Review: Cervantes, J.C. (2018). The storm runner.
LSSL 5385: NYT Bestseller List
Cervantes, J.C. (2018). The storm runner. Los Angeles, CA: Disney Hyperion.
This is an action-packed story that will appeal to fans of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, as this is a Rick Riordan Presents, intended to promote mythologically-inspired authors “from underrepresented cultures and backgrounds.” In Zane Obispo’s case, he is young Mexican-American teen living a harmless life in New Mexico, content to avoid bullying over his “bum leg” by hanging out at home with his beloved dog, Rosie, and the volcano in his backyard, dubbed the Beast. That is until Zane’s secret travels to the inner caverns of his volcano lead to the release of an ancient evil, and he finds out that his is a long-foretold destiny, intertwined with some very real--and very scary--Maya gods, goddesses, demons, and other magical creatures.
With unanswered questions about his own identity, as well as that of the absent father he’s never met, Zane embarks on an eventful and dangerous quest across the Southwest to defeat Au-Puch, who he sneeringly refers to as Puke, “the jefe of all of hell’s lords.” Along the way he is aided by a mysterious shape-shifting nawal named Brooks, with whom he bonds and risks his fate, and not just because he has a bit of a crush on her. They also utilize the help of his wrestling-loving uncle, Hondo, a sarcastic, enchantment-wielding giant named Jazz, and encounter a number of other supernatural beings. Some want to assist him, while others want him eliminated before he fulfills the prophecy; as he soon discovers, a goddess named Ixtab has taken over Au-Puch’s throne in the underworld during his absence, and there is serious dissension among the gods over which should lead. With the safety of all humankind hanging in the balance, it falls solely to Zane to face his vulnerabilities and stop a world-destroying war before it begins. In the process he gets more than a little annoyed with the ambitions and jealousies of the gods, and all the “deals” everyone is always making, but finds out who he really is.
With its thirteen-year-old protagonist and fairly tame language and depictions of violence and monsters, this novel is appropriate to adventurous middle grade students from about fourth and up, through middle school. Cervantes depicts Southwestern culture in realistic and at times humorous ways, with characters throwing a smattering of Spanish into their dialogue, as well as colorful images of the landscapes, eats, and experiences. She also presents a thorough introduction into the language of Maya mythology, complete with a glossary in the back of the book, though she notes that it cannot entirely represent “the many Maya mythologies, cultures, languages, pronunciations, and geographies” of which she was inspired to write after growing up with these stories as a child living near the Tijuana border.
Readers may appreciate that Zane’s smaller leg--a physical disability he has always disdained--leads to the emergence of the theme that sometimes our greatest weaknesses can become our greatest strengths; likewise, there is a message throughout that our destinies will find us, and that we can summon our inner fortitude when it is needed most--even when circumstances seem hopeless. Zane is a character who shows courage and selflessness, while also maintaining his candid, and at times eye-rolling, demeanor. When he is not saving the world or those he cares about, he is alternately worried over spending eternity in some place without necessities, like tacos or Internet. His voice is relatable, and preteens and teens alike will be entertained.
Next installment in the series: The Fire Keeper
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