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WORK TITLE: Jaden Powers and the Inheritance of Magic
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WEBSITE: https://www.jamarjperry.com/
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COUNTRY: United States
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PERSONAL
Male.
EDUCATION:Graduated from Berea College; University of Maryland, College Park, Ph.D.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and educator. Has taught middle school in the Washington, DC, area.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Jamar J. Perry is n American writer and educator. He taught middle school in the Washington, DC, area and later continued his Ph.D., where he focused on the history of traditional and Black masculinity in the United States. Perry began writing fantasy fiction for young readers, where he particularly hoped to inspire reluctant Black boys to engage with his stories. In an interview in the Bloomsbury website, Perry confessed: “I want people to understand that it is okay to be a voracious reader, that you can become a hero through the written word.”
In an interview in the American Booksellers Association website, Perry talked with Isabella Ogbolumani about his favorite book and how it ties into his own debut novel. He shared: “My absolute favorite book, the one that I always go back to, is Octavia Butler’s Kindred. It is about a young woman named Dana who is thrusted back to the past of the Antebellum South, where she has to save her white ancestor so that she can exist in the future. It is a fantasy commentary on how Black people’s past is brutal, present tenuous, but the future open.” Perry further explained: “In the novel, Dana has to contend with slavery in order to ensure that she will be born over a hundred years later. It is a way for her to claim her roots, although the situation is dire. I had this book in mind when I started writing ‘Cameron Battle,’ as I wanted to show that Black children are dealing with their own histories as well, trying to figure out where they are from, and learning how to commune with their ancestors.”
Perry published Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms in 2022, the first in his “Cameron Battle” middle grade fantasy novel series. Twelve-year-old Igbo Cameron Battle lives in Atlanta. During a sleepover with best friends Zion and Aliyah at his house, he reads from his family’s ancestral history, the Book of Chidani, despite being forbidden from doing so. They are pulled into the book, where Cameron learns that he is the only living descendant of the people of Chidani. He must help the Chidani after the queen’s sister attempts to usurp power.
A contributor to Children’s Bookwatch mentioned that “this deftly crafted and original story celebrates the triumphs and challenges of a boy finding his truth path to greatness.” A Kirkus Reviews contributor opined that the novel’s potential was “largely unfulfilled thanks to the cast members’ constant vacillation in thought and action.” Still, the reviewer called it “a promising West African-inspired tale about courage and legacy.”
Cameron, Zion, and Aliyah are in the seventh grade at the start of Cameron Battle and the Escape Trials. Cameron has been distracted about his father’s fate, saving his mother, and dealing with his grandmother, who urges caution and patience. Again, Cameron consults the Book of Chidani to find more information. There he learns about his potential for magical abilities. The three, along with school bully Vince, are pulled back into the book, where they must fight gods to advance their own agendas.
A Kirkus Reviews contributor commented that the story “flows well and has clearly defined characters. Readers should be familiar with the first volume to fully appreciate this one.” The same critic called it “a sentimental, action-filled fantasy.” Writing in School Librarian, Jenni Prestwood lauded that “this this is great for fans of mythology or fantasy series,” adding that it is “a good adventure story.”
In Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic, twelve-year-old Jaden Powers is not looking forward to starting seventh grade after his best friend, Elijah, suddenly transfers to another school. He goes into denial when he’s told that Elijah has died. However, a note from Elijah introduces Jaden to a magical realm and abilities he never could have imagined. Jaden is invited to attends the Five Emergences School of Magic to become a sorcerer. Jaden is told that Elijah had been stealing magic and was dangerously upsetting the balance. Jaden is tasked with finding him to save his life and the school.
A Kirkus Reviews contributor remarked that “eccentric bits of humor add flair to Wonder and its diverse, predominantly Black, cast.” The same critic found the novel to be “utterly hypnotic.” A contributor to Publishers Weekly took note of the “memorable characters and vibrant worldbuilding.” The same reviewer observed that “themes of grief and healing are capably balanced alongside fast-paced, spellbinding adventure.” Writing in School Library Journal, Kelly Kingrey-Edwards pointed out that the novel “contains tropes reminiscent of classic wizard school stories like Harry Potter.” However, Kingrey-Edwards admitted that it “does cover new ground in what is familiar literary terrain.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Children’s Bookwatch, February 1, 2022, review of Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms.
Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 2021, review of Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms; January 1, 2023, review of Cameron Battle and the Escape Trials; June 15, 2024, review of Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic.
Publishers Weekly, May 6, 2024, Taj McCoy, review of Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic, p. 49.
School Librarian, June 22, 2023, Jenni Prestwood, review of Cameron Battle and the Escape Trials, p. 59.
School Library Journal, August 1, 2024, Kelly Kingrey-Edwards, review of Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic, p. 91.
ONLINE
American Booksellers Association website, https://www.bookweb.org/ (January 21, 2022), Isabella Ogbolumani, author interview.
Bloomsbury website, https://www.bloomsbury.com/ (March 14, 2023), author interview.
Jamar J. Perry website, https://www.jamarjperry.com (February 2, 2025).
Sade, https://sademagazine.co/ (March 2, 2022), author interview.
JAMAR J. PERRY
Author of the middle grade fantasy series, Cameron Battle, Dr. Jamar J. Perry attended Berea College in Berea, KY, majoring in psychology and English literature and Education. After graduation, Dr. Perry became a middle school teacher in the Washington, D.C. area, hoping to instruct the next generation of scholars.
Short Bio:
Author of the middle grade fantasy series, Cameron Battle, Dr. Jamar J. Perry attended Berea College in Berea, KY, majoring in psychology and English literature and Education. After graduation, Dr. Perry became a middle school teacher in the Washington, D.C. area, hoping to instruct the next generation of scholars, thinkers, and writers. His research interests and writing currently focus on Black boys, the history of traditional and Black masculinity in America, and racial literacy.
Long Bio:
Dr. Jamar J. Perry is the middle grade fantasy author of the Cameron Battle series and its sequel. Jamar attended Berea College in Berea, KY, studying psychology. Understanding that this field was not his true calling after a year of study, Jamar switched his major to English Literature with a concentration in Education, where he studied the structure and power of contemporary literature while learning how to teach it to middle and high school students. After graduation, Jamar became a middle school teacher in the Washington, D.C. area, hoping to instruct the next generation of scholars, thinkers, and writers.
After four years of teaching and finishing his Master’s degree, he decided to enroll into a PhD program at the University of Maryland, College Park, hoping that he could continue his love for literature and education.
While at the University of Maryland, College Park, Jamar’s research focused on Black boys, the history of traditional and Black masculinity in America, and racial literacy. With this renewed research focus, he began to write again, writing stories for the type of reader he always wanted to engage: reluctant readers, Black boys who needed to understand that they were magic, that they could also have joy, that they could be vulnerable and emotional, that they could be the hero in their own stories.
Jamar understands the value of connection as he finishes his stories that center Black boys. Please reach out to him at any time on his website or on his Twitter @jamarperry and Instagram @jamarjperry.
Jamar J Perry
New and upcoming books
August 2024
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Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic
June 2025
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Finding Prince Charming
Series
Cameron Battle
1. Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms (2022)
2. Cameron Battle and the Escape Trials (2023)
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Novels
Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic (2024)
Finding Prince Charming (2025)
Writer Spotlight: Jamar J. Perry
March 2, 2022
Writer Spotlight Series, creates a positive image for young girls to refer to, by having conversations with different writers and illustrators. This month we have been doing Q&As with many writers, to get to know more about them and their work. Here, we are showcasing all the questions we have asked Jamar, the author of Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms. You can find more book reviews in our current issue, available to buy here
Percy Jackson meets Black Panther
- this blockbuster middle-grade adventure is perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers.
Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms - Jamar J. Perry
Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms is your first debut novel. What inspired the idea for the story?
I grew up in a small town called Phenix City, Alabama, in America. It’s so small on the map that you can barely see it. I grew up very isolated and depressed. Depression was not knowledge like it is today. I was constantly tired. As a family, we grew up poor. We never had extra income to buy nice things, like new trainers. I come from a family of eight, so money went to food and bills. When I attended school, I noticed I differed from all the other boys around me. I wasn't that hyper masculine boy who liked to play sports, that just wasn't me. As a child, I couldn’t talk to anyone about my feelings. I didn’t understand the feelings that I was experiencing. Reading became something I was really interested in.
