Jarell is the main character. He loves to draw, doesn’t enjoy sport, and lives in the shadow of his cool, popular, older brother Lucas. Jarell always feels awkward and out of place compared to Lucas who seems to fit in effortlessly. Unless, that is, he is drawing the figures and technology that come into his imagination and seem to take over his thoughts.

Dinner is eaten in silence, until the way his mom watches him starts to feel overwhelming, all he wants to do is relieve the pressure and tap his chest. He wants, desperately, to be praised, to feel normal. When he makes his mom proud, the agonizing void in his gut closes up. For that moment he’s earned the relief, but it doesn’t last. There’s something deeper in him, however. There’s a want in him that’s small but stronger than anything else. His mom smiles and reaches into her bag and pulls out a few more action figures. She ruffles Izuku’s hair and makes sure she knows how many toys he has out so they don’t forget to bring them all home. Katsuki spends the next two hours running around the playground with Izuku and fighting crimes of their making. Izuku chatters on and on, and occasionally asks Katsuki if he wants to say anything. He usually doesn’t, and it takes him a few times to realize Izuku means literally anything, but having the opportunity with no strings attached makes him feel good. He’s never had quite as much fun playing before. Stupid, damn brat. Can’t even keep his balance on a stupid log. They’re laughing at you. They’re going to tell everyone and your mom isn’t going to smile anymore when she hears about the mess you made.The smell of burning is the first thing that hits him. It’s loud, the air is laced with voices and smoke. Katsuki is sitting on hard cement. He can smell fire and burnt sugar. He vaguely remembers seeing Deku’s tearstained face, hardened with determination.

Early in the first book, it seems like everyone is asking Jarell what makes him so special, in a condescending way. It’s so much fun and so meaningful to see him begin to understand that he really is special as he finds community and connects to his roots. What do you hope readers take away from his journey?Of course, Ulfrika has its very own fantastical twist, with talking beasts like Were-hyenas and Painted Wolves roaming the kingdom, alongside warriors who possess ultra high-tech gadgets, like a gauntlet with the ability to whip up mini thunderstorms, allowing one to cloudport to their desired destination. Fearlessness. Jarell comes up against some dark and creepy creatures in the next exciting instalment of the series! Mom look!” Seven year-old Katsuki says, pressing his face against the shop window. “Hero gachapon!”

The rules make his house make sense, which is why Katsuki starts to get frustrated with Izuku. When they hang out, Izuku doesn’t follow the rules. A sense of wonder. The ability to imagine and grow belief in themselves. A lot of the times Jarell has to dig in against all odds – that is something we all could learn from. Katsuki bristles slightly, the kid is talking more than he’s ever heard anyone talk, but he’s not really encroaching on Katsuki’s space. It helps that he’s not even looking at Katsuki as he rambles. Katsuki doesn’t even feel pressured to answer. He’s the only one not participating in the teasing. Katsuki stares at Izuku’s face and watches as his eyes start watering. Izuku hasn’t said anything since breaking the news, and there’s a glassy sheen across his eyes. It’s almost like something is stopping him. If it were Katsuki, he would have been restrained until he forced out the right words. No one does that for Izuku. Katsuki doesn’t know why. When Jarell successfully completes his missions in Ulfrika, he goes home. In our world, Jarell hasn’t got magic powers. No one knows he is the Future Hero. His older brother thinks Jarell is uncool, and so do the other kids at school. He spends most of his time alone, or with his cousin Omari, and he prefers drawing to video games. But that doesn’t mean Jarell isn’t just as special in our world as he is in Ulfrika, even if people don’t realise how powerful he is. Special means something different in our world. It’s what happens when we stay true to ourselves. Here, we keep our magic in our hearts.Katsuki takes as deep a breath as he can manage. “I’m sorry, I’m a bad kid.” He takes another breath. “I’m ready to be good now.” Katsuki learns the rules. He is not allowed to move in the bad way. He is not allowed to be quiet in the bad way. His parents want him to be still and they want him to talk, even when it’s uncomfortable, otherwise they get mad and hold his hands until Katsuki says out loud that he will stop. They exchange information, Izuku is so happy at the idea of seeing Katsuki again that he jumps up and down, shaking his head and flapping his hands. Katsuki thinks he feels the same, he thinks that looks fun. He shakes his hands just a little bit. Of course, Ulfrika has its very own fantastical twist. Talking beasts like Were-hyenas and Painted Wolves roam the kingdom, and there are warriors like Kimisi, Jarell’s loyal friend, who assist and protect Ancients – gods and goddesses of the realm. There are ultra-high-tech gadgets everywhere, like a gauntlet that can whip up mini thunderstorms, or equipment which allows its wearer to cloudport across stretches of sand to their desired destination. Mitsuki storms over, flashes her teeth, and lunges. She hits him hard enough to make him lose his footing. Katsuki slams against the wall, but before he can crumble, she grabs him by his hair and drags him screaming up the stairs. The sounds he’s making are not human, they belong to the animal he’s become, the object he is. She throws him on the floor of his room.

