Children Of The Lamp: The Blue Djinn Of Babylon (Hardcover)

~ P. B. Kerr (Author)
Key Phrases: blue djinn, durbar room, djinn power, New York, Miss Glumjob, Miss Pickings (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8–This sequel to The Akhenaten Adventure (Scholastic, 2005) stands completely on its own. John and Philippa Gaunt, 12-year-old twins, are descended from a long line of djinn and have magical powers. Philippa has been practicing a dice game of particular interest to their kind, and meets the Blue Djinn of Babylon when she is accused of cheating in the annual tournament. Unfortunately, she is wrongly convicted, and John finds out that someone has stolen the Solomon Grimoire, which contains incantations that give the user limitless power over all djinn. In order to convince the Blue Djinn of her innocence, and to protect everyone from misuse of the Grimoire, the twins set off for Istanbul to recover the book. What neither one knows is that they have been set up and are walking into a trap. Once it is sprung, it will take all of Johns strength and intelligence to save Philippa; and she will need all of her cunning to survive. This wild ride has suspense and action, exotic locations, magic, and evil villains–all of the elements necessary for a good fantasy adventure. While some of the characters are two-dimensional, and some of the plot is a tad predictable, the main characters are totally believable in all their faults. Readers will also enjoy the original concept–that of the djinn society hidden among us. Give this book to readers looking for something different, maybe as an alternative to Jonathan Strouds Bartimaeus trilogy (Hyperion).–Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. Featuring adolescents initiated into a magical society invisible to unwitting "mundanes," the Children of the Lamp series nods vigorously to Harry Potter. The difference from many of its competitors, though, is the finesse with which it does so--no less apparent here than in The Akhenatan Adventure (2005), which most children will want to read first. Kidnapped by the ruthless Blue Djinn to succeed her as djinnkind's ultimate arbiter of justice, newly fledged djinn Philippa has been imprisoned to prepare her for the unwanted job. As family and friends work to find a more suitable replacement, Philippa's twin, John, must rescue her from an underground palace, accessed through an American military base in Iraq--an up-to-the-minute element that fits oddly with the narrative's old-fashioned tone (at one point, John creeps about "Indian-style," and what 12-year-old New Yorker uses words like quite and indeed?). At the same time, though, the plot also feels more controlled than its predecessor, with greater limitations to the magic preventing the heroes' paths from seeming artificially smooth. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Orchard Books; Book Club (BCE/BOMC) edition (February 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439670217
• ISBN-13: 978-0439865449
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #257,167 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great sequel, January 17, 2006

By	Jenny "Jen" (California) - See all my reviews

Dear readers,
If you are one of those readers deciding whether or not to try reading "The Blue Djinn of Babylon," you need not worry. Once you pick up this awesome book, you won't stop till you come to the final conclusion..... which hints of MORE to come!

In this complex, but well written plot, Kerr ought to be crowned for the most expected to achieve author. I bet my money that Kerr is the only author that has tried to squeeze so much into a storyline, and still succeeded in making the plot "fun, quirky, and interesting."

Warning: Even though this book is VERY good, I suggest reading the first book of the Children of the Lamps Series... you might be slow on the second book then. If you read this excellently written book, try to think of all the imagining and work that went behind it pages.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let's play "Find the Djinn", May 6, 2006

By	Amanda Richards "Modest to the extreme" (Georgetown, Guyana) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This second book in the “Children of the Lamp” series can be read without reading the first, but why would anyone want to do that? Both books are excellent adventures for both young adults and adults who think they’re still young, and should not be separated at any cost.

We take up the story with John and Phillipa Gaunt, the djinn twins from New York, suffering from the winter blues around the time of the Halloween festivities. Being fiery beings, cold weather tends to send their powers into hibernation, necessitating the summoning of a djinn doctor who specializes in holistic health treatments, and of course lots of accompanying tonic.

The twins’ mother Layla has renounced her powers to try to lead a normal life for her family’s sake, so she keeps tight control over their magical escapades, and when the doctor’s wayward son Dybbuk (call me Buck) lets them into a little secret for recharging their magical batteries, they jump at the chance for a little magic on the side.

Their friend Mr. Rakshasas (an Irish-accented Indian djinn who lives in a lamp) has written a very significant and important book, and at the book-launching party their kindly Uncle Nimrod introduces them to the who’s who of djinn society, including Stan Bunyip of Australia and David Kabikaj of Canada, as well as the Cruella de Ville of evil djinn, Mimi de Ghule. At this meeting Phillipa learns that Ayesha the Blue Djinn (leader, judge and jury of all djinn, good or evil) is almost ready to retire, and is looking for a successor.

Phillipa is an accomplished Djinnverso player (djinn poker, but with seven eight-sided dice) and enters a tournament at the Algonquin Hotel in New York, (the spot for the cleverest writers and wittiest actors, and the place where stylish insults are encouraged), but unfortunately things don’t go very well for her. To make matters worse, they learn that The Book of Solomon is missing. Solomon’s Grimoire is a powerful book that can help a djinn or magus to control many other djinn, and is normally kept in a safe place by the Blue Djinn herself.

John and Phillipa set out on a quest to recover the book, but the rescue operation hits a snag when Phillipa is kidnapped. The cavalry then springs into action, led by John, with the assistance of Uncle Nimrod, Mr. Rakshasas, the family dogs, and the crabby, competent, and never-basically-boring Mr. Groanin, (who thoughtfully packed supplies of dog food, and an enticing Kendall Mint Cake,) and this leads us to many exciting chapters fraught with danger, packed with adventure, suspense, current affairs, humor (lots of it) and magic.

Set in exciting locations such as Istanbul, Iraq and Guiana (French Guiana that is, just a whirlwind ride from Guyana in South America), this book differentiates itself from regular run of the mill fantasy stories, and prepares the stage for book three, due at the end of 2006. We can’t wait!!!


Amanda Richards, May 7, 2006

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb fantasy for youth, August 16, 2006

By	Beverly Dyer (McCalla, Al USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am 60 years old and have just retired as an elementary and middle school librarian. I love to read and totally adore reading fantasy. I am one of those 60 year olds who feel as though they are 13. The Children of the Lamp series really took hold of my heart as I listened to both on tape. P. B. Kerr is very creative and has a gift for providing a very exciting setting. His books leave you in suspense as to what is going to happen in the next book. I can't wait for book 3. My granddaughters are now reading the book and loving every word. That, of course, is the real test to me - how well my 10 and 11 year old granddaughters enjoy the book. They love fantasy like their grandmother and are avid readers. John and Phillippa are good role models for children as they are good and kind. They are highly intelligent and have a love for learning as well as adventure. As twin siblings, they are very devoted to each other and their family. You cannot help but love them. I highly recommend this series to our youth and to all wannabe youths like myself.

Beverly Dyer
August 16, 2006