Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans (Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans #1)

Adrenaline-fueled action and inventive worldbuilding personify this captivating Afrofantasy, a series-starting debut by Hendrix. Orphan Adia Kelbara lives with her neglectful aunt and uncle, who publicly claim that she is an Ogbanje--a child possessed by a demon said to cause misfortune--which leads to her becoming locally ostracized. She starts to believe them, though, when she suddenly develops mysterious abilities, as when an intense emotional reaction results in tremors erupting across her hamlet. Witnessing the destruction wrought by her burgeoning powers, Adia determines to find help in harnessing--or removing--her perceived curse. When she is selected to spend her Year of Practicality, during which youths train in a trade, as a kitchen apprentice at the famed Academy of Shamans, she hopes that a resident can extract the Ogbanje. But nothing is as it should be upon her arrival: the school has fallen into disarray and an ancient evil has returned to wreak havoc. Fully fleshed out characters--including a snarky goddess and several effervescent allies--populate this clever adventure, which teems with smartly rendered twists and oodles of hope and heart. Ages 8-12. (Sept.)

"This book is incredible! With a dazzling cast of characters wrapped up in a rich, imaginative afrofantasy world, Adia's thrilling journey will have you eager to turn the next page!" — B.B. Alston, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Amari and the Night Brothers

"Deep, piercing, and urgent, Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans marries historic heft with the soaring possibilities of magic to tell a spellbinding story of empowerment and liberation. Author Isi Hendrix makes a passion-packed entrance onto the middle grade stage, and readers of all ages will do well to pick up this first entry in a powerful new fantasy series." — Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of the School for Good and Evil series.

"With heart and humor, Adia Kelbara is a tale of victory for anyone who's been made to feel ashamed of who they are. Not only does Adia prove that our power can be reclaimed, she takes us on a rollicking fun adventure along the way." — Graci Kim, New York Times bestselling author of the Gifted Clans trilogy

"By turns immersive, thrilling, funny, and powerful, Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans will grab readers from the first lines to the breathtaking finale. Readers will fall in love with Adia and root for her fierce quest to right the wrongs done against her people." — Sylvia Liu, award-winning author of Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation

"An immersive, funny, clever fantasy with real emotional depth. I couldn't put it down!" — A.F. Steadman, New York Times bestselling author of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief

"A truly masterful addition to the afrofantasy genre. This immersive fantasy deserves to be on every shelf." — Booklist (starred review)

"Adrenaline-fueled action and inventive worldbuilding personify this captivating Afrofantasy, which teems with smartly rendered twists and oodles of hope and heart." — Publishers Weekly