Purchase to Support Our Program

“The momentum of the storytelling, We’s full-page and spot art illustrations, and the combination of prose and poetry come together to create a portrait of an unlikely hero that unfolds in a fantastic middle-grade voice. . . .A trilogy opener that will grant readers’ wishes for an accessible, enchanting, action-packed fantasy.”

—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“This captivating, high-octane adventure boasts cinematic action sequences and fantastical worldbuilding conveyed via Relic’s cool-as-a-cucumber first-person POV. Chapter openers featuring playful, rhythmic poetry winkingly foreshadow narrative twists.”

—Publishers Weekly

Relic Hamilton, Genie Hunter

Written by Joseph Coelho
Illustrated by Hyun Song We
Published by Candlewick

Relic Hamilton is just your average twelve-year-old, living a quiet life with his grandfather above their old antique shop in Chinatown in London. Until, that is, the day he’s polishing some mysterious brass lamps in the basement and something extraordinary happens. He feels spine-chillingly cold. Breathless. Scared. And there it is—a real live genie standing before him. But this is no kind, benevolent genie. This one is evil . . . and it feeds on hope.

Ghostbusters meets Raiders of the Lost Ark meets Pokémon (with a genie twist) as award-winning author Joseph Coelho follows Relic to the heart of a fast-paced underground community of dedicated genie hunters. Led by the excitable Professor Latimer and the über-cool Doctor Raphaela, they will travel together in their one-of-a-kind jet, the Aladdin, on a secret mission to chase down rogue genies before they wreak havoc on the world. Vividly and imaginatively written, with a humorous cast of cool characters, this first in a trilogy is brought to life in twenty black-and-white illustrations by Korean artist Hyun Song We.

Primary ISBN: 9781536247978
Publication Date: February 2026
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 09 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , ,

Setting: England (London)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Unknown Arrival

Click here for details about how we define our titles.

Engagement Projects & Resources:

Share your favorite resources for this book with info@imyourneighborbooks.org.

Engagement Materials:

Book Trailer –

Source: Candlewick