The Secret of Ka

by Christopher Pike

Overview

One minute Sara's bored on vacation in Istanbul. The next, she's unearthed a flying carpet that cleverly drags her to the mysterious Island of the Djinn—or genies. By her side is Amesh, a cute guy she has a crush on but doesn't yet trust. When Amesh learns the secret of invoking djinn, he loses control. He swears he'll call upon only one djinn and make one wish. The plan sounds safe enough. But neither Sara nor Amesh are any match for the monster that that swells before them. It hypnotizes Amesh, compelling him to steal Sara’s flying carpet and leave her stranded on the island.Discovering the carpet has sparked a new path for Sara, one that will lead her to battle creatures even deadlier than djinn. In this fight, Sara can save mankind, herself, or the boy she cares for. Who will she be forced to sacrifice?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547505435
Publisher:	HMH Books
Publication date:	09/13/2010
Sold by:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Format:	NOOK Book
Pages:	416
Lexile:	570L (what's this?)
File size:	228 KB
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

CHRISTOPHER PIKE is a bestselling and popular author of over forty teen thrillers, such as the Remember Me and Chain Letter series. He is also the author of the Alosha Trilogy and Thirst No. 1, a New York Times bestseller.

Editorial Reviews

* "The author ably juggles this central plot, creepy and elegant descriptions of the djinn, and even some juicy family drama to create a freewheeling, suspenseful action novel. Readers who recognize Pike as a key name in teen horror may be initially surprised by this subtly frightening adventure story, but there are still enough gross details mixed in to please even his hardcore fans."--Bulletin, starred review

"Pike’s work is about action and twists, both of which are packed into the narrative."--Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

Gr 6–8—This fantasy adventure delves into the world of magic genies and flying carpets. Sara is spending her summer with her father in Istanbul. She is bored and stuck in a hotel because it is too hot to go outside, until she meets Amesh, a delivery boy in her father's company. She tricks him into taking her to the construction site, where she finds a magic carpet. Their first trip takes them to a strange island where they find several temples, each one inhabited by a djinn. Amesh releases one and falls under its control. He steals the carpet and returns to the mainland, leaving Sara stranded on the island. In order to get back and save Amesh from the danger he had gotten himself into, she must take charge of the djinn herself and become a Kala. However, powerful forces want to control the carpet and Sara. This story explores cultural differences, Middle Eastern mythology, and friendship. It is more lighthearted than Pike's recent vampire series and will attract a younger audience.—Erik Carlson, New York Public Library

School Library Journal

Fifteen-year-old Sara Sashee Wilcox developed a major crush on Amesh Demir moments before she tried to take a package from him in the lobby of a Turkish hotel. He later agrees to escort her to her father's construction site, where the pair uncover a mysterious carpet that flies them to a remote location occupied with djinn temples. When the carpet of Ka is stolen from her, Sara learns that the djinn are involved in an epic battle with forces that may yet destroy the world, and her destiny is tied into that battle. Narrator Sara embraces the American-abroad stereotype with enthusiasm: Foreign people are loud, the boys are hot and conservative men ignore advice from girls. There's very little characterization, but Pike's work is about action and twists, both of which are packed into the narrative. Shallow self-examination and inevitable betrayal crop up, but as plot devices rather than character elements. The soap-opera model has propelled Pike through the literary world, and there's no reason to change now.(Fantasy/thriller. 12 & up)

Kirkus Reviews

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