For those unfamiliar with Cameron Battle, how would you describe the story?
JAMAR: The Cameron Battle series is about a twelve-year-old boy name Cameron Battle who loses his parents at a young age, which leaves him lonely and missing his parents. When he goes to live with his grandmother, he remembers the stories his parents told him about his ancestry and how they read to him from an ancient book they say is filled with magic. One night, he and his two best friends, Zion and Aliyah, decide to go to the attic where Cameron’s grandmother keeps the book safe. When they read from it, they are sucked inside of it, traveling to a hidden West African country where Cameron realizes that not only all of the stories he read growing up are true, but that he is also destined to be a hero with magical powers who must save the world from an evil that is trying to destroy it.
There are hints of Black Panther, Percy Jackson and Jumanji, all making it a thrilling fantasy read! What inspired you when writing Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms, and the new sequel, Cameron Battle and the Escape Trials?
JAMAR: When writing Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms, I was primarily inspired by my own childhood as a reader of fantasy novels and my life as a middle schooler. I was a lonely kid, someone who didn’t have many friends. I was considered different because I was a Black boy who loved reading, instead of someone who played sports with the neighborhood kids. Because of my loneliness, I sought out fantasy novels where children could become heroes, because that is what I wanted to be as a child. I also wanted to know where I came from, because it is hard for Black people in America to really understand their ancestry. So when I was writing my debut novel, I wanted to showcase a Black boy who loves to read, who ends up becoming literal magic through his love for reading, all the while coming into close contact with his ancestors.
With Cameron Battle and the Escape Trials I really wanted to explore how Cameron Battle becomes a hero through the help of his friends, all the while trying to figure out what being magic really means to him. I wanted to play with adventure, fantasy, and Cameron becoming confident in his abilities now that the struggle of the first book is over. With the second novel, I wanted to make sure that Cameron has fun, all the while understanding that there is still a danger that he must face as he goes through his adventures.
I want people to understand that it is okay to be a voracious reader, that you can become a hero through the written word, just like how Cameron does.
Both books are groundbreaking and original, being based on West African and Igbo history and mythology. How important is it for you to spotlight this culture and diversity in your writing?
JAMAR: Greek mythology has been widespread in our culture, from literature to film to television. I wanted to showcase another side of mythology that we hardly ever get to see, while putting a spin on it like Greek mythology does. As we know, Greek mythology has a lot of the same stories, but those stories are told in different ways. With my novels, I wanted to focus on West African mythology—not only because my ancestry is West African—to show that there are different ways of thinking about how the world was created, and Cameron has to tend with that. Not only is he a Black boy that is dealing with problems in the modern world, he is also dealing with what it means to understand where his ancestors came from.
Who is your favorite character and why?
JAMAR: I used to say my favorite character was Cameron, but I think my favorite character now is his best friend, Zion. Zion has been with him from the beginning, and he shows Cameron that it is okay to be himself. He’s also really funny, and Cameron needs that in order for him to grow through the depression and anger he has at his parents for leaving him at an early age. I love Zion and I put a lot of myself in him. I feel like we all need that hilarious friend who gets us through the hard times.
What's one thing you would like readers to take away from your books?
JAMAR: I want people to understand that it is okay to be a voracious reader, that you can become a hero through the written word, just like how Cameron does. I also want my Black boy readers to see themselves in Cameron, and to be inspired to be a reader just like him.
Free US delivery on orders $35 or over
