Season of the Sandstorms is sixth book in the Merlin Missions. It was originally published as the 34th book of the combined Magic Tree House series.
Synopsis[]
Guided by a magic rhyme, Jack and Annie travel to ancient Baghdad on a mission to help the caliph disseminate wisdom to the world.
Chapters[]
- The Golden Age
- Nowhere
- Mamoon
- Ships of the Desert
- Bandits!
- Sandblasted
- Behind the Third Wall
- Room of the Tree
- House of Wisdom
- Before the Moon Rises
Plot[]
Weeks after their adventure in Venice, Jack constantly starred at the book of rhymes Teddy and Kathleen gave them. He always kept it hidden in his drawer and they already used two rhymes. Annie rushed to Jack telling him to come with her to the magic tree house, she saw it on her way home from the library. Inside, there was a book about “the golden age of Baghdad,” a letter from Merlin said that they were going to help a caliph spread wisdom throughout the world. The instructions sounded mysterious, but nonetheless, they were ready.
The tree house landed in a palm tree overlooking a desert. Jack read that the caliph was the ruler of the Arab Empire, he told Annie they need patience and not skip steps this time. Since they were at a loss at where to go from there, the two used the "Make Helpers Appear out of Nowhere" rhyme. Suddenly, a sandstorm occurred, then the two saw four riders on camels. Once they met them in person, Annie claimed they were left behind while traveling after they took a nap. A merchant named Mamoon warned them of bandits, he said they were going west when a sandstorm made them off course. Annie decided to help them, so the merchant had them collect dates from a nearby tree. Mamoon next told them they need to rest and continue at night. The merchants’ bags were filled with goods from other countries, they included beans and spices, and they were going to sell them in Baghdad. However, they said the caliph doesn’t meet with children, he was the most powerful person in the world.
At night, Jack and Annie traveled with the merchants on camels, Annie named them Cutie and Beauty, but Jack had trouble getting on beauty. Mamoon didn’t approve of Jack’s frustration, considering camels great ships of nature and Jack was impressed by all their traits. Mamoon had been in Jack’s place, but overtime he got used to the cold nights and learned to read the stars. Suddenly, bandits appeared, Mamoon gave Jack and Annie a box and told them to run on ahead while they held them off. The kids hid the box in the sand to be safe, when Mamoon returned he revealed that inside was something very special from Greece. They also heard a strange noise like music, Mamoon said it was the whistling sands of the windy desert. However, after that, there was the noise of a terrible sandstorm. Mamoon had the kids hide on their bellies for protection. However, the box tumbled resulting in the two getting separated again when they tried to save it. Reluctantly, Jack looked inside to make sure the treasure was ok, it was a book containing the writings of Aristotle, the philosopher. The two realized their true mission was to get this book to the caliph.
They first entered Baghdad through the bazaar, then they passed through three walls that led to the palace, it had a dome with a horse on it, so they were on the right track. They left Beauty and Cutie in stables and a boy playing a ball came over. They too laughed at them seeing the caliph, Jack didn’t want Annie bragging, but when they weren’t looking, Beauty ate at Aristotle’s book since Jack left it there! Luckily, Annie remembered that they had a rhyme just for this occasion, Mend What Cannot Be Mended, it caused a tornado to fix the book. Then, a servant girl covered with a veil secretly took them into the palace to a silent and hidden boy near a room. They pushed them and closed the door, inside was a shiny tree with mechanical birds and a jeweled black chair. The servant girl told them to bow in front of the chair and not to speak until they’re spoken to, so they did. A man arrived asking what they were doing there, the kids said they didn’t want a reward for their mission, they found it was Mamoon. He was worried that them and revealed that he was the caliph, Caliph Abdullah al-Mamoon. He explained that he always wanted a book of Aristotle’s wisdom, so he picked it up in Damascus. He always wanted to travel again like he did as a boy, so he disguised himself as a merchant.
The caliph led them out to the courtyard and led them to his House of Wisdom letting them ride in his carriage. There was a laboratory, observatory, and Mamoon’s favorite, the library. The mathematician, al-Khwarizmi, was writing Arabic numerals, which are actually the numbers Jack and Annie use. The scientist, al-Kindi, believed that knowledge is for everybody. Many scholars come to the House of Wisdom to study and share, all of the books were copied by hand. One special book was known as Tales from the Arabian Nights, he plans on copying the book of Aristotle’s writing to share its wisdom.
It was time for them to say goodbye, they clearly had a great time. Although, there was one more problem, they were supposed to get home before the moon rose and they were so far away from the magic tree house. Along with the sandstorms and bandits, it would take a while riding on Beauty and Cutie, so they decided to use a rhyme. They decided on Fly Through the Air, it caused the wind to blow them away on a carpet. Once they got back home, they talked about their proud work in Baghdad, and how they were humble. Although Annie wondered if the servants were Teddy and Kathleen, as their faces were hidden and they came out of nowhere.
Publication Note[]
This book was originally published as book #34 of the Magic Tree House Series. In 2017 the books where Merlin sets the mission were separated from the main series and given their own numbering system.
Trivia[]
- At the beginning of the book, a line by James Elroy Flecker. Away, for we are ready to a man! Our camels sniff the evening and are glad. Lead on, 0 Master of the Caravan: Lead on the Merchant-Princes of Baghdad. This is from his poem, The Golden Journey to Samarkand.