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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Entertaining read. A good introduction to Maya mythology. I could definitely remember atleast a few maya god names now
Harukan - god of storm, fire and water
Ixtab - god of underworld
Ah Puch - god of death ...
Found it a little drab here and there, but overall it was a very good read.
Harukan - god of storm, fire and water
Ixtab - god of underworld
Ah Puch - god of death ...
Found it a little drab here and there, but overall it was a very good read.
This one was good, but not my thing. I think I will have students in my class who are all over this though!
The Storm Runner
By J.C. Cervantes
(received e-copy from NetGalley)
Wow! This book is going to be very popular among my middle school students! The main character is very well developed and the book has so many twists and turns that really keep you on the edge of your seat. The author’s style is similar to Riordan’s to give you that familiarity that we all love about Percy, but it is unique in its own right. While some readers may critique these similarities, they need to take a deeper look and realize that the author is paying respect to Riordan who really made this mythology genre popular.
Note: My professional goal for this year is to read 50+ diverse books. As I attempt to read and review these books, I will be answering the following questions for each book:
Brief plot summary - Zane is a boy who is homeschooled because other kids have bullied him. One of his legs is shorter than the other one causing him to walk with a cane, and he is a bit down in life until a mysterious girl enters. Everything he has ever known about the world and his life changes as he learns that Mayan myths are real.
How is the book diverse? The author and the characters are nonwhite. The main character also has a physical disability.
Opinion & reason for rating - This book deserves five stars! I have read many books in the mythology genre, and this is one of the best. The Lightning Thief has been my favorite one for over a decade, and I even had the opportunity to teach the book for multiple years. Please know that I do not say this lightly, but The Storm Runner is a close second to The Lightning Thief. Zane is a fun and likeable character and the plot is very well developed. One reason this book is so strong is because it has great secondary character that are complex and sympathetic characters. In addition, the gods, supernatural being, etc. are interesting and unique, and the way she introduces the reader to this world is very exciting. Cervantes does a great job explaining the basics of the gods and their creation story as well as interweaving multiple myth-based stories, which will give everyone a greater knowledge base in Mayan mythology.
How does the book impact me personally? I absolutely love Greek mythology and tend to shy away from the other types of mythology. However, the author introduced Mayan mythology in such an interesting and easy way, which has made me excited about other cultures. The personalities and various types of the gods (there is a god of chocolate!) also opened me up to new thinking as I read, and it gave me a broader view of our world. This book matters because it allows students and adults to view the world through a new lens and become more empathetic human beings.
How will the book impact my teaching? This book has given me the knowledge and confidence to explore Mayan mythology so that I can incorporate some stories into my brief unit on mythology. I tend to focus on Greek mythology, so now I am ready to read more about Mayan mythology and teach about something new. Incorporating Mayan mythology into my lessons will then expose my students to new ideas in literature and get them to take risks in their reading and thinking.
Why does this book matter?
This book matters because it allows students and adults to view the world through a new lens and become more empathetic human beings.
I would recommend this book to fans of Rick Riordan and anyone looking to explore the world past the Greek myths.
By J.C. Cervantes
(received e-copy from NetGalley)
Wow! This book is going to be very popular among my middle school students! The main character is very well developed and the book has so many twists and turns that really keep you on the edge of your seat. The author’s style is similar to Riordan’s to give you that familiarity that we all love about Percy, but it is unique in its own right. While some readers may critique these similarities, they need to take a deeper look and realize that the author is paying respect to Riordan who really made this mythology genre popular.
Note: My professional goal for this year is to read 50+ diverse books. As I attempt to read and review these books, I will be answering the following questions for each book:
Brief plot summary - Zane is a boy who is homeschooled because other kids have bullied him. One of his legs is shorter than the other one causing him to walk with a cane, and he is a bit down in life until a mysterious girl enters. Everything he has ever known about the world and his life changes as he learns that Mayan myths are real.
How is the book diverse? The author and the characters are nonwhite. The main character also has a physical disability.
Opinion & reason for rating - This book deserves five stars! I have read many books in the mythology genre, and this is one of the best. The Lightning Thief has been my favorite one for over a decade, and I even had the opportunity to teach the book for multiple years. Please know that I do not say this lightly, but The Storm Runner is a close second to The Lightning Thief. Zane is a fun and likeable character and the plot is very well developed. One reason this book is so strong is because it has great secondary character that are complex and sympathetic characters. In addition, the gods, supernatural being, etc. are interesting and unique, and the way she introduces the reader to this world is very exciting. Cervantes does a great job explaining the basics of the gods and their creation story as well as interweaving multiple myth-based stories, which will give everyone a greater knowledge base in Mayan mythology.
How does the book impact me personally? I absolutely love Greek mythology and tend to shy away from the other types of mythology. However, the author introduced Mayan mythology in such an interesting and easy way, which has made me excited about other cultures. The personalities and various types of the gods (there is a god of chocolate!) also opened me up to new thinking as I read, and it gave me a broader view of our world. This book matters because it allows students and adults to view the world through a new lens and become more empathetic human beings.