Books became an outlet for me. I remember just reading constantly. I would go to the library every single day. My goal was to read a book a day. The library was my safe place. It wasn't until I went to college, when I decided that, Jamal, you've been reading all these books, why don’t you write your own? I read all these fantasy novels. The fantasy novels were what I loved growing up, because my contemporary life, my real life, was so horrible.
I stayed away from contemporary novels; I didn’t want to read about real life because it was so connected to my own life. When I went to college, there was an awakening, where I realised that all the characters in the books I was reading rarely featured Black characters, especially Black boy characters, like me. In Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms, in the beginning Cameron is lonely, depressed because his parents are no longer living. That is an analogue towards my own life where my parents are still living, but I felt like my parents didn’t understand me growing up, which led me to be lonely during my earlier life. It was a cathartic feeling of tomorrow. These were the questions I would ask myself: How are you going to deal with the pressures of your life growing up? How are you going to deal with being alone? How did you deal with not having friends?
Writing Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms was just an exploration of this Black boy who’s lonely, who only has two friends. He misses his parents. How can he save the entire world?
How do you develop the plot and characters?
I developed my characters based on who I was, as a child. Zion and Aliyah are a sliver of me. Cameron is quiet and lonely, Zion is very smart, and can talk a lot! When I was in high school, I realised that in order for me to feel happiness; I knew how to make people laugh. That’s what Zion is like. He’s there for Cameron and he makes him laugh. Then there's Aliyah, who's always on the go, very intelligent and she can see things that Cameron doesn't want to see. I’m 31 now, very intelligent, very nuanced and I can pick up things. Once I developed those three characters, on who they were and what made them different from each other, it became easy to write the surrounding plot.
There are some authors who like to write an outline first, and then write the whole plot. However, for me, I write an outline, but I come up with who the characters are, first, what makes them tick, what makes them move, what makes them different from each other, because that's another thing that publishers want you to do is, if you have a cast of characters, they all have to be different in some sort of aspect.
What is the future for the characters? Will there be a sequel?
There will be a sequel. I was just talking to my editor about this the other day. She said to me “What do you think about a third novel?” I was only expected to write two novels, I was going to end the story in the sequel! My editor said, "if the first one does well enough, we’ll think about doing a third novel series." So there will be a future for these characters. Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms is released on 3 March 2022 and the sequel is March 2023.
In the first book, Cameron, Aliyah and Zion are together the entire time, in the sequel they are together in different ways. Cameron is learning to use his magic, however in the sequel he is literally magic! He’s more powerful than the Gods. I explained more in the book's epilogue, are the Gods nice people? Do they play games? How does Cameron react to that?
Do Zion and Aliyah have magic powers? They take more of a centre stage in the sequel. There’ll be some commentary around what makes a God. How can a human come against God?
What was the best highlight of writing this book?
I felt growing up, books I read that featured heroes are just that. As soon as someone said “you're a hero now!” They accepted that journey. Cameron is different; he struggles throughout the entire novel. I love how Cameron is a normal 12-year-old with special powers. He has emotions, feelings and doubts. There are moments where he doesn’t feel like he’s good enough. There is a scene where Zion and Aliyah are not supposed to be in that world, and they're doing really well. Cameron doesn't want to be in this world anymore. He’s feeling hurt, so he gets angry at his grandmother for not telling him about this world and he’s upset because his parents died. The best part about writing this book was to show how human Cameron is. He steps into a heroic archetype, but he’s still human. He has to learn to be a hero, there’s a process to that.
Sadé Kids Magazine Issue 7 - The Art Edition
If you could ask one successful author three questions about their writing process, or books, what would they be? Who would you ask?
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston is a fantastic book. That book is just magical from beginning to the end. I'm currently writing a book about a Black boy trying to fit into magic school. I would like to know from B.B. Alston, how did you do that? It took me three years to write about Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms. Within Amari and the Night Brothers, there are many departments and ways of doing magic. How did he create an entire world within a world? The way Amari interacts with the magic world is amazing. Definitely one of the best books I’ve read. Another favourite book of mine is a Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. She writes books that capture an entire time period. The story is about a Black girl called Cassie Logan growing up during the Jim Crow laws. During this time, schools were segregated and Cassie's only way to school was by walking. Her walk to school was long. When reading any of Mildred's novels, I feel like I'm there. I would ask her, “how do you create something that will stand the test of time?
