STELLAR STORIES: The Gauntlet

Written by Karuna Riazi

Salaam Reads, 2017. 298 p. Fiction

At Farah's 12th birthday party, she is anxious to break away from her nosy, needy little brother, Ahmed, and reconnect with her distanced best friends. When she receives a present that looks like a harmless board game called "The Gauntlet of Blood and Sand", until the little game pieces start to take the faces of the players. The kids decide playing the game is not a good idea. But when Ahmed suddenly disappears into the game Farah and her friends have to join the game and save her brother.

Sucked into an alternate, dark world, the gang must complete dangerous tasks and avoid nefarious opponents. As they solve puzzles and get closer to finding Ahmed, Farah learns the importance of friendship and family while testing her whits. This stellar story is a great Jumanji spin-off with a dark and creepy twist. With mechanical monkeys and an all-knowing Architect to the game, this book will keep you enthralled.

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