It’s time for my first middle-grade compilation post of
the year. This post highlights my love of fantasy and mythology.
<This is
the final novel in a trilogy.>
She has saved Emma Lockwood, her best friend. She has
saved her dad. But Paola Santiago can’t find a rift to enter the void since her
prophetic dreams have ceased. No matter their broken friendship, Paola is
determined to save Dante Mata. Her dad, absent for so much of her life, thinks
she should be a regular 13-year-old, but how can Paola just be
13 years old? She’s battled spirits and void monsters, is armed with an Arma
del Alma and has saved people she loves. She can’t simply flip a
switch. Her best chance of entering the void might be in Texas, but she’s still
a kid with zero funds in Arizona. Coincidentally, Emma and her group of
proactive friends in the Rainbow Rogues are heading to San Antonio, so Paola’s
stop is practically along the way, if she can stomach the judgy girls. She’ll
discover who Falsita fears most, but Falsita herself will be
jarring to Pao. Pao reminds herself that her aim is to rescue Dante, no matter
if he hates her, but in a sea of copies, who’s real and who isn’t? A battle is
coming, and no one is prepared, but how would one prepare to face off with the
lord of nightmares and dread, anyway?
The
trilogy-ender in the Paola Santiago series is a paranormal,
fantasy adventure containing the importance of friends and family but also the
stuff of nightmares. Based on Mexican folklore, Paola embarks on one more
rollercoaster adventure, running away from her family (again) and realizing the
hard way that she’s in over her head. Paola is clever and brave, but she’s also
angry, rash and sometimes bratty enough that it’s hard to endure her. She’s a
girl trying to figure out her identity, not only where she fits in with her
long-lost father and her paranormal side, but also her orientation. Despite its
fantastical storyline, it’s anchored by emotion and love. Though it isn’t my
favorite within the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, the story’s
heart and imagination scoot the story along.
Book
One: Paola Santiago and the River of Tears
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The Shadow Crosser (Sept. 1, 2020) by J.C.
Cervantes.
<This is
the final novel in a trilogy.>
<Alert:
Potential spoilers ahead.>
The check-in date for Zane Obispo to begin his training
at the Shaman Institute for Higher Order Magic (SHIHOM) has been moved up, but
there’s one more godborn to track down with the help of a foul demon who can
literally sniff them out. Joke’s on the demon, though, as there isn’t one
godborn, but two. Twins Alana and Adrik are found in an antiques shop taking
back a red stone that supposedly belongs to them. Camazotz (the bat god) and
Ixkik’ (a.k.a. Blood Moon) want it badly. But why? What’s so significant about
the stone? Hurakan (Zane’s godly parent) and Ah-Puch (no longer an adversary)
inform Zane that a light on the World Tree has gone out. That means a god has
died (in this case, Akan, the god of wine, who was sacrificed by Zotz and Ixkik’).
Hurakan and Ah-Puch tell Zane they’ll see him the following day, except they
don’t. The gods are all missing in 1987! Itzamna will protect the tree as
long as he can, but Zane and company will need to locate Ki’in without dying,
travel through time and space (without dying) and rescue the gods (without
dying and in under 24 hours). There’s no time like the present to locate a
magical calendar.
Magic,
mayhem and mythology are a triple threat of adventure in this middle-grade
fantasy adventure and concluding novel in the Storm Runner Series.
Mayan mythology with Aztec (a.k.a. Mexica) mythology is crafted into a perfect
storm with hero youth, uninvolved parent-gods that manage to need saving, a
constantly-moving plot and plenty of snark. It’s a little bizarre and not
without darkness, but is fully entertaining, even without being a
favorite Rick Riordan Presents series of mine. Be ready for
high stakes and perfect hot cocoa (thanks, Ixkakaw)!
Book
One: The Storm Runner
Book
Two: The Fire Keeper
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The Super-Secret Mission to the Center of the Moon
(Pie) (Feb. 4, 2025) by Melissa de la Cruz.
<This is
the second novel in a series.>
<Alert:
Potential spoilers ahead.>
Is the moon made of cheese? Octos Edwin, Li’l Kimmy,
Dilip, Julie, Ting-Ting, Anton and Harold are about to find out when they strap
in for an emergency trip to the moon, following traitorous Maureen, who’s
commandeered Octagon Valley’s best rocket, which almost turns into a crash
landing. The Octos have lost their fearless leader and the only adult on the
impromptu mission, the brilliantly peculiar Onasander Octagon. They get what
they think is the ingenious idea to become campers with the influx of other YAK
campers arriving. It gets tricky fast when they’re not put on the same team
(a.k.a. quadrant), and mingling with the other teams during lunchtime, for
example, turns out to be a big no-no, subject to stares, judgment and even
flung insults. The team’s best chance is to win the Cosmic Games and be granted
access to the YAKs’ lunar labs and their top secret activity. How will any of
them win when none are actually YAKs? What if the YAKs already have Onasander?
Infiltrating
a lunar camp and participating in the Cosmic Games are big components in this
middle-grade fantasy adventure involving a youthful team of geniuses, an
eccentric mastermind, a backstabber whose devious ways may not be her own doing
and a moon-full of vengeful YAKs (we still don’t know what YAK stands for –
Young Available Kittens? Yodeling Angry Knights?). Along with the
racial and cultural diversity, the setting outside Earth and the story’s
entertainment value, there is weight to this novel. There are lots of
personalities in these characters and the struggles that go with all
of those varying (genius) minds. There’s jealousy in those whose superpowers
haven’t manifested, underlying resentments and nefarious aliens (different
from the aliens that the Octos are). The novel is high-energy with
high-stakes momentum. My only grumble is with Edwin. That kid needs a big ole
slice of humble pie with a side of humility. But don’t let Edwin stop you from
picking up this energetic installment.
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