November 4, 2019
In this fantasy inspired by Navajo legends, two siblings discover they’re the latest incarnations of the famed Hero Twins, just in time to combat a devious monster who plans to unleash his brethren upon the world. In Albuquerque, N.M., 12-year-old Nizhoni Begay can detect monsters disguised as regular people. And no one heeds her warnings, even when one monster—her father’s new boss, Mr. Charles, an oil executive at a company that “people are protesting for putting in that pipeline”—shows interest in her Navajo heritage. After Mr. Charles kidnaps her father, Nizhoni, along with her younger brother Marcus and her best friend Davery, journey across the American Southwest and into a spiritual realm to obtain the weapons needed to defeat Mr. Charles’s army of monsters. But for Nizhoni to follow in her long-vanished mother’s footsteps as a monster slayer, she must survive a grueling series of challenges. Roanhorse (the Sixth World series for adults), who is Ohkay Owingeh and African-American, draws on her husband’s heritage to reimagine Navajo stories and characters, delivering a fast-paced, exciting adventure. While the antagonists could stand further development, Nizhoni’s blend of snark, confidence, and humor proves as multifaceted as the satisfying tale’s focus on friendship, family, and cultural legacy. Ages 8–12. Agent: Sara Megibow, KT Literary.
July 1, 2020
Gr 5-8-Seventh-grader Nizhoni Begay left a big public school for a small tribal school, but she still doesn't feel like she fits in. The fact she is able to see monsters sets her apart from her family, as the most current visible monster is her father's new boss. When her father disappears after a meeting with Mr. Charles, Nizhoni, her little brother Mac, and savvy schoolmate Davery are determined to find him. Help turns up in unexpected ways: a kind stranger, coded song lyrics, and Navajo legends come to life. Though Nizhoni feels she has "zero" hero material, she, Mac, and Davery bravely and ingeniously gather gifts from the sacred mountains, aided by Din� legends including Rock Crystal Boy and Spider Woman, along with a stuffed horned toad come to life. Narrator Kinsale Hueston, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, voices Nizhoni convincingly, whether she is annoyed with Mac or speaking phrases and names in Navajo. VERDICT A fast-paced adventure, occasionally violent, with a strong, positive "be who you are" subtext. Suggest to mythology-based adventure readers.-Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley Sch., Fort Worth, TX
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