The Seven Keys of Balabad

December 15, 2008
Three children encounter kidnappers, a mysterious carpet and a thieves' market in Haven's (Two Hot Dogs with Everything
) entertaining but slight novel. Oliver's father, a newspaper reporter, has moved his family to the tiny Middle Eastern nation of Balabad. Oliver, 12, and his best (and only) friend, Zee, relieve their boredom by visiting a carpet seller, Mr. Haji, who entertains them with stories of Balabad's history. When a series of unusual crimes that begins with the theft of the 500-year-old Sacred Carpet of Agamon culminates in the disappearance of Haji, Oliver and Zee, with the help of a girl named Alamai, set off to find their friend and discover the secrets of Balabad. The brief adventure is exciting but ends too quickly, and with too few opportunities for the protagonists to put their intelligence to use. There's much to like, including smart, realistic characters, a fascinating back story and solid action sequences, but the strong writing doesn't compensate for the structural problems. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Ages 8–12.

April 1, 2009
Gr 5-8-Centuries ago, seven keys were given to the seven sons of King Agamon of Balabad to protect the country's treasures from foreign invaders. The young men were then sent to seven different places around the world, and only when all of the keys came together again could the treasure be found. Now, 500 years later, Oliver Finch, a New York City kid, is stuck living in Balabad because his father is a reporter and his mother is an art historian. He and his friend Zee spend most of their time visiting Mr. Haji, a carpet salesman who tells funny stories. Then, Balabad's sacred carpet is stolen, the culture minister disappears, and Zee overhears his father talking about a secret brotherhood. When Mr. Haji disappears, Oliver and Zee try to find him and are joined in their search by a girl named Alamai, who knows the ins and outs of the city and where and how to get information. In the process, they almost become the villain's next victims. Haven has created an exciting mystery set in a fictional Middle Eastern country with an intriguing history and a vibrant culture. The story is woven together like an intricate carpet. It's disjointed at times, moving around the world as the thieves locate the current owners of the keys, but all of the plot threads come together for the action-packed climax."Samantha Larsen Hastings, West Jordan Public Library, UT"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2009
Grades 5-8 Haven, an Associated Press bureau chief whose postings have included Afghanistan and Pakistan, uses some of the mystery surrounding the Golden Hoard of Bactria, a treasure discovered in Afghanistan in 1978, in crafting this ornate, atmospheric suspense romp. Havens writing style here is reminiscent of the lush, exotic adventure tales of H. Rider Haggard, especially of King Solomons Mines. The hero, 12-year-old Oliver Finch, has been unwillingly transported from his beloved Manhattan along with his father, a foreign correspondent assigned to Balabad. Finch is ideally positioned, then, to learn about both the latest local doingsin this case, the theft of a 500-year-old sacred carpet. When one of Olivers friends is kidnapped, he resolves to find his friend and solve the mystery of the stolen carpet, all of which leads to a satisfying series of dangers, pitfalls, double crosses, and escapes. This adventure follows Havens first novel, Two Hot Dogs with Everything (2006).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2009
American boy Oliver and his Baladi friend Zee stumble upon a secret about seven ancient keys that supposedly lead to buried treasure. Soon the keys--and people--start disappearing. The novel mixes mystery and action with a bit of Indiana Jones thrown in. The vividly described setting, a fictional country called Balabad, was inspired by Afghanistan.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

April 1, 2006
Gr. 4-7. Haven debuts with a long, laid-back tale featuring a perennially hapless baseball team and its most superstitious fan. Though 11-year-old Danny, team ball boy, follows an elaborate regimen whenever the Sluggers are playing ("Never leave a window open when a right-hander is on the mound," etc.), the team is, typically, mired 16 games out. The luck begins to turn, however, after Danny filches a pack of 108-year-old gum from the decrepit mansion of team founder and bubblegum mogul Manchester E. Boddlebrooks. As Danny chews, the Sluggers start winning, ultimately climbing into a tie with the blue-chip Texas Tornadoes. But then, having sailed into celebrity status as team good-luck charm for the Sluggers, Danny captures the eye of the Tornadoes' ruthless owner, billionaire "Diamond" Bob Honeysuckle. Well endowed with stock characters and familiar side plots, as well as nail-biting baseball action that culminates in an epic championship series, this tale is for any kid who has ever turned a cap inside out or crossed a few fingers. Illustrations not seen.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)