Poulsbo author Michael Donnelly’s debut novel is set on a small, fictitious island in the Northwest, with folksy, eccentric characters and a lifestyle where no one locks their doors.

But the two main characters learn that even in such a bucolic setting, things are not always what they seem.

“Awakening Curry Buckle” is a fantasy/mystery/adventure novel written for the older teen to young adult audience, and tells the story of two unlikely tenth grade buddies, Curry Buckle and Darwin Bownes.

Curry, from a quirky island family, and Darwin, a newcomer whose family owns the local newspaper, are drawn together when they discover that a strange amulet which Curry was given by a “foreigner on the ferry” has the same writing on it as a drum that Darwin found at “Take It Or Leave It,” the local swap shop.

The drum has the effect of putting Curry into a trance, and strange things begin happening.

Curry is a gentle, caring person who yearns for something he doesn’t understand yet is frightened by his new supernatural abilities.

“He’s (also) timid,” Donnelly said. “He needs Darwin to kick him in the pants.”

Darwin is the more outgoing of the two, a scrapper who has to defend himself and Curry against the school bully while he establishes himself in a new school and community.

“In India they would be a Brahmin and a warrior,” Donnelly said.

When Curry is in his trance-like state, he channels an ancient holy man, Swami Curryban Bucklananda, who can answer any question put to him. Curry submits his own question for his ancient alter ego: “Curry wants to know if he’s going insane.”

Author Donnelly, who is a student of Eastern philosophy and ancient cultures and has practiced raja yoga for decades, said a novelist’s first job is to “create a ripping good yarn,” which “Curry Buckle” is, but it also delves into deeper issues.

“I would like people to get a sense that there are truly wonderful things in the world,” he said. “There are people who want to see the world in ordinary terms — I want people to see that the world is a place of undreamed of possibilities. There is a great deal more than what you can see with the naked eye.”

Donnelly does this without hitting the reader over the head with a philosophy book — the characters are two very real teenage boys who are as surprised as anyone at what is happening to them.

Faced with the possibility of being in possession of a supernatural power that could be used for good or evil, which way will the boys go?

Donnelly said he chose the offbeat name “Curry Buckle” because he wanted to reflect the dual aspects of the character, a mystical, Asian aspect and a “Ma and Pa Kettle” aspect.

“He’s straddling two different worlds,” he said.

Donnelly said he was in the middle of the second book in a mystery series for adults when the idea for “Curry Buckle” came to him.

“It just occurred to me with such force I felt I had to get it down.”

That was two years ago.

“The detour turned into a major excursion into this adventure,” he said.

Of course any book in this genre draws the inevitable comparison to the leviathan of fantasy writing, the Harry Potter series.

Donnelly isn’t worried about people comparing his book to the J.K. Rowling epics, and in fact it may help his book.

He said local bookstore owners have said kids who have devoured every Harry Potter book are hungry for more. At 336 pages, “Curry Buckle” would make a nice light snack for Potter fans.

Donnelly has found the book appeals to both teens and adults. He chose to set the book in the high school years because they are a time of exploration — of ideas, feelings and emotions.

“I think everybody remembers exciting times of that age personally. Characters going through it have appeal,” he said. “There’s a lot of self-examination at that time, and a battle between the lower and higher self.”

“Awakening Curry Buckle” was published by a small press, Windstrom Creative, in Port Orchard, and Donnelly is already thinking “sequel.”

“People have been asking,” he said. “I hope they (the characters) have a future adventure in India so I can go there to do research.”

Donnelly has two book signings scheduled for this week, 4-8 p.m. Dec. 15 at Walden Books in the Kitsap Mall, and 2-4 p.m. Dec. 17 at Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo.

The book is available in all independent bookstores in Kitsap County.