Synopsis
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!
Details
21 April 2026
9781800785267Imprint: Piccadilly Press
Reviews
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.
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.
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.
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.
