The Disability Book Archive

[ID: A book cover. Small yellow text in the upper left corner reads “Rick Riordan Presents” in capitals. The title “The Storm Runner” is written in the lower half of the cover, in the centre, in large yellow capitals. The author’s name “J. C. Cervantes” is written directly below this in smaller capitals. The “O” in “Storm” is partially filled in with a smaller, solid yellow circle, and has a partial crown of lines above it. The background shows a dark blue volcano with orange smoke coming from the top. In the lower section of the book, green water with the figures of two people swimming through it. On either side of the volcano, two faint golden animal eyes. Above it, the faint symbol of a white skull in front of a circle of rectangles. The sky behind the volcano is a dark colour gradient of blue to purple. /end

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Content Warning:

• Ableism and Ableist Language
• Internalised Ableism
• Parental Abandonment
• Animal Death
• Bullying
• Body Horror
• Near Drowning Experience
• Blood

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Summary:

Zane has always enjoyed exploring the dormant volcano near his home in New Mexico, even though hiking it is challenging. He’d much rather hang out there with his dog, Rosie, than go to middle school, where kids call him Sir Limps a Lot, McGimpster, or Uno — for his one good leg. What Zane doesn’t know is that the volcano is a gateway to another world and he is at the center of a powerful prophecy.

A new girl at school, Brooks, informs him that he’s destined to release an evil god from the ancient Maya relic he is imprisoned in — unless she can find and remove it first. Together they return to the volcano, where all kinds of crazy happens. Brooks turns into a hawk, a demon attacks them in a cave, and Rosie gives her all while trying to protect Zane. When Zane decides to save his dog no matter the cost, he is thrust into an adventure full of surprising discoveries, dangerous secrets, and an all-out war between the gods, one of whom happens to be his father. To survive, Zane will have to become the Storm Runner. But how can he run when he can’t even walk well without a cane?

Feisty heroes, tricky gods, murderous demons, and spirited giants are just some of the pleasures that await in this fresh and funny take on Maya mythology, as rich and delicious as a mug of authentic hot chocolate.

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Notes:

This is the first book in the The Storm Runner series.

This series was published through the ‘Rick Riordan Presents’ project. It contains and draws on many elements of Mayan mythology to tell its story.

There is an audiobook.

There is an ebook. There is a kindle edition.

Here is a link to the author’s website.

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Archivist Comments:

I’m a bit on the fence about adding this one just because the internalised ableism of the main character is so prevalent in the book, to the point that some people felt it overwhelmed the story. Also apparently it almost fell into the “magic cures all” trope. Which isn’t brilliant, is it. I do believe these issues may have been included on purpose and are resolved, to some degree, by the end of the story, however, but still. Do be aware they exist.

If anyone would like me to review this entry, please just let me know.

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