Maya and the Rising Dark

This book took me on a wild adventure through the streets of South Side Chicago (where I lived for 15 years). And guess what? Twelve-year-old Maya was my fearless guide throughout this contemporary fantasy.

Now, picture this: were-hyenas prowling in the shadows at night while a spooky man made of darkness haunted her dreams. It sounds utterly thrilling. Well, Maya's friends try to rationalize these bizarre occurrences with ghost uprisings or lunchroom experiments gone awry - but not our clever protagonist. Nope, she knows better.

To her imaginative mind, it all sounded straight out of one of Papa's captivating stories… show more.

I read books for all ages, because good stories transcend age, gender, race, etc. I love books that teach me something new, especially those with smart, sassy, and determined female protagonists. Maya and the Rising Dark is a delightful middle-grade read, with an empowered 12-year-old girl leading the way. Rich with diversity, I loved journeying into the mythology of the Orisha gods with Maya and her friends

I enjoyed this contemporary fantasy about a young girl caught between worlds who—to her shock—discovers her father is really super-human. It was fun to see how after suddenly being charged with the task of saving the human race, she accepts the challenge. The ticking clock in the story was humorous, but created enough tension to keep me reading.