The Akhenaten Adventure: Children of the Lamp: Book One.

THE AKHENATEN ADVENTURE: CHILDREN OF THE LAMP: BOOK ONE. Philip Kerr. 2994. Read by Ron Keith. 7 tapes. 10 hrs. Recorded Books. 1-4193-0827-0. $66.75. Vinyl; plot, reader notes. J

When 12-year-old twins John and Philippa's wisdom teeth come in, their world turns inside out and suddenly they are anything but ordinary. The discovery that they are actually half djinn, more commonly known as genies, on their mother's side leads to pleasant hilarity and serious learning when the magic words, "I wish," have unintended consequences. In an effort to rein in their new powers, they find themselves in the care of their Uncle Nimrod. Nimrod desperately needs their help in solving a centuries-old djinn mystery whose outcome will permanently affect the balance between good and bad luck. Comparisons with Harry Potter are inevitable. In many ways, this is a more intellectually stimulating story and will encourage interest in ancient Egypt. In other ways, though, this is more simplistic, with less riding on the outcome. Keith slips between characters effortlessly, particularly with the main cast, though his naturally deep voice makes differentiations in female characters less pronounced. His sense of timing, both comic and suspenseful, serves the story well. Recommended for YA collections. Jodi L. Israel, MLS, Jamaica Plain, MA

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.