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Review: The Genie Game

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The Genie Game
By Jordan Ifueko
Amulet Books, 2026. Fiction. 368 pages.

13-year-old Valentine Adensya knows she has a sister, even though her parents would swear otherwise. Mango seems to have been erased from everyone's memory until Valentine remembers her sister then receives a message from her telling Valentine to meet her at a boba shop. At the shop the strange boy behind the counter asks Valentine to make a wish–and when she wishes her sister was there she's finds out she's been sucked into a magical game: The Genie Game. Forced to live in her boba shop "bottle" until she can score 300,000 points and save herself from the game, Valentine finds that all is not okay in Gloss Angeles. Three main corporations have taken over the entire supply chain of every good in the market and are exploiting both their employees and consumers as they try to take over more and more of the world. Plus they are harnessing the wish energy Valentine creates by granting wishes to get even more power. Will Valentine be able to use her powers to help people while also finding and freeing her sister who has been captured by one of the evil corporations? Only time will tell.

Valentine is a character kids will love to root for, and readers will find themselves endlessly debating which of the many potential allies Valentine should side with. For those who like dystopian fantasy or anyone who likes a good adventure, this book is a great choice. Be warned though, it's the first in a series and you WILL want to know what's coming next. 

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