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lfsalden's review
3.0
Middle Grace - my students and I appreciated the use of language, the inner kindness of the main character, and the Mayan narrative setting! (I don't want to say "mythological", because I don't want to imply that stories aren't real!). Very fast-paced and very thickly laced with new names, so a very fast-paced reader or a more sauntering one (to build up understanding of new concepts) would probably do better than I did - I had to keep a little log book of names!
emtees's review
adventurous
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Zane Obispo lives in New Mexico with his single mother, his wrestling-obsessed uncle, his three-legged dog and a volcano in the backyard. His biggest problems are school bullies until the night that an alien-like creature crashes into his volcano. Before he knows what’s happening, a mysterious girl named Brooks befriends him only to turn into a bird right before his eyes, demons drag his dog to the underworld, and he finds out that the Mayan gods are real and he’s at the center of a prophesy that says he’s destined to free the god of death, darkness and destruction from his prison.
And he does.
The fast pace of this book makes it a lot of fun. Fantasy series tend to drag out storylines, and a character learning that he’s destined to do something he really doesn’t want to and then being forced to do it anyway could be a whole book. But Cervantes dispenses with the question of whether or not Zane will fulfill the prophesy quickly and then jumps into the aftermath. And it’s fun - here’s a road trip, people losing and gaining powers, a neighbor who gets turned into a very funny chicken, a huge birthday party in Venice Beach, giants and monsters and more animal transformations, and hanging over everything, the mystery Zane’s father.
The book was written through an initiative started by Rick Riordan to encourage diverse stories and the influence of Percy Jackson here is obvious. Zane is a normal kid struggling with normal kid stuff, in part because he’s disabled - one of his legs is shorter than the other and he walks with a cane - until he finds out that he’s secretly the son of a mythological figure and is carried off to a world of magic, prophecies and gods. But that’s where the similarities end. The storyline is unique and the use of Mayan mythology was interesting. I liked the way Cervantes modernized the mythology, making the book almost urban fantasy, whether it was the appearances of the Mayan gods or the mythological figures who own bike shops on the beach or run a magical mafia.
The characters are great. I liked Zane a lot. He feels like a realistic thirteen-year old hero: he makes a ton of mistake - seriously, so many bad decisions - but all of them are understandable from his perspective as a kid desperate to survive, save his friends and do the right thing. I liked that he wasn’t a typical chosen one martyr type - he’s going to do what he has to do, but he’s always very aware that the bad things happening are because of all the adults (and immortals) around him making selfish and stupid choices and he doesn’t take responsibility for things that weren’t his fault. It was refreshing. The supporting cast is really strong - I liked Brooks and her prickly relationship with Zane, and I absolutely loved Hondo, Zane’s uncle, who chaperones the kids on their quest and proves surprisingly helpful as well as acting as comic relief.
There were some places where the writing didn’t work for me. Cervantes seemed to struggle a bit in scenes where a lot of different things were going on emotionally for Zane; the writing got a bit uneven and jumped around in ways that didn’t make sense and the dialogue was sometimes awkward. But these were pretty minor issues.
As far as the disability rep, I had mixed feelings. Zane was a well-written disabled character. I liked how well he adapted to his disability - this is something that gets missed a lot, but people who have mobility disabilities their whole lives get used to moving the way their bodies do. It’s not necessarily easy or comfortable but it becomes natural. And that’s very much the case for Zane. You don’t forget his disability but he smoothly adjusts how he needs to deal with it in different situations. His disability affected his self-image a lot, thanks to the bullying he’d received, but the people who knew him never worried about it or felt he was less capable because of it. At the same time, it wasn’t a non-issue - the underlying fear through the book that Zane has about going into dangerous situations when he can’t run away felt very realistic. Also I found it funny that he kept losing his canes.
But as rep, it’s hard to miss that Zane’s disability kind of… fluctuates where it’s convenient. This is not a disability cure book - sorry if that’s a spoiler but it’s important to say - but it isa book that finds excuses to temporarily remove Zane’s disability. This works on a character level, because Zane has a lot of feelings about his disability and having him get a chance to be without it was a good way of examining it. So I didn’t mind the first time it happened, when it was very temporary and part of a plot point about the characters getting to look “perfect.” But the second time it happened just felt like an excuse to not have to deal with the disability during the final action sequence and I was disappointed because Cervantes had done a really good job with having a disabled pov character in actions scenes before this. So while I was glad that this “cure” also turned out to be temporary - and that Zane’s magical weapon is his cane, that’s really cool! - I wished we could have skipped that part. . Also some people might not like that Zane’s disability was a side-effect of him being godborn. Personally I really liked that but it is the “disability super power” trope and some people won’t enjoy it.
And he does.
