By Linda Davies
Jerboa £6.99

Sea Djinn is the first of four books in a new series by Linda Davies. Set in Dubai it follows the character, Finn, who goes to live there with his aunt after his marine biologist parents are presumed lost at sea. His life is changed when he meets Triton, a Sea Djinn who tells him that his parents have been kidnapped by Hydrus, an evil Sea Djinn, who is gearing up for a bit of conquest.
 
With plenty of assistance from Mr Violet, a magical teacher who tries to give Finn, his cousin, Georgina and his friend, Fred a crash course in magical skills they need to use to locate Hydrus and attempt a daring rescue.

A watery type of Potter, that at least isn't soppily wet, and apart from Arabian Nights and Ali-Baba and the 40 thieves, can you think of another children's story set in the Middle East, so it is also refreshng on that point, though we soon travel to the Dark Kingdom.
 
 
Linda Davies and her husband were intercepted at sea by the Iranian navy whilst she was writing this book, and rewrote it to include her own experiences.