I really enjoy reading Christopher Paul Curtis books, including Bucking the Sarge and The Watsons Go to Birmingham. He has so much humour in his stories; it works really well. My question would be “How do you write subjects about racism and slavery, yet add humor to it without it being offensive?
What was your favourite book/author growing up?
I would say Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. My earliest memory of reading this book is back in elementary school. I’ve kept this book with me ever since. It reminds me of where I came from, also how kids can change the world! Adults are the ones that add racism, classism and homophobia. Kids are like blank slates. It's the adults that influence them. Over the years, it’s really shown me that kids can make a huge impact on others and technically, they can change the world. That’s why I wrote Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms. Cameron just lost his parents, but he has to make a mark on the entire world.
Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms - Jamar J. Perry
About the writer
Jamar J. Perry lives in Maryland, USA, and has a PhD in Literacy Education, Language, Culture and Social Inquiry from the University of Maryland. He was previously a teacher and started writing for children so that Black boys, like his students and the boy he once was, can see themselves in literature as the heroes of their own stories and understand how magical and joyful they really are.
Words by Bloomsbury | Mar 14 2023
Jamar J. Perry, author of the children's Cameron Battle series, gives us an incredibly eye-opening interview. He shares his fond memories of reading as a child, the importance of West African mythology and inspiring others to find joy in reading.
For those unfamiliar with Cameron Battle, how would you describe the story?
JAMAR: The Cameron Battle series is about a twelve-year-old boy name Cameron Battle who loses his parents at a young age, which leaves him lonely and missing his parents. When he goes to live with his grandmother, he remembers the stories his parents told him about his ancestry and how they read to him from an ancient book they say is filled with magic. One night, he and his two best friends, Zion and Aliyah, decide to go to the attic where Cameron’s grandmother keeps the book safe. When they read from it, they are sucked inside of it, traveling to a hidden West African country where Cameron realizes that not only all of the stories he read growing up are true, but that he is also destined to be a hero with magical powers who must save the world from an evil that is trying to destroy it.
There are hints of Black Panther, Percy Jackson and Jumanji, all making it a thrilling fantasy read! What inspired you when writing Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms, and the new sequel, Cameron Battle and the Escape Trials?
JAMAR: When writing Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms, I was primarily inspired by my own childhood as a reader of fantasy novels and my life as a middle schooler. I was a lonely kid, someone who didn’t have many friends. I was considered different because I was a Black boy who loved reading, instead of someone who played sports with the neighborhood kids. Because of my loneliness, I sought out fantasy novels where children could become heroes, because that is what I wanted to be as a child. I also wanted to know where I came from, because it is hard for Black people in America to really understand their ancestry. So when I was writing my debut novel, I wanted to showcase a Black boy who loves to read, who ends up becoming literal magic through his love for reading, all the while coming into close contact with his ancestors.
With Cameron Battle and the Escape Trials I really wanted to explore how Cameron Battle becomes a hero through the help of his friends, all the while trying to figure out what being magic really means to him. I wanted to play with adventure, fantasy, and Cameron becoming confident in his abilities now that the struggle of the first book is over. With the second novel, I wanted to make sure that Cameron has fun, all the while understanding that there is still a danger that he must face as he goes through his adventures.
Jamar J. Perry
Inspiring young readers
I want people to understand that it is okay to be a voracious reader, that you can become a hero through the written word, just like how Cameron does.
Both books are groundbreaking and original, being based on West African and Igbo history and mythology. How important is it for you to spotlight this culture and diversity in your writing?
JAMAR: Greek mythology has been widespread in our culture, from literature to film to television. I wanted to showcase another side of mythology that we hardly ever get to see, while putting a spin on it like Greek mythology does. As we know, Greek mythology has a lot of the same stories, but those stories are told in different ways. With my novels, I wanted to focus on West African mythology—not only because my ancestry is West African—to show that there are different ways of thinking about how the world was created, and Cameron has to tend with that. Not only is he a Black boy that is dealing with problems in the modern world, he is also dealing with what it means to understand where his ancestors came from.
Who is your favorite character and why?
JAMAR: I used to say my favorite character was Cameron, but I think my favorite character now is his best friend, Zion. Zion has been with him from the beginning, and he shows Cameron that it is okay to be himself. He’s also really funny, and Cameron needs that in order for him to grow through the depression and anger he has at his parents for leaving him at an early age. I love Zion and I put a lot of myself in him. I feel like we all need that hilarious friend who gets us through the hard times.