The fast pace of this book makes it a lot of fun. Fantasy series tend to drag out storylines, and a character learning that he’s destined to do something he really doesn’t want to and then being forced to do it anyway could be a whole book. But Cervantes dispenses with the question of whether or not Zane will fulfill the prophesy quickly and then jumps into the aftermath. And it’s fun - here’s a road trip, people losing and gaining powers, a neighbor who gets turned into a very funny chicken, a huge birthday party in Venice Beach, giants and monsters and more animal transformations, and hanging over everything, the mystery Zane’s father.
The book was written through an initiative started by Rick Riordan to encourage diverse stories and the influence of Percy Jackson here is obvious. Zane is a normal kid struggling with normal kid stuff, in part because he’s disabled - one of his legs is shorter than the other and he walks with a cane - until he finds out that he’s secretly the son of a mythological figure and is carried off to a world of magic, prophecies and gods. But that’s where the similarities end. The storyline is unique and the use of Mayan mythology was interesting. I liked the way Cervantes modernized the mythology, making the book almost urban fantasy, whether it was the appearances of the Mayan gods or the mythological figures who own bike shops on the beach or run a magical mafia.
The characters are great. I liked Zane a lot. He feels like a realistic thirteen-year old hero: he makes a ton of mistake - seriously, so many bad decisions - but all of them are understandable from his perspective as a kid desperate to survive, save his friends and do the right thing. I liked that he wasn’t a typical chosen one martyr type - he’s going to do what he has to do, but he’s always very aware that the bad things happening are because of all the adults (and immortals) around him making selfish and stupid choices and he doesn’t take responsibility for things that weren’t his fault. It was refreshing. The supporting cast is really strong - I liked Brooks and her prickly relationship with Zane, and I absolutely loved Hondo, Zane’s uncle, who chaperones the kids on their quest and proves surprisingly helpful as well as acting as comic relief.
There were some places where the writing didn’t work for me. Cervantes seemed to struggle a bit in scenes where a lot of different things were going on emotionally for Zane; the writing got a bit uneven and jumped around in ways that didn’t make sense and the dialogue was sometimes awkward. But these were pretty minor issues.
As far as the disability rep, I had mixed feelings. Zane was a well-written disabled character. I liked how well he adapted to his disability - this is something that gets missed a lot, but people who have mobility disabilities their whole lives get used to moving the way their bodies do. It’s not necessarily easy or comfortable but it becomes natural. And that’s very much the case for Zane. You don’t forget his disability but he smoothly adjusts how he needs to deal with it in different situations. His disability affected his self-image a lot, thanks to the bullying he’d received, but the people who knew him never worried about it or felt he was less capable because of it. At the same time, it wasn’t a non-issue - the underlying fear through the book that Zane has about going into dangerous situations when he can’t run away felt very realistic. Also I found it funny that he kept losing his canes.
But as rep, it’s hard to miss that Zane’s disability kind of… fluctuates where it’s convenient. This is not a disability cure book - sorry if that’s a spoiler but it’s important to say - but it is
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Ableism
Ableism: the main character is disabled and experiences bullying because of it as well as internalized ableism. This is mostly addressed and resolved by the end of the book. Abandonment: The main character grows up without a father and resents his father for it, and no one really explains it. This isn’t really addressed that much in this book but might be in future volumes.marieintheraw's review
2.0
I'm kinda sad about this one. Zane's internalized ableism really brought my enjoyment of this book down.
alexnewby's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
laura_cs's review
5.0
This book is fantastically amazing! Zane is wonderful, and so is Brooks, and traveling with Uncle Hondo is like traveling with Coach Hedge again!
But this book is also incredibly important, incredibly special to me because it focuses on Mayan kids. My Guatemalan brother is Mayan. Ever since he entered our lives just over twelve years ago, my family has constantly been on the lookout for Guatemala and Maya in kids lit. You know how hard that is? Very hard. So I was ecstatic to learn about this book; though we started reading it aloud together as a family, my brother ended up "stealing" the book and reading it on his own. He devoured it, staying up until nearly three in the morning at one point. We're psyched to meet Ms. Cervantes at Yall Fest next month, and even more excited for The Fire Keeper!
But this book is also incredibly important, incredibly special to me because it focuses on Mayan kids. My Guatemalan brother is Mayan. Ever since he entered our lives just over twelve years ago, my family has constantly been on the lookout for Guatemala and Maya in kids lit. You know how hard that is? Very hard. So I was ecstatic to learn about this book; though we started reading it aloud together as a family, my brother ended up "stealing" the book and reading it on his own. He devoured it, staying up until nearly three in the morning at one point. We're psyched to meet Ms. Cervantes at Yall Fest next month, and even more excited for The Fire Keeper!
