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  • City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda
  • April Spisak

Chadda, Sarwat City of the Plague God. Rick Riordan/Disney Hyperion, 2021 [400p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781368051507 $16.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781368066631 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 5-9

Running the family deli is exactly the distraction Sikander needs after the loss of his older brother, Mo. Sik, a thirteen-year-old Iraqi American, has taken in all of the Mesopotamian mythology that his brother taught him, but he is still slow to recognize the plague god Nergal when he shows up in New York City. Nergal wants something that he is sure Sik has, and suddenly, Sik is thrown into a life or death rush to save New York from a plague by finding a special flower. At least Sik has a few key allies: Belet, the angry adopted daughter of Ishtar; Daoud, a young man who is ferociously loyal to Mo's memory and will do anything to help Mo's little brother; and ancient hero Gilgamesh, who dispenses wisdom as he gardens. Chadda carefully weaves in references to Islamophobia and troubling American views on Muslims, and he also provides enough background to reconcile Muslim religious beliefs and this book's primary focus on multiple ancient gods. An author's note and a glossary offer more information on Arabic, Islamic, and Mesopotamian [End Page 164] terms used in the novel, as well as details on how this book came about. The Rick Riordan bump will get the title initial attention, but the unusual characters, welldeveloped plot, and perfect balance of witty humor and rapid-fire adventure will keep even those entirely unfamiliar with the mythology or cultural and religious content fully engaged, with Chadda wisely trusting his readers to figure it out while on the run with Sik.

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