Race to the Sun
Ratings11
Average rating3.9
Lately, seventh grader Nizhoni Begay has been able to detect monsters, like that man in the fancy suit who was in the bleachers at her basketball game. Turns out he's Mr. Charles, her dad's new boss at the oil and gas company, and he's alarmingly interested in Nizhoni and her brother, Mac, their Navajo heritage, and the legend of the Hero Twins. Nizhoni knows he's a threat, but her father won't believe her.
When Dad disappears the next day, leaving behind a message that says "Run!", the siblings and Nizhoni's best friend, Davery, are thrust into a rescue mission that can only be accomplished with the help of Diné Holy People, all disguised as quirky characters. Their aid will come at a price: the kids must pass a series of trials in which it seems like nature itself is out to kill them. If Nizhoni, Mac, and Davery can reach the House of the Sun, they will be outfitted with what they need to defeat the ancient monsters Mr. Charles has unleashed. But it will take more than weapons for Nizhoni to become the hero she was destined to be . . .
Series
Featured Series
1 primary book#1 in Race to the Sun
Race to the Sun is a 1-book series first released in 2020 with contributions by Rebecca Roanhorse.
Reviews
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Standard hero quest plot but well-paced and engaging; bonus points for being funny.
Almost abandoned, then realized this isn't YA, it's for littler kids. Shifted my expectations, gave it a chance, and okay, it was fun. Standard Hero's Journey with sidekicks, over-the-top evil villains, benign wise forces helping along the way, you know the drill – what you may not know are the characters and the mythology. The book was worth reading, even as an adult, for its rich treatment of Diné lore. I also found myself drawn in by Roanhorse's kind, gentle voice. (Unrated, because I'm not in the target audience, but I would definitely recommend this to parents of young children.)
The Rick Riordan Presents books are still killing it! I read Roanhorse's adult sci-fi book and found it a bit too gritty for my personal tastes, but this middle-grade story was just right for my delicate sensibilities. Nizhoni is a great narrator and this was a really fun quest with a very satisfying conclusion, though still setting itself up for a sequel (that I can't wait to read)!
