Monsters, Mythology and More

Summer is not over just yet, so there is still time to discover a new favorite book. As I catch up with my own reading list, I have finally gotten around to reading Rebecca Roanhorse's Race to the Sun. Populated with gods, heroes, monsters and mythology from the Navajo Nation, Roanhorse tells the story of monsters and a hero's quest to finding herself.

Published at the beginning of the year, Race to the Sun tells the story of Nizhoni Begay, a seventh grader whose home life is rife with anger and displacement over the loss of her mother and the everyday challenges of middle school. Just as Nizhoni is easing into her gift for spotting monsters, they soon come for her, her brother, and her father.

With her best friend by her side and an assortment of guardians to assist, Nizhoni makes the journey to finding herself, while saving her family. Rebecca Roanhorse tells a smart, funny, and well-paced hero's journey that crackles with so much wit and heart to burn. It's already in my top ten favorite books for this year.

If you're interested in checking this title out or others like it, please go to houstonlibrary.org and place a hold! Our new HPL TO GO - Curbside Service is available at select Houston Public Library locations. With a little planning, we can still provide your next favorite book. Happy reading!