Race to Fire Mountain: 1 (Future Hero)

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Ulfrika, for instance, was created by a team made up of researchers, writers and storyliners. It is a unique world, rich in myth and legend, and full of magic and technology. Writers are collaborative creatures, so brainstorming a mythical world through an Afrofuturist lens can be extremely fun when we get to bounce ideas around the room. That’s not it! Hey, open your eyes Katsuki, I need you to look at me. Do you still want to play with the doggy?” Legsy (short for Olegu, God of Doorways) realises that Jarell has seen into the mirror and is actually the one who is going to rescue the realm of Ulfrika from Ikala the sorcerer. After Legsy carves a magical pattern into his hairdo, Jarell journeys to Ulfrika on the first of his quests. He encounters Kimisi, a warrior and apprentice to the goddess Ayana. Together they go in search of the first of the Iron Animals needed to complete the magical staff of Kundi. Katsuki learns the rules. He is not allowed to move in the bad way. He is not allowed to be quiet in the bad way. His parents want him to be still and they want him to talk, even when it’s uncomfortable, otherwise they get mad and hold his hands until Katsuki says out loud that he will stop. It’s only the beginning of Katsuki’s new violent streak. It feels good to hit people, he understands why his mother loves to slap him. Sometimes it’s the best way to resolve your difficult feelings. Sometimes it’s the only way a bad kid will learn. Sometimes it’s the only outlet Katsuki has. It’s not in the rules, and it makes him better, it makes him more like his mom. So that must mean they want him to, because Katsuki just wants to be praised again.

The whole class crowds around him with nothing but awe on their faces. Katsuki listens to their crows of amazement. It makes him feel giddy. It burns. Not hurting anyone? Look at him, Masaru. You want him doing this in front of everyone at school? What about that Midoriya kid, you want him to end up like that?” She yells. The structure was odd. I’ve read younger demographic books like this before and in spite of being more simplistic due to the nature of the demographic, they usually are paced fairly evenly to make sure each act has a significant event to balance the story out. It will be predictable, certainly, but that's also a part of younger children learning to read and learning how a book generally 'should' be constructed. This book essentially had no middle. It was heavy on the set-up, then heavy on the resolution before hitting a wall. The exploration of the universe i.e. why I should even care about saving Ulfrika or Jarell’s burgeoning love for it, is totally missing.Katsuki bristles slightly, the kid is talking more than he’s ever heard anyone talk, but he’s not really encroaching on Katsuki’s space. It helps that he’s not even looking at Katsuki as he rambles. Katsuki doesn’t even feel pressured to answer.

He wants, desperately, to be praised, to feel normal. When he makes his mom proud, the agonizing void in his gut closes up. For that moment he’s earned the relief, but it doesn’t last. There’s something deeper in him, however. There’s a want in him that’s small but stronger than anything else. His dad makes a loud noise, Katsuki flinches. Then there are hands on his shoulders. The sensation makes his skin crawl, like warm saliva flooding his brain. Katsuki screams, desperately trying to get it to stop. They exchange information, Izuku is so happy at the idea of seeing Katsuki again that he jumps up and down, shaking his head and flapping his hands. Katsuki thinks he feels the same, he thinks that looks fun. He shakes his hands just a little bit.

Early in the first book, it seems like everyone is asking Jarell what makes him so special, in a condescending way. It’s so much fun and so meaningful to see him begin to understand that he really is special as he finds community and connects to his roots. What do you hope readers take away from his journey? When he stops to catch his breath, his body feels weirdly light and floaty. Then Katsuki realizes he’s sitting against a tree. He has no idea how long he’s been here. His mouth is dry and his head is starting to hurt. Stupid, can’t even handle a little exercise. Jarell loves to draw. He doesn’t enjoy sport, and knows he lives in the shadow of his cool and popular older brother. He always feels awkward and out of place, unless he is drawing the figures and technology that come into his creative imagination. Stupid, damn brat. Can’t even keep his balance on a stupid log. They’re laughing at you. They’re going to tell everyone and your mom isn’t going to smile anymore when she hears about the mess you made. He’s the same age. Katsuki has seen him around plenty, he likes to tag along with other kids like Katsuki does, but they don’t normally interact outside of that. His hair is messy and his little hands flap around gently at his waist. Katsuki frowns, he’s not supposed to do that.

Jarell is astonished to learn from Legsy that he is actually the fabled one who is going to rescue the realm of Ulfrika from Ikala, the evil sorcerer. Jarell journeys to Ulfrika on the first of his quests. There he encounters Kimisi, a warrior and apprentice to the goddess Ayana. Together they go in search of the first of the Iron Animals needed to complete the magical staff of Kundi. Told in accessible short chapters, filled with action and humour, this is a fun fast-paced adventure – with plenty more books in the series coming soon!

But I’d say how my degree mostly influenced me is that it made me not want to go into an industry or field that I didn’t have a passion in. I have no interest in becoming an economist or being a History teacher, and so I focus on writing and that’s ok. It’s ok to change your mind and that’s been a valuable lesson. For what?” Izuku doesn’t even glance up as he spins around in circles, eventually falling to the ground in a heap of giggles. He’s the only one not participating in the teasing. Katsuki stares at Izuku’s face and watches as his eyes start watering. Izuku hasn’t said anything since breaking the news, and there’s a glassy sheen across his eyes. It’s almost like something is stopping him. If it were Katsuki, he would have been restrained until he forced out the right words. No one does that for Izuku. Katsuki doesn’t know why. Jarrell has a lot of trouble paying attention and school and would rather spend his time drawing. This gets him into some trouble with his teachers, especially Mr. Mordi. His parents have to work a lot, so he is occasionally home alone. His older brother, Lucas, is more athletic and doesn't have a lot of patience with him. When Jarrell forgets his key to get home again, Lucas doesn't want to let him in, and Jarrell meets up with his cousin, Omari, who is re-opening his father's barbershop, Fades. He has renovated the inside after a flood, and even hung up a lot of Jarrell's artwork! Omari introduces him to his friend, Legsy, who is very impressed with the artwork and encourages Jarrell. When Jarrell enters the VIP room, it looks oddly familiar, and after he looks into an antique mirror, he finds himself in another world! There's a red clay temple and a sorcerer, Ikala, and a goddess, Ayana, from his drawings! Ikala wants to regain the Staff of Kundi that Ayana is keeping from him because it was made specifically to destroy him. The two fight, and Jarrell doesn't know what to do. Eventually, that scene fades, but the expression on his face lets Legsy know that he has seen into Ulfrika. Legsy then tells Jarrel that he is really Olegu, the God of Doorways, and he has created the portal. He's been looking for a true descendant of Kundi to help with this this world. Jarrell also meets Kimisi, who is Ayana's apprentice. Working with people from Ulfrika, Jarrell is able to harness his powers as an heir of Kundi to save this alternative world. Will he be able to?

Mitsuki, please. Can’t you just let him go this time?” Masaru’s exhausted voice drifts over from where he sits on the couch, not bothering to look up from his newspaper. Jarell is the main character. He loves to draw, doesn’t enjoy sport, and lives in the shadow of his cool, popular, older brother Lucas. Jarell always feels awkward and out of place compared to Lucas who seems to fit in effortlessly. Unless, that is, he is drawing the figures and technology that come into his imagination and seem to take over his thoughts. I saw you on the damn news channel and then you didn't come home for hours. Show some respect. We both know you fall apart at the drop of a hat.”

Are you kidding? Our boy wants to be the number one and he can’t even hold his own against some rando with an overinflated ego. How’s he supposed to make it at the top hero school?”