Mwikali and the forbidden mask

Gr 4--7--Twelve-year-old Mwikali has just moved to Kenya with her mom and her auntie (nanny). She is hoping to finally blend in at her new school, and not feel like the freak she did before. It seems that everything Mwikali draws in her sketchbook comes true, and she feels cursed when she sees things no one else does. Mwikali makes new friends at her school, Soni, Odder, and Xirsi, and they convince Mwikali that she isn't abnormal; she is in fact a very rare seer, and the four of them are from the ancient bloodline of Kenyan warriors. With the help of "tutor" Mr. Lemayin, Mwikali and her fellow seer friends learn to channel their powers. When Mwikali time travels back to the time of her ancestors, she learns of imminent dangers to their current world. One of her drawings is the "Forbidden Mask," which was supposedly destroyed long ago--but it has returned, and with it thousands of monsters have been able to cross over. Will Mwikali be able to defeat the village elder, who is intent on spreading dark magic through the mask? Nairobi is portrayed vividly, allowing readers to learn about foods, transport, and traditional games, all while following the fast-paced adventure. VERDICT Readers of fantasy will race to the heart-pounding conclusion, and will want to pick up the second book to follow Mwikali and friends into their next dangerous journey.--Michele Shaw

Mwikali is nervous about her first day of school in Nairobi -- at her old school in Chicago, her friend's appendix burst after she drew a picture of it, and she was labeled a freak. But in Kenya things get even weirder when she draws her teacher as a monster, and the monster teacher then attacks her. She's rescued by a group of students, the Intasimi Warriors, descendants of Kenyan mythical figures with their own powers, who assure her that she doesn't cause events, only foresees them, and that she has the ability to detect monsters as they really are. Mwikali joins the students in a quest to stop an immortal village elder from freeing more monsters from the underworld in order to rule the world. In this mythology-minded adventure tale, Nguru provides readers with a solid introduction to Kenyan lore (including the friends' culturally specific powers, monsters called shiqq, and progenitors such as the real-life nineteenth-century Kamba medicine woman Syokimau) and culture (such as fried mandazi, the standing stones Kit Miyaki, and the game of Bao). The emotional structure of the story -- Mwikali's fear of being bullied again, her resistance to relying on her friends even though her ancestor instructs her to, her eventual coming into her powers and her friendships -- will resonate with many readers. Anita L. BurkamJanuary/February 2023 p.89 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A sixth grader discovers her true powers just in time to save the world. Mwikali has never stayed in the same place for long. Her mother's job as a flight attendant has given her permanent new-girl status at every school she's attended across the world. This year will be different. She has returned with her mother to her birthplace, Nairobi, Kenya, to attend elite Savanna Academy. After being accused of cursing her friend Amanda and sending her to the hospital at her previous school, Mwikali cannot afford to make waves again. Her first day ruins any chance to fly under the radar, however, when she freaks out after witnessing her teacher turn into a monster. Unfortunately, she's the only one who can see what happened, and her chance for a regular school year seems to be crushed. Fortunately, three of her classmates--Odwar, Soni, and Xirsi--believe Mwikali because they recognize her gift. They are all Intasimi, people from magical bloodlines, some of whom are born with special powers. Her new friends help Mwikali hone her skills, prepare to confront the monsters hiding in plain sight, and save the world from a dark future. Nguru's series-opening debut is rich in the mythology and beauty of Kenya. Although the climax is slightly rushed, the strong characterization supports the work: Mwikali's path from self-doubt to confidence inspires, and her struggles with friendship feel universal. A handful of charming full-page illustrations enhance the work. A heartfelt page-turner. (Fantasy. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.