What's one thing you would like readers to take away from your books?
JAMAR: I want people to understand that it is okay to be a voracious reader, that you can become a hero through the written word, just like how Cameron does. I also want my Black boy readers to see themselves in Cameron, and to be inspired to be a reader just like him.
Jan
21
2022
Indies Introduce
An Indies Introduce Q&A With Jamar J. Perry
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Jamar J. Perry author of Cameron Battle and the Hidden KingdomsJamar J. Perry is the author of Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms, a Winter/Spring 2022 Indies Introduce middle-grade selection.
Jamar J. Perry attended Berea College in Berea, Kentucky, majoring in psychology and English literature and Education. After graduation, Jamar became a middle school teacher in the Washington, D.C. area, hoping to instruct the next generation of scholars, thinkers, and writers. He is currently finishing up his PhD, focusing his research on Black boys, the history of traditional and Black masculinity in America, and racial literacy.
Isabella Ogbolumani of Buffalo Street Books in Ithaca, New York served on the panel that selected Perry’s book for Indies Introduce. She said, “Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms is a truly special book. I can’t wait for young readers to explore Chidani and discover just how magical and extraordinary they are!”
Here, Ogbolumani and Perry discuss writing for children.
Isabella Ogbolumani: What was the inspiration behind Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms?
Jamar J. Perry: This book was inspired by a lot of things, the biggest being my own life and the hope of seeing someone who was just like me as a child showcased in a fantasy novel being a hero. When I was younger, I was isolated a lot and I didn’t have many friends at all. I was also bullied at school — which led to more feelings of isolation and overcompensating for that which I did not have. I decided to write Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms to explore how a lonely child can become a leader of his own emotions, of a child who could one day become a hero, helping to save an entire empire. And not only would he become a hero, he would also become magical, able to open barriers, see his ancestors, and all other manner of magical things. I wanted to create a character who contained multitudes, a character who experiences joy, sadness, happiness, and frustration all at the same time, while dealing with some of the most impossible challenges. Through his journey, Cameron Battle becomes a well-rounded person who understands his place in the world, but also understands its nuances, all with the help of his two best friends.
IO: The book is rooted in Nigerian folklore — specifically that of the Igbo people. What made you choose to explore Igbo mythology?
JJP: Exploring my roots was very important to me when I first started writing. However, the majority of literature is written by and about white people, so I never thought I would be able to fully put myself in a novel in an all-encompassing way until the push for diversity in publishing became something I began to pay attention to. So, with Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms, it truly became an exercise in expressing myself and, also, my roots. It took exhaustive work to research the gods and goddesses, the language, magic systems, and lands of the Igbo people. This work definitely showed that so many Black Americans will never know where they came from because they were forcefully taken from their homes to labor in a foreign country. This novel really allowed me to find out who I was, to figure out where my ancestors came from, while making sure that the main character has this journey as well. Cameron learns that his ancestors have power and draws upon them to be the hero he turns out to be. This novel showed me that mythology also is not static; it changes as people and experiences change. So, it was important for me to not only understand who I am, but also make sure my main character learns as much as he can to manipulate his magic for his purposes.
IO: There are so many children who are going to get to grow up reading about characters who look like them having incredible adventures! What are you most excited for readers to experience within the world of Cameron Battle?
JJP: I am so excited to see children really grapple with Cameron Battle’s character and explore how his friends are an extension of himself. For so long, heroes always seemed static to me; meaning, that they are one way at the beginning of the novel and are the same at the end. With Cameron Battle, I strove to make him human, modeled after me in certain aspects. I do not believe that we spring up truly happy, joyous, accomplished, etc. I tend to think that we don’t really know true joy without first going through some struggle, some trial, some tribulation. With Cameron Battle, we get to see this Black boy not only becoming a hero, but he does so in a way that feels earned, that feels like we can connect to him and have empathy for him. Cameron struggles so much in the book, wondering about his mother and father, about the grandmother he left behind, and worrying about the safety of his friends and this kingdom that he is told that he must save. By the end of the book, we get to really know who he is, thereby, making our acceptance of him feel natural. Cameron is also a Black queer boy, something we rarely see in traditionally published literature, if ever. I am excited for children to go on this journey with him, while queer children finally get the hero they deserve.
