Author: Amy Wachspress
ISBN: 978-0-9788350-2-6



Amy Wachspress's The Call to Shakabaz is a cross-cultural fantasy novel
aimed at students from grades four to nine. And you can probably liken the
heroes of this fantasy novel to the Harry Potters of African-Americans.


From the first sentence,  the  readers are caught up in the adventures of 
Doshmisi, Denzel, Maia and Sonjay, whose mom, Debbie recently passed away.
What they did not know is that they were of enchanters' lineage. Their
grandmother, with whom they were sent to live after their mom died, arms
them with special protective amulets and expedites them to fantasy land
through Angels Gate.

It is here where they are met by their aunt who informs them they have to
retrieve the staff of Shakabaz from the evil enchanter Sisrath which by
right belongs to Sonjay. Doshmisi listens to the song of the trees that
tell her that the staff of Shakabaz was made from the oldest tree in the
land and that Sissrath stole it for evil purposes.

The children learn the meaning of friendship and courage as they battle the
dangerous elements that prevent them from retrieving the staff of Shakabaz.

Wachspress has a fertile imagination as she crafts a myriad of
well-developed good and evil characters that surround the family as they
move on to save the staff of Shakabaz.

I particularly liked her description of an African-American where she
describes her as "light skin of a dusky brown color tinged by a vibrant
 violet." Or "the color of the Fours:  brown people with a skin like black
 grapes.'
The dialogue of the various characters is engaging and her style of writing
is bright.

Will the Four be able to rescue the world from Sisrath and his smelly
cohort Compost?

The above review was contributed by:    Lily Azerad-Goldman: Artist: CLICK TO VIEW Lily Azerad-Goldman's Reviews