alyssaindira's review against another edition
4.0
**No spoilers were harmed in the making of this review**
"You are the storm"
Hey guys, so I finished The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes. I knew from the moment I started reading it that I would like it. The main character, Zane, instantly reminded me of two of my favorite characters, Nick from Nick Chronicles and Percy Jackson. He had humor, major sass, wit and an unique perspective on life. He also was very loyal to his friends and family, so much so he was willing to go to the ends of the earth for a loved one. He was so strong, so brave, and faced all the turmoil in his life just to try and save a friend. Damn, I just love him so much. I also think I love him because he tries to not let his bum leg rule his life. Yes, he acknowledges his weaknesses and sometimes curses the world for it, but he doesnt let them guide his decisions. He just has to change his way of thinking to adjust for that. He tried his best not to be hindered by his condition> And that takes the greatest strength of all. Anyway, I just love Zane. He was the very heart of this action packed novel. It also was very heartfelt, with the underlying themes of friendship and family and loyalty and fighting for whats right. Of course, it also had danger (so much danger), secrets and sorrow. Family was really central, considering one of the questions Zane grapples with during a portion of the novel. I actually found it interesting how many characters were involved with Zane, since some of them...yea. It was just interesting. ANd of course, the main villain...wow. Basically grim reaper. I actually was surprised when some events turned out the way they did at the beginning of the book, it was refreshing. Especially since we got to see how Zane dealt with the consequences of his actions. Like a true hero. But oy, consequences....Gah, one of the main sorrows, gah, the author was brutal. I wasnt expecting that so soon. The author made me feel things, good and bad. Disgust, relief, happiness, and laughter, thanks to Zane, even when it might not have been appropriate. ANd I had plenty of moments when I cursed at the book for some of the events that went down. I also enjoyed learning all the mythical tales in this book. I am not at all versed in Mayan mythology, so it was cool to get a basic understanding of their views. And I actually found some similarities between norse, greek and mayan myths. But I gottta say, having a divine being of chocolate....that should always be a must. So yea, it was cool to read about the myths and how they impacted the story. And the story itself was pretty fast paced, hardly stopping for a moment to breathe, I could barely put it down. The writing was easy to read as well, and the scenes were easy enough to imagine without thinking to hard about it. THough some of the scenes....wow. Certainly fits the subject matter of the story though. But anyway, i really enjoyed this book and if I have time, I might read the second, it just depends. Okay, I prattled on long enough. If you guys have questions or comments, drop em below. Till next time. Bye.
"You are the storm"
Hey guys, so I finished The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes. I knew from the moment I started reading it that I would like it. The main character, Zane, instantly reminded me of two of my favorite characters, Nick from Nick Chronicles and Percy Jackson. He had humor, major sass, wit and an unique perspective on life. He also was very loyal to his friends and family, so much so he was willing to go to the ends of the earth for a loved one. He was so strong, so brave, and faced all the turmoil in his life just to try and save a friend. Damn, I just love him so much. I also think I love him because he tries to not let his bum leg rule his life. Yes, he acknowledges his weaknesses and sometimes curses the world for it, but he doesnt let them guide his decisions. He just has to change his way of thinking to adjust for that. He tried his best not to be hindered by his condition> And that takes the greatest strength of all. Anyway, I just love Zane. He was the very heart of this action packed novel. It also was very heartfelt, with the underlying themes of friendship and family and loyalty and fighting for whats right. Of course, it also had danger (so much danger), secrets and sorrow. Family was really central, considering one of the questions Zane grapples with during a portion of the novel. I actually found it interesting how many characters were involved with Zane, since some of them...yea. It was just interesting. ANd of course, the main villain...wow. Basically grim reaper. I actually was surprised when some events turned out the way they did at the beginning of the book, it was refreshing. Especially since we got to see how Zane dealt with the consequences of his actions. Like a true hero. But oy, consequences....Gah, one of the main sorrows, gah, the author was brutal. I wasnt expecting that so soon. The author made me feel things, good and bad. Disgust, relief, happiness, and laughter, thanks to Zane, even when it might not have been appropriate. ANd I had plenty of moments when I cursed at the book for some of the events that went down. I also enjoyed learning all the mythical tales in this book. I am not at all versed in Mayan mythology, so it was cool to get a basic understanding of their views. And I actually found some similarities between norse, greek and mayan myths. But I gottta say, having a divine being of chocolate....that should always be a must. So yea, it was cool to read about the myths and how they impacted the story. And the story itself was pretty fast paced, hardly stopping for a moment to breathe, I could barely put it down. The writing was easy to read as well, and the scenes were easy enough to imagine without thinking to hard about it. THough some of the scenes....wow. Certainly fits the subject matter of the story though. But anyway, i really enjoyed this book and if I have time, I might read the second, it just depends. Okay, I prattled on long enough. If you guys have questions or comments, drop em below. Till next time. Bye.
ericaberica5126's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
breakfastgrey's review
3.0
I was not overly impressed by this one for the vast majority of the book, but the ending did its job well. I think there was a lot of finding her feet along the way for Cervantes. The pacing was awkward, the lore rushed, the dialog barely disguised info dumps, and the style too close to Riordan’s. It just didn’t do enough to establish itself as a viable alternative to Percy Jackson for me for the vast majority of the story. Things do begin to gel by the ending, though, and I suspect the sequel is much stronger. It also helps that about half my book club kiddos absolutely adored it, so that’s always a win.