IO: What are some of your favorite authors and books?
JJP: My absolute favorite book, the one that I always go back to, is Octavia Butler’s Kindred. It is about a young woman named Dana who is thrusted back to the past of the Antebellum South, where she has to save her white ancestor so that she can exist in the future. It is a fantasy commentary on how Black people’s past is brutal, present tenuous, but the future open. In the novel, Dana has to contend with slavery in order to ensure that she will be born over a hundred years later. It is a way for her to claim her roots, although the situation is dire. I had this book in mind when I started writing Cameron Battle, as I wanted to show that Black children are dealing with their own histories as well, trying to figure out where they are from, and learning how to commune with their ancestors.
Another favorite book of mine is Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. It was one of the first novels I read as an elementary/middle school student. I especially loved how this author took the harrowed history of sharecropping and Jim Crow and distilled it through the middle school lens through a middle school main character. This novel managed to capture an entire generation, a time period, in a novel written decades after the events depicted. Taylor is a true master of history, making you feel like you are placed in that moment in time.
Other authors I love are Jordan Ifueko, Amber McBride, S.A. Chakraborty, and Toni Morrison.
IO: What is next for Cameron — what can we expect in Book 2? And do you have any ideas for stories outside of the Cameron Battle universe?
JJP: I actually just finished the first draft of Cameron Battle Book 2 and I am now working with my Bloomsbury editor to make changes to it. In Book 2 — which doesn’t really have a title yet — we see Cameron, Aliyah, and Zion having to make decisions outside of what they initially planned. We also see Zion and Aliyah take more of a leading role in the sequel, coming into their own, no longer in the shadow of Cameron. While they still help him on his path, they become something altogether different, which I love so much. If you read Book 1 closely, you’ll see all of the little nuggets I left in there that connect seamlessly into Book 2. We also see more of the gods, as Cameron has unleashed something in the world that hasn’t been seen in centuries. Will they be helpful gods? Or will they play games? Are they dangerous? These are some things I explore in Book 2, along with Cameron, Aliyah, and Zion making their own decisions, without the help of the adults as in the first book.
And yes! I have a number of ideas I am sitting on and waiting to talk with my editor about. After the Cameron Battle duology has finished, I want to work on a magic school series for Black boys, possibly in an anthology or a trilogy of my own; I haven’t really made up my mind, yet. But I want to see Black queer boys learning magic like Cameron learns, but in different ways. I want to see them as wizards and mages and witches, brewing potions, casting charms, etc. I cannot wait to start compiling all of these ideas in the new year and get a proposal together for an anthology and a series, hopefully having them come out a year after the Cameron Battle series ends. So much to look forward to!
Perry, Jamar J. CAMERON BATTLE AND THE HIDDEN KINGDOMS Bloomsbury (Children's None) $16.99 2, 1 ISBN: 978-1-5476-0694-8
A young Black boy and his two best friends discover a new world in his family's ancestral book.
Cameron Battle is a 12-year-old boy of Igbo descent living in Atlanta who starts noticing strange happenings around his house but second-guesses himself, instead blaming his active imagination. At the start of summer vacation, Cameron has a sleepover with his two best friends, Zion and Aliyah. Despite being strictly prohibited from entering the attic and reading The Book of Chidani, a record of ancestral history passed down through the generations of Cameron's family, all three kids disobey and find themselves literally pulled into the book--and with it, the country of Chidani. There, Cameron finds out that the odd things he's noticed were indeed real and that, as the only living Descendant of the people of Chidani, he has been tasked with saving the country from a power grab by the queen's sister. Perry presents a fantasy full of adventure, loss, bravery, and perseverance. Themes of love, intergenerational hardship, and sacrifice are woven throughout the story. Its potential, however, is largely unfulfilled thanks to the cast members' constant vacillation in thought and action. Some characters feel one-dimensional, making it difficult for readers to become fully invested in the novel. The cast of characters is made up of Black people of various ethnicities.
