Last Gate of the Emperor -- Kwame Mbalia

From Kwame Mbalia and Prince Joel David Makonnen comes an Afrofuturist adventure about a mythical Ethiopian empire. Sci-fi and fantasy combine in this epic journey to the stars.<p></p><p>Yared Heywat lives an isolated life in Addis Prime -- a hardscrabble city with rundown tech, lots of rules, and not much to do. His worrywart Uncle Moti and bionic lioness Besa are his only family... and his only friends.</p><p>Often in trouble for his thrill-seeking antics and smart mouth, those same qualities make Yared a star player of the underground augmented reality game, The Hunt for Kaleb's Obelisk. But when a change in the game rules prompts Yared to log in with his real name, it triggers an attack that rocks the city. In the chaos, Uncle Moti disappears.</p><p>Suddenly, all the stories Yared's uncle told him as a young boy are coming to life, of kingdoms in the sky and city-razing monsters. And somehow Yared is at the center of them.</p><p>Together with Besa and the Ibis -- a game rival turned reluctant ally -- Yared must search for his uncle... and answers to his place in a forgotten, galaxy-spanning war.</p><br><br><b>Author:</b> Kwame Mbalia, Prince Joel Makonnen<br><b>Publisher:</b> Scholastic Inc.<br><b>Published:</b> 06/07/2022<br><b>Pages:</b> 304<br><b>Binding Type:</b> Paperback<br><b>Weight:</b> 0.45lbs<br><b>Size:</b> 7.48h x 5.20w x 0.71d<br><b>ISBN:</b> 9781338665901<br><b>Audience:</b> Ages 9-12<br><br><b>Accelerated Reader:</b><br><b>Reading Level:</b> 5<br><b>Point