Shuri Takes Control

by Terrance Crawford, Dave Bardin (Illustrator)

Overview

Shuri works to improve her tech so she can save the day—and her friends—in this original Marvel chapter book with black-and-white illustrations throughout!

Princess Shuri is trying to upgrade her vibranium Kimoyo Beads, but it’s harder than she thought it would be. She decides to take a break from her lab in Wakanda and visit her friends Gwen and Miles in New York City. But when she arrives at the Stark Center, she finds everyone flipping down the halls and flying through the air!

They’ve all been hypnotized by the Ringmaster who wants to create a new Circus of Crime. Shuri knows exactly what could save the Stark Center, but can she figure out how to enhance her Kimoyo Beads in time to save her friends?

Find out in this chapter book that’s perfect for Marvel fans beginning to read on their own or for reading aloud!

© 2024 MARVEL

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665963787
Publisher:	Simon Spotlight
Publication date:	04/29/2025
Series:	Marvel After-School Heroes
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	64
File size:	30 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

A Simon & Schuster author.

A Simon & Schuster illustrator.

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1 TAKE A STEP BACK

 

  Kzzzt!

  Shuri threw her hands up in frustration as her kimoyo beads shorted out again. She was the princess of Wakanda and the country’s resident super genius, yet she couldn’t figure out how to stabilize her latest invention.

  Shuri knew exactly how her new invention should work. “I’m almost there,” she said to her personal AI assistant. “I just need to turn my kimoyo beads from a communication device to something that can not only disrupt the transmission of other tech, but take control of it too.”

  “Yes, Princess. If anyone can complete the update, it’s you,” Shuri’s AI encouraged.

   

   

  “Enough with the flattery,” she murmured, shushing her assistant.

  Shuri called her invention the “Remote Control,” but all her attempts to make it work had ended in failure and the smell of fried electronics. She could get her beads to disrupt transmissions easily, but taking control was proving to be much harder.

   

  Shuri sighed. “The world considers me a genius, but I cannot even figure out how to install a new feature on my own invention.”

  The princess was rarely startled, but the Black Panther was a master at silent entrances. “Do not give up,” came her brother’s voice from behind. Shuri jumped. Her brother T’Challa was not only the king of Wakanda, but also the Black Panther. While T’Challa was strong and noble, he was not always necessarily right. At least not according to Shuri, anyway. She needed to take her mind off her project.

  “Excuse me, Brother,” she said.

   

   

  As she started to walk away, her brother called out to her, “Princess! Where are you going? It’s unlike you to give up so quickly. Is everything okay?”

  “I just need to clear my head,” Shuri replied. “I’ll be back later.”

   

  Zhooot!

  The ramp of the Wakanda airship lowered onto the empty roof of the Stark Center. “Hmm, no royal escort today,” Shuri said. “Strange.”

  Usually, Tony Stark himself would escort Shuri to the next floor.

   

   

  It wasn’t as though Shuri expected the princess treatment, but something seemed off. She could hear music coming from inside the building beneath her feet, an upbeat tune that didn’t sound like anything she was familiar with. “These New York City kids are into odd tunes, aren’t they?” she said to her AI assistant, which was conveniently programmed into her kimoyo bead earrings.

  The center was having another one of its presentations today. Throughout the year the Stark Center hosted events that allowed the public a peek at the kinds of things the students were working on. Kids would be showing off their science experiments, art projects, and musical talents all day. Shuri’s friend Miles Morales had invited her to see his art show and tag along after to watch their friend Gwen Stacy rock out on the drums. Art and loud noises seemed like the perfect distraction from Shuri’s technological woes.

  When Shuri walked inside the building, she expected parents and kids to be spilling into the halls of the top floor, but it was oddly still.

  She followed the music down to the main floor. What she saw made her jaw drop. The Stark Center was a circus on its best day, with kids running around and all kinds of activities underway, but today it was an actual circus! Everywhere she looked, people were silently carrying out unusual tasks: a group of teens juggled red balls, a woman rode past on a unicycle, kids did flips down the hallway as the bizarre tune looped. The music that Shuri had followed, she now recognized as a circus theme. She pulled out her cell phone to text Miles and Gwen.

   

  Guys, what’s going on at the Stark Center? she typed. Where are you two?

  As the minutes dragged on without response, Shuri grew worried. She texted again as she made her way to the gymnasium: Miles, Gwen, is everything okay?