A promising West African-inspired tale about courage and legacy let down by inconsistent characterization. (Fantasy. 8-12)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Perry, Jamar J.: CAMERON BATTLE AND THE HIDDEN KINGDOMS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A684108377/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=42657ad0. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms
Jamar J. Perry
Bloomsbury Children's Books
www.bloomsbury.com
9781547606948, $16.99, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cameron-Battle-Hidden-Kingdoms-Jamar/dp/1547606940
Cameron Battle grew up reading The Book of Chidani, cherishing stories about the fabled kingdom that cut itself off from the world to save the Igbo people from danger. Passed down over generations, the Book is Cameron's only connection to his parents who disappeared one fateful night, two years ago.
Ever since, his grandmother has kept the Book locked away, but it calls to Cameron. When he and his best friends Zion and Aliyah decide to open it again, they are magically transported to Chidani. Instead of a land of beauty and wonder, they find a kingdom in extreme danger, as the Queen's sister seeks to destroy the barrier between worlds. The people of Chidani have been waiting for the last Descendant to return and save them. Is Cameron ready to be the hero they need?
All the more impressive when considering that "Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms" is author and storyteller Jamar J. Perry's debut as a novelist. Inspired by West African and Igbo history and mythology, this deftly crafted and original story celebrates the triumphs and challenges of a boy finding his truth path to greatness. While very highly recommended, especially for elementary school, middle school, and community library Folktale & Fantasy collections for young readers ages 8-11, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.51).
Please Note: Illustration(s) are not available due to copyright restrictions.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/index.htm
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"Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms." Children's Bookwatch, Feb. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A707299426/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=811f6b71. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
Perry, Jamar
Cameron Battle and the Escape Trials
Bloomsbury
2023, pp.240, [pounds sterling]6.99
9781526656179
Fantasy. Mythology. Adventure
In this sequel to Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms, we follow Cameron on his next adventure. After returning two months ago, and now being back in his middle school classes, Cameron is itching to return to Chidani, a magical kingdom, to find his parents. When Cameron and his friends realise school bully Vince is actually possessed by mmo, he tries to snatch the book of Chidani from Cameron's chest, they open up a portal and all end up back in Chidani without any sort of plan. This mystical realm is still very new to the group, and they don't always know where to seek help.
Definitely start with the first in the series; it doesn't quite stand up as a stand-alone story - not knowing all of the back story made this a little confusing at times. Cameron struggles with his identity in this book, adding an LGBTQ element to the story. A good adventure story, inspired by West African history, this is great for fans of mythology or fantasy series.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 The School Library Association
http://www.sla.org.uk/school-librarian.php
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Prestwood, Jenni. "Perry, Jamar Cameron Battle and the Escape Trials." School Librarian, vol. 71, no. 2, summer 2023, p. 59. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A766804627/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8cb4012f. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
Perry, Jamar J. CAMERON BATTLE AND THE ESCAPE TRIALS Bloomsbury (Children's None) $16.99 2, 28 ISBN: 978-1-5476-0725-9
Cameron Battle returns to Chidani for some unfinished business.
Cameron and his closest friends, Zion and Aliyah, are now seventh graders. But Cameron is too focused on saving his mother and learning what happened to his father to concentrate on school. Desperate to get back to Chidani, despite his grandma's telling him to wait, Cameron decides to develop a plan to go back and seek the resolution he needs. While trying to assemble clues and information from The Book of Chidani to devise said plan, Cameron also has to deal with Vince, a bully at his new school, as well as growing romantic feelings for Zion. Cameron learns from the Book that Descendants like him have special abilities. This makes him eager to uncover and tap into his own powers, which he hopes will help him defeat those intent on harming those he loves. Before he can accomplish this, however, Cameron and his friends get pulled through a portal back to Chidani--along with Vince, who is in need of rescue. The three friends now have to figure out how to face and, if necessary, conquer gods with their own agendas, one of whom is still set on waging war. Perry continues Cameron's emotional journey of discovery and growth in a work centering Black characters that, thanks to previously established worldbuilding details, flows well and has clearly defined characters. Readers should be familiar with the first volume to fully appreciate this one.
A sentimental, action-filled fantasy. (Fantasy. 8-12)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Perry, Jamar J.: CAMERON BATTLE AND THE ESCAPE TRIALS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A731562198/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=587f3de6. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
PERRY, Jamar J. Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic. 320p. Bloomsbury. Aug. 2024. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781547612789.
