The Genie Game
Grant wishes. Earn points. Escape the game!
Published on 21. April 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
368 pages
978-1-80078-526-7 (ISBN)
Description
From New York Times bestselling author Jordan Ifueko comes a dazzling middle-grade adventure set in a glitzy, dystopian Los Angeles where a young girl on a mission to save her sister finds herself thrust into a world of genies, magic and mystery!
ONE WISH COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING. BUT WHAT IF THE GAME IS RIGGED?
Thirteen-year-old Valentine Adesanya is desperate to find her missing big sister, Mango. So when a mysterious text from Mango leads her to a boba shop, Valentine follows. But when she arrives, instead of finding her sister, she's pulled into the Genie Realm, a magical world where kids become 'genies' and grant wishes to power the Trio Trust, the mega-corporations secretly running Gloss Angeles.
To escape and rescue Mango, Valentine must compete in the Genie Game: a wish-granting contest where only cleverness, grit and a little chaos will get her to the top. But as she climbs the leaderboard, Valentine uncovers a monstrous secret buried beneath the glittering surface. Has the game been rigged against her since the start? How did the Trio Trust get so powerful? And why do they seem so afraid of Valentine Adesanya?
Harriet the Spy meets Black Mirror in this thrilling middle-grade debut from the bestselling and critically acclaimed author of the Raybearer books. Perfect for fans of Nevermoor, The Marvellers and Percy Jackson!
ONE WISH COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING. BUT WHAT IF THE GAME IS RIGGED?
Thirteen-year-old Valentine Adesanya is desperate to find her missing big sister, Mango. So when a mysterious text from Mango leads her to a boba shop, Valentine follows. But when she arrives, instead of finding her sister, she's pulled into the Genie Realm, a magical world where kids become 'genies' and grant wishes to power the Trio Trust, the mega-corporations secretly running Gloss Angeles.
To escape and rescue Mango, Valentine must compete in the Genie Game: a wish-granting contest where only cleverness, grit and a little chaos will get her to the top. But as she climbs the leaderboard, Valentine uncovers a monstrous secret buried beneath the glittering surface. Has the game been rigged against her since the start? How did the Trio Trust get so powerful? And why do they seem so afraid of Valentine Adesanya?
Harriet the Spy meets Black Mirror in this thrilling middle-grade debut from the bestselling and critically acclaimed author of the Raybearer books. Perfect for fans of Nevermoor, The Marvellers and Percy Jackson!
Reviews / Votes
The Genie Game is equal parts hilarious and heartwarming. Jordan Ifueko has created a world where imagination is the only cost of admittance, and magic and adventure wait around every glossy corner. * Kwame Mbalia, New York Times bestselling author of the Tristan Strong series * Lighthearted but grapples age-appropriately with heavy themes, such as exploitation under capitalism, labor rights, and the epidemic of missing women of color... Positive, powerful, and action-packed; will hook adventurous readers. * Kirkus Reviews, starred review * Action-packed and pacey, The Genie Game manages to be light-hearted in tone whilst packing a powerful punch in terms of themes such as monopolies and exploitation. . . the world-building of the story is brilliant . . . a very thought-provoking read. * ReadingZone * Youngsters will love meeting Valentine who, armed only with her brain and her boldness, takes on the bad guys in a thrilling, genre-bending world. With themes of identity, political activism and resistance, The Genie Game is both thought-provoking and exciting. * Yorkshire Evening Post * Clever writing dazzles with whimsical details... This impressive volume is at once playfully imaginative and grimly familiar in its portrayal of capitalism's influence and the power of corruption. * Publishers Weekly * New York Times best-seller Ifueko has crafted a fantastically dystopian world of artificiality while taking the be-careful-what-you-wish-for trope to a new level. The satirical commentary on capitalism, technology, and industrialization provides for an intense but humorous story that is digestible for young readers and entertaining for adults, too. * Booklist * A diverse, though-provoking and fast-paced thriller for 9+ year olds. Highly recommended. * The School Reading List * A powerful, action-packed adventure that leaves readers eagerly awaiting what comes next for Valentine and her family. * Red Reading Hub * Action-packed and pacey, 'The Genie Game' manages to be light-hearted in tone whilst packing a powerful punch in terms of themes such as monopolies and exploitation. . . The world building of the story is brilliant. . . a very thought-provoking read. * Through the Bookshelf * Blending gaming and ancient magic this story is compulsive reading, you have been warned. . . Addictive! * Armadillo Magazine * Entertaining. . . I recommend this unusual roller coaster novel * The Letterpress Project *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Templar Books
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 9 years
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
250 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80078-526-7 (9781800785267)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Jordan Ifueko is the New York Times bestselling author of the RAYBEARER series and the Disney-Marvel comics MOON GIRL & DEVIL DINOSAUR. She's a Nebula Award, Ignyte Award, Audie Award and Hugo Lodestar finalist. She writes about magic Black girls who aren't magic all the time, because honestly, they deserve a vacation. Ifueko lives in Atlanta with her husband and their tripawd dog.