Black Panther: Spellbound

Gr 3-7–In this standalone sequel to Black Panther: The Young Prince, Smith reunites Prince T’Challa with his American friends, Sheila and Zeke. Smith crafts a story that fully embraces the reader and transports them to a sweltering summer in Alabama, where T’Challa spends his summer vacation. Visiting Sheila’s Grandma Rose, the trio plans to see the sites and take in all Birmingham has to offer. Vacation starts with a trip to the fair, where the crew see The Amazing Bob the Acrobat. A quick smirk and familiar accent alert T’Challa that there is more to Bob than meets the eye. His curiosity and suspicion are further established when The Amazing Bob shows up again on the following day when the group visits the famous Vulcan Park. Performing an act of daring and scattering fliers promoting a rally in town square, The Amazing Bob proves he is no mere carnival acrobat. Giving into curiosity, the trio attend Bob’s rally and soon realize that trouble is brewing in Alabama. After locals start to go missing and T’Challa receives some disturbing messages, the three amateur sleuths set out to crack the case and maybe save the world. While a sequel, Spellbound, stands well on its own. Smith deftly incorporates American history and culture to create a rich backdrop that gives value to the actions of T’Challa and friends. Vibrant, descriptive writing creates a visual reading experience. All main characters are Black.