Gr 3-7--Twelve-year-old Jaden Powers is dreading the end of the summer vacation when his best friend Elijah will depart for boarding school, leaving him behind with his overprotective parents, lonely days in junior high, and a pesky little brother. Jaden is looking forward to spending Elijah's first weekend home from school hanging out, when an unexpected tragedy takes Elijah away from Jaden and everyone else who loved him. When Jaden cries over a mysterious notebook that he finds at Elijah's memorial service, it suddenly reveals a secret world of magic. Jaden soon learns that Elijah hasn't been going to a fancy private school, and that he is actually a very powerful magician attending a school of sorcery in a hidden realm called Wonder. Jaden's grief at the loss of Elijah seems to have awakened magic within him, too, and he travels to Wonder to become a student of sorcery and save his best friend along with the rest of the world. This middle grade fantasy contains tropes reminiscent of classic wizard school stories like Harry Potter. Nevertheless, in creating a hero of a seemingly typical African American preteen boy and portraying the values of friendship, perseverance, self-confidence, compassion, and imagination, this novel does cover new ground in what is familiar literary terrain. VERDICT While not an essential purchase for junior high library collections, this will appeal to those enchanted by tales of wizard school adventures.--Kelly Kingrey-Edwards
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Kingrey-Edwards, Kelly. "PERRY, Jamar J.: Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic." School Library Journal, vol. 70, no. 8, Aug. 2024, p. 91. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A806586318/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=11c3a7be. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic
Jamar J. Perry. Bloomsbur y, $17.99 (320p)
ISBN 978-1-54761-278-9
Twelve-year-old Jaden Powers is reluctant to start seventh grade without his BFF Elijah, who will be attending a fancy new school for unknown reasons. Yet before the year begins, Jaden is told that Elijah has died, which he doesn't believe. After Jaden finds a note from Elijah explaining that he needs Jaden's help, strange things begin happening, such as Jaden suddenly being able to hear other people's thoughts and produce fire from his fingertips. Then Jaden is invited to attend the otherworldly Five Emergences School of Magic, the same place where Elijah had been a student, so he can practice his magic and train to become a sorcerer. Once there, Jaden is informed that Elijah had been stealing magic, and if he isn't found soon, he could die and both the magical realm of the Five Emergences and the mortal world could be destroyed. Memorable characters and vibrant worldbuilding brings this absorbing fantasy by Perry (the Cameron Battle series) to life. Jaden's unfettered resolve to help his best friend despite the odds is endearing, and themes of grief and healing are capably balanced alongside fast-paced, spellbinding adventure. Ages 8-11. Agent: Taj McCoy, Rees Literary. (Aug.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 PWxyz, LLC
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McCoy, Taj. "Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 18, 6 May 2024, pp. 49+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A799108259/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6a34fe0b. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
Perry, Jamar J. JADEN POWERS AND THE INHERITANCE MAGIC Bloomsbury (Children's None) $17.99 8, 27 ISBN: 9781547612789
A bashful boy searches for his vanished best friend in a magical world.
Jaden Powers, a timid Black 12-year-old, doesn't want to face seventh grade without his all-star, private school-going best friend, Elijah Williams, by his side. When Elijah disappears, Jaden demonstrates an unexpected gift of magic and vows to unravel the truth behind what happened to him. Soon Jaden is invited to join the Five Emergences School of Magic, where he'll learn how to become a Sorcerer--just like Elijah, it turns out. Shepherded by the enigmatic headmaster, Simeon Carmine, Jaden steps into the magical world of Wonder. There, rumors abound of Elijah's siphoning magic from others, behavior that's connected with the sudden appearance of the Ruin, a dark, potentially world-ending force. Aided by classmate Mikael Levine and water nymph Scion Midra from the kingdom of Atlantis, Jaden seeks to clear Elijah's name. Though familiar in its evocation of narrative and character tropes, Perry spins fine intrigue through compelling worldbuilding that's anchored by an amiable hero who unearths his inner strength thanks to compassion and determination. Eccentric bits of humor add flair to Wonder and its diverse, predominantly Black, cast. Meanwhile, the core relationship between Jaden and Elijah--which is full of love and loyalty--endures.
Utterly hypnotic. (Fantasy. 8-12)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Perry, Jamar J.: JADEN POWERS AND THE INHERITANCE MAGIC." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A797463277/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=eb678d09. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.