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kellyz628 's review for:
The Storm Runner
by J.C. Cervantes
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.