Jasmine’s Quest for the Stardust Sapphire (Disney Aladdin)

Product Description

Jasmine, Aladdin, and the Genie from Disney Aladdin go on an unforgettable adventure in this middle grade novel. Read it before the live-action Aladdin hits theaters in spring 2019!

Since defeating Jafar, Jasmine and Aladdin have been peacefully learning how to rule a kingdom. But everything’s about to change when a powerful curse threatens the land. Thankfully, the Genie is around to help! Kids ages 8 to 12 will love this new tale, which continues the story of Disney
Aladdin.

Disney
Aladdin is an animated classic featuring beloved characters, an award-winning soundtrack, and a timeless tale of love and adventure.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

On a beautiful moonless night, a falling star soared over the kingdom of Agrabah. Sparkling streaks of color followed the star, creating a shimmering rainbow that illuminated the sky.
In the desert below, sand swirled, kicked up by a sudden gust of wind. Within moments, the twinkling colors had faded from view. . . .
In the game room of the palace, Princess Jasmine reached toward the chessboard to move one of her pieces. Her father, the Sultan of Agrabah, sat across from her. “Don’t be hasty,” he warned. “Playing board games is like ruling a kingdom. You need to think several steps ahead and consider all the options. You must be certain each move you make is the best choice.”
“I
think it’s the best choice,” said Jasmine.
“Well then, go ahead!” The Sultan smiled and gestured for her to make her move.
But Jasmine was no longer sure. She frowned and studied the board.
“I like games of speed,” said Aladdin, who stood next to the table watching. Abu, his pet monkey, chittered in agreement from his shoulder. Aladdin picked up a knight that had been captured earlier in the game and tapped it along the edge of the table, as if the tiny horse figurine were running. “Speed and
chance.” He smiled and snatched up two other captured pieces.
Aladdin was a former street thief, but he had given up his life of crime after falling in love with Jasmine, and he now lived in the palace. However, he had not lost his fondness for action and excitement. “Speed, chance, and
tricks!” he continued. Aladdin tossed the pieces into the air and juggled them. Behind him, the closed drapes fluttered below their sashes, muting the howl of the evening winds outside.
“I’m trying to concentrate!” protested Jasmine, struggling not to laugh at Aladdin’s antics. She returned her focus to the board. She’d been playing board games all her life, but when she was growing up, they had been just for fun. Now the Sultan encouraged her to play to sharpen her mind, using them to teach her lessons about leadership, since she would one day take over for him and become the ruler of Agrabah. As a result, the games had become serious and important—a way to practice strategy for the life-or-death decisions she’d be making in the future.
After considering all her possible moves, Jasmine picked up a bishop and moved it three spaces. The Sultan beamed at Jasmine. “Good move!” he said before allowing a sly smile. “But you did not think
quite far enough ahead.” He slid his queen up the board, capturing Jasmine’s bishop and giving the queen a direct line to her king.
“
Oooh,” said Aladdin, not really understanding what the move meant but knowing the Sultan had bested Jasmine somehow. Jasmine had tried to teach Aladdin the rules, but he liked to make up his own as they went along. That made it a lot more interesting, as far as he was concerned. No staring at the board for hours and hours. Keep it moving and make it lively! What was the point of a game if it wasn’t fun?
Jasmine groaned, frustrated. What had she done wrong? How had she failed to predict her father’s move? If only she’d made a different choice, her king would not be in danger of being checkmated. Every match she lost underscored her growing nervousness about leading the kingdom one day.
Jasmine had never truly had her