Shinji Takahashi: Into the Heart of the Storm - (The Society of Explorers and Adventurers) by Julie Kagawa (Hardcover)

About the Book

Thirteen-year-old Shinji and his S.E.A. cohorts travel to a forgotten island in Polynesia in search of a lost culture.

Book Synopsis

The Disney Parks' best kept secret (society) is now a romping middle grade adventure series from New York Times bestselling author Julie Kagawa!

Shinji Takahashi has learned a lot as a member of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers--like how to scale a cliff with nothing but some rope and good luck, or how to outsmart a serpent warrior in the middle of the jungle. One thing he hasn't learned, however, is how to control his newfound guardian magic, or what this magic means for him.

After members of S.E.A. learn that a sunken ship belonging to the long-extinct Natia people has been found on the floor of the Pacific Ocean, Shinji and his friends head off to check out the wreckage, hoping to get there before the Hightower Corporation can plunder the site.

But when Shinji accidentally awakens a guardian who's been trapped inside a volcano for a century, it causes a volcanic eruption and releases a massive hurricane that threatens the entire coast of California. Now Shinji must learn to control his powers and best his fears so that he can stop the destruction and regain the trust of S.E.A. before it's too late.

To do so, he must head into the heart of the storm.

Review Quotes

A young explorer and his teammates head into the eye of the storm on their latest mission. Since being anointed guardian of a mythical Mesoamerican feathered serpent in Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl (2022), Shinji has become increasingly frustrated over not being able to utilize his magic. A momentary distraction comes when the Society of Explorers and Adventurers picks up a call: A shipwreck has been discovered containing invaluable artifacts from the legendary Natia people of Polynesia. Thirteen-year-old Shinji and his friend Lucy accompany the team, hoping to preserve the find before agents from the nefarious Hightower Corporation can plunder the site. New crew member Phoebe Mystic coaches Shinji in using powers, and master pickpocket Roux stows away on the submarine. Onboard, Shinji experiences visions of a tremendous boar, a Polynesian deity connected to hurricanes, who appears amid storm clouds and lightning. The team eventually finds an island formerly inhabited by the Natia people. While they explore the deserted village, Shinji, prompted by his visions, unleashes the Storm Boar, and a destructive hurricane heads for land. The only remedy is to break into Hightower to recover a stolen idol that will appease the boar. Kagawa explores friendship, classism, and collaborating with others as the diverse crew members learn to pull together. Readers may have lingering questions about Shinji's Storm Boar visions, but this tightly written, action-packed narrative pleases. A satisfying adventure. (Fantasy. 9-12)- Kirkus (Feb 15, 2023)

Gr 3-6-Now that Shinji has the mark of the Coatl on his arm, he is supposed to possess magic powers, but those powers appear to have ceased. Despite ­Oliver Ocean's best training and simulation ­efforts, Shinji can't harness his powers at will. Word of the ­Natia people's existence has come to S.E.A.'s attention and they are anxious to find evidence in the form of a sunken ship in the South Pacific before the enemy Hightower does. Shinji requests that he joins Oliver on this expedition, as does Lucy and her trusty little rat Tinker. Aboard the ship Seas the Day, they set off on a whirlwind adventure of time warps, volcanoes, angry boars, and deadly hurricanes. Working together, the S.E.A. team must solve an ancient mystery, one that could have deadly consequences for everyone. Will Shinji be able to harness the powers within? VERDICT A perfect ­follow-up to Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl, this sequel offers equal parts wit and adventure.- SLJ (Mar 1, 2023)

About the Author

Julie Kagawa is the New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Fey, Blood of Eden, Talon, and Shadow of the Fox series. At the age of nine she moved with her family to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She worked as a professional dogtrainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full time. Julie now lives in North Carolina with her husband, two obnoxious cats, and a pair of Australian Shepherds. You can follow her on Instagram or Twitter @JKagawa or see her website at juliekagawa.com.