Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms

12-year-old Cameron Battle is an orphan living with his grandma in Atlanta. The thing that connects him most closely to his dead mother is a book, a family treasure, part myth, part history, the story of his Igbo ancestors and a hidden, magical kingdom, Chidani. But his grandmother has the book locked away, with strict instructions to Cameron not to go into the loft where she keeps it. Of course, with his friends Aliyah and Zion over for a sleepover, Cameron does venture into the attic, and somehow through the book the three of them open a portal into Chidani itself. There, Cameron discovers that he is the realm’s only Descendant, charged to protect it from the queen’s sister and threats of new slavery. Supported by his friends, Cameron finds the courage he needs, though, amongst all the action and adventure, the burden of what he is asked to do feels always very real and weighty too. If the story has echoes of traditional fantasy adventure, the way it draws on Igbo mythology gives it a particular power and this is a heartfelt story of legacy, loss and the power of perseverance with a strong cast of characters.