan (or mythology fans in general) and is a good recommendation for any such readers. Amira and Hamza have a fun, familiar sibling dynamic, full of both fighting and aggressive support of each other. The book is all written in Amira's perspective, and despite their issues she feels fiercely protective of her younger brother and takes the older sibling role very seriously, even when it lands her in danger. Amira's also battling feelings of inadequacy after failing her orange belt testing at Karate AGAIN. Hamza is generally fearless, except when it comes to heights, and his optimism overpowers all negativity. This can annoy Amira, but proves to be a bit of a superpower as prospects of winning the fight start to look bad. There is a good arc in the last third,
A very solid, action-filled story with a small hint at a possible sequel. The emotional arc of it will appeal to readers who liked The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes.