The Storm Runner

Starred review from August 1, 2018

Gr 4-8-Zane Obispo has a pretty sweet life: a mom who loves him; his fun, wrestling-loving Uncle Hondo; eccentric, caring neighbors; a loyal dog; and his very own backyard volcano. The downside is he'll be starting a new school, where he knows kids will make fun of his limp and his cane. When Zane and his dog Rosie discover a secret entrance to the volcano, Zane has no idea they've just put an ancient prophecy into motion, one that features him as a main player. Soon he meets a shape-shifter named Brooks who tells Zane that not only is Zane supernatural, but it is foretold that he plays a role in releasing Ah-Puch-the Mayan god of death, disaster, and darkness-from his prison in the volcano. Zane learns that there is more truth to the myths in his Mayan book than he ever imagined and that his father-whom he has never know-is also a major part of the prophecy. Zane sets off a chain of events that bring him closer to the truth about his ancestry and show him a world he thought only existed in books. Fantastic and villainous creatures from Mayan folklore combine with clever, realistic, and heartwarming characters. VERDICT A page-turning and well-written trip into the world of Mayan mythology, perfect for fans of David Bowles's Garza "Twins" and Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson" series.-Selenia Paz, Harris County Public Library, Houston, TX

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 15, 2018
A chosen-one adventure through the Southwest.Zane's backyard in New Mexico is unique--it has its own volcano. He lives with his mom and their dog, Rosie, and his biggest problem is having to start a new school...until he makes a huge mistake and sets loose ancient Maya god Ah-Puch, also known as the Stinking One. A mysterious girl named Brooks appears at Zane's school and then at home, and she reveals to Zane that she is a nawal, or shape-shifter, and she's there to help him fulfill his destiny in a great prophecy. And so begins a race against time as Zane, Brooks, and a growing band of sidekicks race across the Southwest to find Ah-Puch, learn who Zane's estranged father is, and save the world. As readers accustomed to Rick Riordan's books will expect, additional Maya gods and magical creatures are revealed along the way. Unevenly paced and complicated by gods with two or three monikers, this second in Riordan's eponymous imprint may frustrate close readers, but the high stakes will grab kids who just want to turn pages as quickly as possible. Zane is Mexican-American; his limb disability turns out to have a magical origin (not unlike Percy Jackson's dyslexia), which may well feel like a cheat for readers with disabilities themselves. Nevertheless, Zane's incredibly appealing kid voice and wry internal interjections make him easy to root for.Busy--but exciting action and a likable character make up for it. (Fantasy. 10-14)

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Starred review from August 1, 2018
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* Fans of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, or stories based on mythology in general, will be raving over Cervantes' series starter. Zane Obispo is content exploring the volcano in his backyard with his dog, Rosie, and doing what he can to please his mother, who works hard for little. He's got one foot smaller than the other, and one leg shorter than the other, which complicates things a bit. But then he meets Brooks, a girl who appears after a mysterious plane crash, and she warns him, first, that he's in danger, and, second, that he's destined to release the lord of death, darkness, and despair from imprisonment, and his whole world goes topsy-turvy. Zane is an instantly relatable character: he's frustrated by his circumstances and wants to do the right thing, though he often gets into trouble for fighting bullies or wandering off alone. Cervantes wastes no time getting right into the action, and her conversational tone and suspenseful pacing will keep the pages turning as the tension escalates and the characters face deepening stakes. Plentiful references to Maya mythology and culture are bound to send readers searching for more background info, even with the glossary in the back matter. Don't miss this rip-roaring adventure. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)