The Charmingly Clever Cousin

January 1, 2007
Gr 3-5-In the second book in this fantasy series, Fatima lives with her sister's family in an unnamed Middle Eastern country. The 12-year-old babysits her nephew, despite the protests of her brother-in-law, Ahmed, who worries that she is too irresponsible for the job. When she flies away on a magic carpet, leaving the baby in the care of a maid, he is furious. Upon Fatima's return, Selime, believing that her sister is lonely, allows her to invite her princess friends for a visit. Also visiting is Ahmed's beguiling cousin, Yusuf. Mystery ensues when Ahmed is kidnapped and Yusuf begins redecorating the palace. Of course, the princesses, with the help of the magic carpet, uncover Yusuf's plot. This is a disappointing story. The characters seem like caricatures: Ahmed is always angry, Selime is sweet, Fatima is flighty but has a good heart, and Yusuf is smart but evil. The book's pace and suspense increase toward the end, but the solution is predictable. The accompanying cartoons are mediocre at best."Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR"

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