Inspiring Young Readers

posted on 29 May 2026

The Genie Game by Jordan Ifueko

I need to point out that I am probably not the intended audience for this dystopian novel by an award winning and bestselling American author who ‘writes about magic Black girls who aren’t magic all the time, because honestly, they deserve a vacation’. It is set in what used to be known as Los Angeles where a young girl leaves behind her rather humdrum life at home to become immersed in a strange and fantastic world of gaming that changes how she views the world. I am always keen to learn about different interests and decided to review the book on how the characters and plot would hopefully keep me interested.

Thirteen-year-old Valentine Adesanya is a feisty wannabe film director and is determined to find out why her dull parents appear to have forgotten her elder sister Mango, who used to be an integral part of all their lives until her graduation one year ago. To add to the oddness of the situation, she herself has only just remembered about her, and is keen to find out where she has gone and why she has temporarily disappeared from their memories.

She is a compelling narrator from the outset who draws in the reader with her evident frustration with her parents who appear to be brainwashed by The Trio Trust, described as three huge companies that own almost every other business in the USA. This has almost destroyed all small businesses by selling stuff very cheaply and buying up buildings and land. She feels uncomfortable about this and is dismayed that her parents don’t seem to be aware of the potential problems. Instead, they have totally bought into the idea of an easy, trouble-free life where they don’t have to make decisions. Even birthday parties are a thing of the past and are organised through the Celebration Centre:

‘For every ten birthdays you celebrate there, you get a funeral or a bingo night for free!’

As with all good children’s books, the parents are dismissed as unessential to the progress of the plot which frees Valentine to begin her quest. She tries to contact her by text but gets a very suspicious response inviting her to come to a fancy two storey café called ‘The Boba Bubble’ at Gleaming Beach. I liked the way in which she confidently deals with the drones that pursue her with advertising:

‘I’m a minor! You can’t advertise your products to me more than three times an hour. It’s the law’ 

She is puzzled to find that the meeting place seems run down and rather ordinary fronted by a scruffy guy with a name tag that reads GABE. After some entertaining banter, he tells her to make a wish and then the magic and her considerable troubles begin. It seems that the café itself is in fact a living speaking force that has the power to make her a Genie! I was hooked as I wondered if this extraordinary revelation would help her to find her elusive sister. 

I am of course not going to reveal whether this happens, because you will want to read and enjoy it for yourself. The complications lie in her needing to compete in a wish granting contest where she must summon all of her native wit and imagination to come out on top. Along the way, she reveals herself to have a strong commitment to justice and fair play in the face of the sinister and powerful Trio Trust. This will encourage plenty of reflection about whether the real world has similar features that we need to consider and challenge.     

I recommend this unusual roller coaster novel published by Bonnier Books. It should be available from your local independent bookshop who will order a copy if not already on their shelves.

Karen Argent

May 2026