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A review by laura_cs
Maya and the Rising Dark by Rena Barron
5.0
I received an ARC of this title at YallFest 2019.
12 year old Maya lives in a South Side neighborhood in Chicago, full of interesting characters and raised on her father's stories of African folklore. Her father, frequently traveling for work, is Maya's idol; she loves him dearly and wants to be just like him. However, that may come true in ways she never expected.
When time suddenly pauses all over the world, and dark shadow creatures descend on her neighborhood, Maya learns that her father is an Orisha, a celestial being tasked with guarding the veil between this world and the dark. However, he is now missing somewhere in the dark.
Determined to rescue him, Maya and her two best friends--Eli and Frankie, both godlings themselves--brave the dark to mount on a rescue mission to save Papa and fend off the Lord of Shadows.
A brilliant middle-grade debut for Barron, Maya is a fantastic protagonist and this series is a fantastic take on the tales of demigods. Maya lives with both parents--even though her godly parent is frequently away for 'work'--and she finds that her community is built up of people who are like her or understand her origins. Then, of course, Maya has her fantastic allies--Eli and Frankie--who are with her through thick and thin. The world-building is fantastic, the stakes are high from the get-go, and Maya works hard to get through her quest. I can't wait to see where Maya's journey will take her next!
12 year old Maya lives in a South Side neighborhood in Chicago, full of interesting characters and raised on her father's stories of African folklore. Her father, frequently traveling for work, is Maya's idol; she loves him dearly and wants to be just like him. However, that may come true in ways she never expected.
When time suddenly pauses all over the world, and dark shadow creatures descend on her neighborhood, Maya learns that her father is an Orisha, a celestial being tasked with guarding the veil between this world and the dark. However, he is now missing somewhere in the dark.
Determined to rescue him, Maya and her two best friends--Eli and Frankie, both godlings themselves--brave the dark to mount on a rescue mission to save Papa and fend off the Lord of Shadows.
A brilliant middle-grade debut for Barron, Maya is a fantastic protagonist and this series is a fantastic take on the tales of demigods. Maya lives with both parents--even though her godly parent is frequently away for 'work'--and she finds that her community is built up of people who are like her or understand her origins. Then, of course, Maya has her fantastic allies--Eli and Frankie--who are with her through thick and thin. The world-building is fantastic, the stakes are high from the get-go, and Maya works hard to get through her quest. I can't wait to see where Maya's journey will take her next!