How will the book impact my teaching? This book has given me the knowledge and confidence to explore Mayan mythology so that I can incorporate some stories into my brief unit on mythology. I tend to focus on Greek mythology, so now I am ready to read more about Mayan mythology and teach about something new. Incorporating Mayan mythology into my lessons will then expose my students to new ideas in literature and get them to take risks in their reading and thinking.
Why does this book matter?
This book matters because it allows students and adults to view the world through a new lens and become more empathetic human beings.
I would recommend this book to fans of Rick Riordan and anyone looking to explore the world past the Greek myths.
The mythology is fun, interesting and well-loved in a way I'd expect from a Riordan imprint, but unfortunately that's about as far as it goes. Ultimately, Zane is a charmless protagonist whose magically prescribed disability is handled with language and situations that seem regressive, which is kind of a theme, and objectifies the more competent woman character to the point that she's barely a character besides how attracted he is to her. This was a quick read and a trudge to get through at the same time, and while the plot and ideas are strong, I just can't handle the main character.
Loved it! This book is incredible, fast paced. It's going to the top of the list of the books I'll be reading to my kids.
Another great book for Rick Riordan’s new imprint. This time we delve into the world of Mayan mythology with author J.C. Cervantes.
This one read more like a Rick Riordan novel to me - dense, filled with information and action
Zane is a flawed character, and flawed for a reason. I enjoyed learning more about him and his dry sense of humor in this first book in a series.
A must purchase for your Riordan or mythology fans.
This one read more like a Rick Riordan novel to me - dense, filled with information and action
Zane is a flawed character, and flawed for a reason. I enjoyed learning more about him and his dry sense of humor in this first book in a series.
A must purchase for your Riordan or mythology fans.
It was cool but the narrator’s voice was somewhat annoying.
3.5 stars / This book was...fine, I guess. It was a good read, I just don't have particularly strong feelings about it either way. If you're deciding whether to read it or not, if I didn't know who the author was you could pretty easily convince me that Riordan himself had written it, just slightly less funny than normal - take that as a compliment or criticism as you see fit.
Pros:
- lots of Spanish (I assume) sprinkled throughout in a way that, to I, a non-Spanish speaker, seemed pretty natural; it didn't interrupt the flow of the story at all, even if I didn't necessarily know the translation
Cons:
- I'm probably putting a lot on just one book, but I feel like I've come out not knowing much more about Maya mythology/culture than I did going in. We're given some gods and mythological beings, but not really anything about their roles in either historical or modern culture, they just kind of exist. Not very engaging or educational
- falls prey to the mysterious, inexplicably beautiful-without-trying, not-like-other-girls female character trope that makes me grind my teeth (and that riordan has also written more than once)
Pros:
- lots of Spanish (I assume) sprinkled throughout in a way that, to I, a non-Spanish speaker, seemed pretty natural; it didn't interrupt the flow of the story at all, even if I didn't necessarily know the translation
Cons:
- I'm probably putting a lot on just one book, but I feel like I've come out not knowing much more about Maya mythology/culture than I did going in. We're given some gods and mythological beings, but not really anything about their roles in either historical or modern culture, they just kind of exist. Not very engaging or educational
- falls prey to the mysterious, inexplicably beautiful-without-trying, not-like-other-girls female character trope that makes me grind my teeth (and that riordan has also written more than once)
I can see why this one is published under Rick Riordan’s publishing company. Most of the time I had to remind myself he didn’t write it. This is an extremely talented author, I loved all the witty humor. I also need to make a pie note saying I will be reading anything Rick Riordan Presents. I’m starting to really be into middle grade fantasy, since I can fly through them and get a fun, interesting story.
All the Mayan Mythology in this one was awesome! I feel like I learned so much, but didn’t even realize it (which is great for middle age books, don’t you think). The fact that there was so much diverse representation in this one made it even better! It’s not everyday you see a hispanic, disabled main character! Zane made me laugh so much, and I just appreciated him as a whole.
Overall, if you want a diverse, fast-paced, middle age fantasy that keeps you wanting more, you’ve found it! If you are a fan of Rick Riordan’s books, look no further, because here you have a book I can almost guarantee you will love! I will absolutely be reading everything from this ne publishing company!
All the Mayan Mythology in this one was awesome! I feel like I learned so much, but didn’t even realize it (which is great for middle age books, don’t you think). The fact that there was so much diverse representation in this one made it even better! It’s not everyday you see a hispanic, disabled main character! Zane made me laugh so much, and I just appreciated him as a whole.
Overall, if you want a diverse, fast-paced, middle age fantasy that keeps you wanting more, you’ve found it! If you are a fan of Rick Riordan’s books, look no further, because here you have a book I can almost guarantee you will love! I will absolutely be reading everything from this ne publishing company!
adventurous
fast-paced
Such a good middle grade book! Very similar to the Kane Chronicles, but that's why I read it anyway.