Title: Race to the Sun

Author: Rebecca Roanhorse

Publisher: Disney Hyperion 2020

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Pages: 298

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

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 . . . Timeless themes such as the importance of family and respect for the land resonate in this funny, fast-paced, and exciting quest adventure set in the American Southwest.

This was an addition to our homeschool curriculum. I thought it fit well with the theme of “Fantastic Journeys and Perilous Quests.” We get a great story weaving Navajo myths and stories with a very modern day middle school girl. The writing style is very much like Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series. I wonder if that was the direction given to these various authors. I wanted a bit more of a difference, but the characters and story definitely made up for it. We learned a lot about Navajo culture and had a lot of fun along the way.

Next up on the TBR pile: