A contemporary adventure inspired by Maya mythology follows the experiences of an avid explorer with a disabled leg who discovers that the dormant volcano near his home in New Mexico is a gateway to another world. 25,000 first printing. - (Baker & Taylor)

To prevent the Mayan gods from battling each other and destroying the world, thirteen-year-old Zane must unravel an ancient prophecy, stop an evil god, and discover how the physical disability that makes him reliant on a cane also connects him to his father and his ancestry. - (Baker & Taylor)

To prevent the Mayan gods from battling each other and destroying the world, Zane must unravel an ancient prophecy, stop an evil god, and discover how the physical disability that makes him reliant on a cane also connects him to his father and his ancestry. - (Baker & Taylor)

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents J.C. Cervantes' contemporary adventure based on Maya mythology.

"A perfect storm of inspiring heroes, surprising twists, and some seriously scary monsters. This hilarious, expertly-plotted adventure keeps you racing through the pages and leaves you desperate for the next book (and craving a steaming mug of hot chocolate)!" --Shannon Messenger, New York Times best-selling author of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series and the Sky Fall series

Zane has always enjoyed exploring the dormant volcano near his home in New Mexico, even though hiking it is challenging. He'd much rather hang out there with his dog, Rosie, than go to middle school, where kids call him Sir Limps a Lot, McGimpster, or Uno--for his one good leg.

What Zane doesn't know is that the volcano is a gateway to another world and he is at the center of a powerful prophecy. A new girl at school, Brooks, informs him that he's destined to release an evil god from the ancient Maya relic he is imprisoned in--unless she can find and remove it first.

Together they return to the volcano, where all kinds of crazy happens. Brooks turns into a hawk, a demon attacks them in a cave, and Rosie gives her all while trying to protect Zane.

When Zane decides to save his dog no matter the cost, he is thrust into an adventure full of surprising discoveries, dangerous secrets, and an all-out war between the gods, one of whom happens to be his father. To survive, Zane will have to become the Storm Runner. But how can he run when he can't even walk well without a cane?

Endorsed by Rick Riordan, author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, soon to be a series on Disney+. - (Grand Central Pub)

New York Times bestselling author J.C. Cervantes (www.jennifercervantes.com) also wrote Tortilla Sun, which was called "a beautiful and engaging debut" by Kirkus, an "imaginative, yet grounded novel" by Publishers Weekly, and "lean and lightly spiced with evocative metaphor" by School Library Journal. Tortilla Sun was a 2010 New Voices pick by the American Booksellers Association and it was named to Bank Street's 2011 Best Book List. Jen is an avid reader, a champion for the underdog, and a believer in magic. She is currently working on a sequel to this book, The Fire Keeper. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter: @jencerv, and Instagram: #authorjcervantes. - (Grand Central Pub)

Booklist Reviews

*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.  Grades 4-7. Copyright 2018 Booklist Reviews.

Kirkus Reviews

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 th e 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) Copyright Kirkus 2018 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal Reviews

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