Shad Hadid and the Forbidden Alchemies by George Jreije

George Jrejie delivers another thrilling and action-packed middle grade fantasy adventure in this sequel to Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria.

After defeating the necromancers and bringing alchemy back to the Alexandria Academy, Shad Hadid is ready for an exciting second term at school. It doesn’t hurt that he’s being called a hero, but the new lessons are harder than he expected and his mentor, Kahem, is nowhere to be found.

When Shad intercepts a letter from an informant with a possible clue for thwarting the necromancers’ evil plans once and for all, he's determined to help. Joined by his friends, Shad embarks on a perilous journey across Lebanon to track down this secretive stranger.

But shadowy forces lurk around every corner, eager to take revenge on the Alexandria Academy's young heroes—and not everyone is as they seem. Unable to tell who they can trust, will Shad and his friends be able to find what they seek and save their school?

As Soman Chainani (The School for Good and Evil) noted of the first book: "Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria is a heart-warming, mouth-watering tale packed to the brim with humor, action, and culinary delights. Alchemizing the magic school trope with traditional Lebanese culture, author George Jreije creates a rich one-of-a-kind world that readers won’t want to leave. Like a delicious home-cooked meal, this book is straight from the heart, a touching tale about family and friendship that is sure to resonate with children and parents alike."

George Jreije is the Lebanese-American author of the Shad Hadid children's fantasy series as well as the upcoming graphic novel, Tarik’s Bazaar Adventure, both with HarperCollins. He has also written short stories published in collaboration with UNICEF. When not writing, George enjoys scouring the world for tasty Arab pastries, messing with new yoga poses, and meeting fellow bookworms. Learn more about George at www.georgejreije.com.