Skip to main content

Maya and the Rising Dark

Image
By

By Rena Barron
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020. Fantasy.

Twelve-year-old Maya is certain she is seeing things. It started with the dreams of a man with creamy pale skin and pale violet eyes, then one day she was in math class when all of the color drained out of the classroom for a moment, and then one day Maya's best friends Frankie and Eli are attacked by werehyenas and Maya knows for certain that something is up. What Maya discovers is crazier than even her favorite comic books -- it turns out that the West African folktales and stories that her papa has always told her are more than just stories. Maya's dad is really an orisha named Eleggua -- the most powerful deity and the guardian of the veil between our world and the dark. When he goes missing, the elders in Maya's South Side Chicago neighborhood finally come clean and reveal a big secret -- Maya, Frankie, and Eli are all godlings descended from orisha and it is up to them to restore order to the veil.

This is a rich fantasy novel steeped in West African folklore and grounded in present-day America by a likable and comic-book obsessed protagonist. As Maya, Frankie and Eli endeavor to travel into the dark, avoid the evil darkbringers, and save Eleggua their earnestness brings along a slew of adventures and mistakes made with the best adventures. Fans of Percy Jackson or Rick Riordan Presents books will love this fast-pace novel that centers Black characters in a welcome and refreshing way. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Umami

By
  Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience?  Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delig...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Faker

By
Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...
Post a Comment
Read more

Five Faves: Picture Books with Festive Treats

By
In my family, December marks the beginning of the holiday season, where we get to spend time together and do all of our favorite traditions. And, of course, eat lots of yummy food. I love that holidays look different for different families, but so many families have special foods they eat during the holidays. These are some of my favorite picture books about families making (and eating!) special holiday treats. These books might even give you new ideas of festive treats to try! The Last Tamale Written by Mendiola Orlando Illustrated by Teresa Martinez New York: Harper, 2024. Picture Book. Once a year, Luis' whole family gets together for their annual tamalada -- a party where they make tamales using a super-secret recipe. It's all love, family, and tradition until there is only one tamale left. Who will get it? It's an all-out family battle to decide who gets the last tamale. Colorful and humorous, this story is perfect for the holidays or whenever your family likes to enjo...
Post a Comment
Read more