Shinji Takahashi
Into the Heart of the Storm
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High-tech wizardry, old world legends and a little bit of Disney magic all shine through in Shinji Takahashi: Into the Heart of the Storm, the second book in the Society of Explorers and Adventurers series from renowned best-selling author, Julie Kagawa.
As Shinji struggles to understand and control his new guardian magic, the members of S.E.A. learn that a sunken ship belonging to the long extinct Natia people has been found on the floor of the Pacific Ocean. Shinji, Lucy and Tinker, along with Oliver Ocean and Phoebe Mystic, a quirky, enthusiastic magic expert who has been called in to help Shinji, head off to check out the wreckage, hoping to get there before the Hightower Corporation can plunder the site, and picking up a young stowaway by the name of Roux along the way.
But nothing goes as planned, and when Shinji accidentally awakens a guardian who's been hidden on a mysterious island and trapped inside a volcano for a century, he causes a volcanic eruption and releases a massive hurricane that threatens the entire coast of California. Now Shinji must learn to control his powers and best his fears so that he can stop the destruction and regain the trust of S.E.A before it's too late.
About this Author
Julie Kagawa is the New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Fey, Blood of Eden, Talon, and Shadow of the Fox series. At the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She worked as a professional dogtrainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full time. Julie now lives in North Carolina with her husband, two obnoxious cats, and a pair of Australian Shepherds. You can follow her on Instagram or Twitter @JKagawa or check out her website at juliekagawa.com.
Reviews
A young explorer and his teammates head into the eye of the storm on their latest mission. Since being anointed guardian of a mythical Mesoamerican feathered serpent in Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl (2022), Shinji has become increasingly frustrated over not being able to utilize his magic. A momentary distraction comes when the Society of Explorers and Adventurers picks up a call: A shipwreck has been discovered containing invaluable artifacts from the legendary Natia people of Polynesia. Thirteen-year-old Shinji and his friend Lucy accompany the team, hoping to preserve the find before agents from the nefarious Hightower Corporation can plunder the site. New crew member Phoebe Mystic coaches Shinji in using powers, and master pickpocket Roux stows away on the submarine. Onboard, Shinji experiences visions of a tremendous boar, a Polynesian deity connected to hurricanes, who appears amid storm clouds and lightning. The team eventually finds an island formerly inhabited by the Natia people. While they explore the deserted village, Shinji, prompted by his visions, unleashes the Storm Boar, and a destructive hurricane heads for land. The only remedy is to break into Hightower to recover a stolen idol that will appease the boar. Kagawa explores friendship, classism, and collaborating with others as the diverse crew members learn to pull together. Readers may have lingering questions about Shinji's Storm Boar visions, but this tightly written, action-packed narrative pleases. A satisfying adventure. (Fantasy. 9-12)- Kirkus (Feb 15, 2023)
Gr 3-6-Now that Shinji has the mark of the Coatl on his arm, he is supposed to possess magic powers, but those powers appear to have ceased. Despite Oliver Ocean's best training and simulation efforts, Shinji can't harness his powers at will. Word of the Natia people's existence has come to S.E.A.'s attention and they are anxious to find evidence in the form of a sunken ship in the South Pacific before the enemy Hightower does. Shinji requests that he joins Oliver on this expedition, as does Lucy and her trusty little rat Tinker. Aboard the ship Seas the Day, they set off on a whirlwind adventure of time warps, volcanoes, angry boars, and deadly hurricanes. Working together, the S.E.A. team must solve an ancient mystery, one that could have deadly consequences for everyone. Will Shinji be able to harness the powers within? VERDICT A perfect follow-up to Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl, this sequel offers equal parts wit and adventure.- SLJ (Mar 1, 2023)
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