The first thing wrong about this book is that it has a sequel....and it isn't available yet. This book was an action packed story of Morocco in 1912. I learned much about the desert and the country. It was good that the author included explanations about the tribes and customs. I also liked the details of the characters' lives before they became slaves.

Tariq is kidnapped from an orphanage and sold into slavery. He immediately becomes friends with Aseem, and they pledge to always have each other's backs. The pair are joined by Fez and Margaret, and Tariq promises to help them all escape. Their slave caravan slowly travels across desert and into the mountains, and the group's plan to escape is halted when they're attacked by bandits. Tariq is whipped by a merciless guard, Zahir, for stealing food and water, and he may not survive to become a camel rider for the ruthless warlord, Caid. Many riders die after only a few weeks, and Tariq has angered the guard into torturing him. His hopes of fulfilling the pledge to his friends seem to be dwindling.

I could only get my hands on this title as an eBook in Net Galley. I actually read the sequel to this book first; it was a nominee for a 2013 Cybils award. This book provided background stories to explain how the friends became slaves. I was surprised to read a background story about Zahir's childhood, although it helped explain how he came to be such a dangerous man. The author created several layers of suspense as dangers were found in Caid, Zahir, bullies, and the harsh environment. Tariq was a faithful leader and never gave up on his friends.

I would like to thank Blackship Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
I must say, a small part of me was intrigued to read this book because the publisher is called Blackship Publishing. That just calls to mind lists and lists of books filled with adventure.
But mostly, my reasoning for wanting to read this book was because of the blurb about it. Who can resist a book that promotes strong female heroines, "a rapid pace," and being an "exhilarating tale of adventure, daring, danger, and friendship"? Hooked me right off the bat, and I requested all 3 books available.
And I'm glad I did. Even though I'm way too old to be the target audience for a middle grade book, I still found this book exciting and a page turner. A bit simplistic, and easily wrapped up, but keeping in mind this is for middle grade readers, that's okay. It didn't take away from my enjoyment in any way, certainly.
This book features 4 children from different backgrounds who get sold into slavery to an evil man. And the rest of the book is survival and whether or not they'll escape. And background on how each of them came to be sold into slavery. I loved the character development in the book. Watching the kids adjust to their circumstances was fun. They really are fun heroes (and heroine) for young kids to root for. And as promised, the book does feature strong female heroines for the girls, so I can easily see a certain group of girls liking this book...the ones who are into adventure type, or maybe mystery even, books already.
I found this book fun, and a real page turner. I am excited to get on to book 2, to find out where things go from there.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I am never compensated for my reviews.

Rebels of the Kasbah is pure adventure--think Saturday matinee poured from the screen to the page. Although the dialogue and prose are a bit stiff at times, oh baby, this book is all about the plot--and it has plot in spades. Set in an exotic location at a romantic time (circa 1912), the characters careen from action scene to action scene. Three boys and a girl are thrown together into a friendship as they attempt to survive their perilous position. Harems, camel racing, rebels, sandstorms, pirates, fighting--this book has it all and will appeal to the action-seeking reader. Strangely, it seems like straight-up adventure is hard to find this day so this novel is a nice option for middle grade readers. The non-nuanced writing style leans towards younger readers, but the harsh realities of slave life depicted by the author suggest the upper end of the middle grade demographic.

The book is the first in the Red Hand Adventures series; it concludes the characters' most imminent crises, but it is clear that there is plenty of story left and that the end is merely a pause in the adventure. The second book, Wrath of the Caid, is already available and the third installment will be available in April 2015.

Tariq is an orphan boy living on the streets of Tangier. Fez wants to avenge his family and the people of his village for being massacred. Margaret is an English girl who was vacationing on a boat with her family. Aseem is a boy who was sold into slavery by his father. What do these four young people all have in common? They have been kidnapped by the most ruthless warlord, or caid, of Morocco. Fans of adventure stories will thoroughly enjoy this first book in The Red Hand Adventures series.

My ten year old son read, loved and devoured this book. He did not want to put his tablet down to stop reading. It was wonderful to see him that entranced with this book.

Rebels of the Kasbah, the author's first book in the Red Hand Adventures series. It is a beautifully written adventure. It is brimming with rich history, some bad people and a gang of smart, clever kids who always put their friendship first.

I also loved this book, since I read it prior to letting my son read it. I particularly loved the presence of strong female characters, especially since they aren't usually included in adventure stories.

The author really portrays the story well with Margaret's fierce independence and Zijuan's steely resolve and backbone.

This book kept my son hooked and he is usually reluctant to read anything other than books about history. He was so absorbed in the story he wasn't even aware of his surroundings.

Bravo, wonderfully written book!!! It is destined to become a classic! We can't wait for the next book!

An African boy, an Arab boy and an English girl are kidnapped and sold as slaves in Morocco. Other disparate (and unlikely) characters aid in the escape and counterattack against a powerful and well-connected sheikh. This first volume is exciting and promises much more.