Jarrell has a lot of trouble paying attention and school and would rather spend his time drawing. This gets him into some trouble with his teachers, especially Mr. Mordi. His parents have to work a lot, so he is occasionally home alone. His older brother, Lucas, is more athletic and doesn't have a lot of patience with him. When Jarrell forgets his key to get home again, Lucas doesn't want to let him in, and Jarrell meets up with his cousin, Omari, who is re-opening his father's barbershop, Fades. He has renovated the inside after a flood, and even hung up a lot of Jarrell's artwork! Omari introduces him to his friend, Legsy, who is very impressed with the artwork and encourages Jarrell. When Jarrell enters the VIP room, it looks oddly familiar, and after he looks into an antique mirror, he finds himself in another world! There's a red clay temple and a sorcerer, Ikala, and a goddess, Ayana, from his drawings! Ikala wants to regain the Staff of Kundi that Ayana is keeping from him because it was made specifically to destroy him. The two fight, and Jarrell doesn't know what to do. Eventually, that scene fades, but the expression on his face lets Legsy know that he has seen into Ulfrika. Legsy then tells Jarrel that he is really Olegu, the God of Doorways, and he has created the portal. He's been looking for a true descendant of Kundi to help with this this world. Jarrell also meets Kimisi, who is Ayana's apprentice. Working with people from Ulfrika, Jarrell is able to harness his powers as an heir of Kundi to save this alternative world. Will he be able to? In the third book in the series, the land of Jarell’s ancestors is still not safe, and he must return if he is to stop the sorcerer Ikala from gaining power. Together with the help of Kimisi, and their new ally Bo-de, the trio must journey to a city of clay if they are to find what they need to defeat their enemy. But danger lies ahead…Katsuki lies awake until midnight, until he’s sure they’re asleep. Then he slips out his window and runs. He runs until his lungs burn and then he runs until he can’t feel anything at all. He’s the same age. Katsuki has seen him around plenty, he likes to tag along with other kids like Katsuki does, but they don’t normally interact outside of that. His hair is messy and his little hands flap around gently at his waist. Katsuki frowns, he’s not supposed to do that. Oh goodness,” the woman laughs. “Nice to meet you Katsuki. Did you remember to take turns talking, Izuku?” Jarrell always feels awkward. He’s not cool like his older brother or athletic like other boys in his class. He’s also not as studious as his parents would like because his head is usually in his sketchbook drawing amazing Afro-futuristic images of buildings, warriors and goddesses that pop into his head. One day, while at his cousin’s barbershop, he learns that the images aren’t from his imagination, they’re real! Now he must go on an adventure to save an “ancient- future” kingdom from an evil sorcerer. Can he be the hero they are hoping for? That’s not it! Hey, open your eyes Katsuki, I need you to look at me. Do you still want to play with the doggy?”