The Call to Shakabaz

The Call to Shakabaz
by Amy Wachspress

THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ by

Category: Fantasy

Age Recommendation: Grades 6+

Release Date: 1/15/07

Publisher: Woza Books

Reviewed by:

Rating: 5 Stars

Doshmisi, Denzel, Maia, and Sonjay always thought Aunt Alice's Manzanita Ranch was a great place to visit, but

they never

thought they would have to live there. But when their mother died unexpectedly, that's where they moved

to. It hasn't been

very long since then, and the kids are bored stiff. It's a good thing they have the family Midsummer

party to look forward

to. Although without their mom, or even the cousins who are inexplicably absent, even that

might not be much fun.

What starts out as a rather dull, depressing day gets a lot more interesting with a strange lesson in family history. It

turns out

that the two brothers and two sisters are "The Four." Descendants of a line of four brothers and sisters who

can pass

through their own dimension and into Faracadar. With their mother gone, the time of their mother and aunt

and uncles have

passed. It is up to the new Four now.

But what is "it"? Trust me, they want to know as much as you do. Unfortunately, one of the rules is that they don't

get to

know much the first time around. All they know is that they have to get the Staff of Shakabaz away from a guy

named

Sissrath. Who that is, how they do it, why they have to, and even what Faracadar is, they'll have to figure out

for

themselves. They'll have to work together, learning what each of their strengths are and how to use them, and

maybe they'll

be able to pull it all off.

THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ is richly imagined and incredibly detailed, both land and story. At first it's a bit like a

modern

version of THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE. But by the end of the tale you realize it's

so much deeper

than that. This is a book about finding personal strength, in all different forms, and appreciating the

talents of others, and the

strength in uniting different people, and so much more! I want to buy a copy for everyone I

know, regardless of age, race,

or sex. It's part fantasy, part history lesson, part real life -- I can't even describe it!

But, it's beautiful, and it's kind of a

picture of what I'd like to see our world look like. Although maybe without the

greenish sun -- that might be a little weird.