The middle grade Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan is beloved by all ages, but features very Euro-centric mythology. Which isn’t bad per se, but it would be nice to see multiple perspectives and diversity in children’s lit. So many people were excited when Disney decided to cash in on the middle grade adventures by creating the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. As an editor, Rick Riorsan curates submissions featuring many more cultures. The publishing schedule of this imprint reminds me of Marvel’s methodology, hence the title of the post.
Here are my thoughts on the books of Phase 1 as Phase two seems to be starting soon with sequels. Note that I listened to the audiobooks of all the novels.
Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
The start of the imprint is strong with this Mahabharata-inspired adventure. Aru Shah is both a typical 12 year old who wants to fit in at a school where she feels out of place as a minority and a little bit unique due to the fact that she lives in an actual museum. Lonely with her curator mother off on frequent trips, Aru likes to embellish the truth a bit to suit her needs. This fibbing puts her and the world in danger when she accidentally releases an ancient enemy. She learns she is a reincarnated Pandava brother and finds a spiritual sister, Mini. Guided by a surly pigeon, they battle demons and use their skills to save the world.
Chokshi founds the rich Indian mythology with fleshed out characters and seamlessly incorporates it into the real world. I particularly loved the use of Costco as an otherworldly marketplace. The narration by Soneela Nankani is pitch perfect and thoroughly enjoyable. Highly recommend this for those who love mythological fantasy.
The Storm Runner by J.C Cervantes
Based on Mayan mythology, The Storm Runner is the most analogous to the source material of Rick Riordan, much to its detriment. Zane is a bullied thirteen year old who lives on the side of a volcano. He loves his dog and tries to help out his single mother and get along with his somewhat immature uncle. When the volcano is invaded by disgusting demons, Zane finds himself to be at the center of a prophecy that could spell the end of the world.
Zane’s adventure is supported by many different creatures from Mayan mythology, including a rich pantheon of gods. While it is an interesting look at these diverse stories, the overall plot is extremely predictable and follow middle-grade tropes. A budding romance, complicated relationships with parents, and unlocking special powers just to name a few. I would recommend this book to readers who really are just looking at Percy Jackson in a different flavor, but it may be disappointing to those who would like a fresh perspective.
The Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
Lee is an acclaimed sci-fi writer whose adult work is extremely dense. Thankfully, this entry into children’s work is much more accessible and allowed me to appreciate his ideas more. This novel follows Min, a fox shapeshifter (gumiho) who lives with her family eking out a life trying to avoid persecution. When her brother is charged with deserting the Space Forces, she strikes out to clear the family name and rescue her brother.
This is a high octane space adventure that features many characters from Korean mythology, mixing the spiritual and scientific. At some points it seems as though the plot jumps quite a bit, with many characters being introduced then forgotten about quickly. The world building and integration of Korean mythology is seamless, which is unsurprising considering Lee’s other work. The book definitely feels like a set-up to a greater adventure, so I would recommend this to someone who wants to start a series.
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
This book features the barest hint of science fiction employing Latin American magical realism. The story truly revolves around the main character, Sal, as he deals with his Type 1 diabetes and grief over his beloved mother. Through meditation he has the ability to reach into the multiverse and bring items into his own, which is a great power when you are a magician in the making. However, his tricks end up destabilizing the universe when he puts a raw chicken into a bully’s locker.
Gabi is a high achieving lawyer to be who finds Sal’s shenanigans to be suspect. Sal soon begrudgingly befriends the focused Gabi as they both strive to fix the problems in their lives while maintaining the space-time continuum. What is unique about this novel is that most of the characters are mature and well-meaning. The parents and teachers are supportive and Sal and Gabi’s problems don’t rely on tween surliness. The characterization is on point, even with the “antagonists” who are well-rounded and sympathetic. We can only hope our next generation is as great as Sal and Gabi, which would only be possible with the type of support and parenting the adults in this book provide. Also, extra bonus for limiting romantic entanglements!
All in all, this is my personal ranking of Rick Riordan Presents Phase 1 (in descending enjoyment):
Aru Shah and the End of Time
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe
The Dragon Pearl
The Storm Runner
Lemons & Lemonade 