Tewa

Lately, seventh-grader Nizhoni Begay has been able to detect monsters, like that man in the fancy suit who was in the bleachers at her basketball game. Turns out he's Mr. Charles, her dad's new boss at the oil and gas company, and he's alarmingly interested in Nizhoni and her brother, Mac, their Navajo heritage, and the legend of the Hero Twins. Nizhoni knows he's a threat, but her father won't believe her.

When Dad disappears the next day, leaving behind a message that says "Run!", the siblings and Nizhoni's best friend, Davery, are thrust into a rescue mission that can only be accomplished with the help of Diné Holy People, all disguised as quirky characters. Their aid will come at a price: the kids must pass a series of trials in which it seems like nature itself is out to kill them. If Nizhoni, Mac, and Davery can reach the House of the Sun, they will be outfitted with what they need to defeat the ancient monsters Mr. Charles has unleashed. But it will take more than weapons for Nizhoni to become the hero she was destined to be . . .

Timeless themes such as the importance of family and respect for the land resonate in this funny, fast-paced, and exciting quest adventure set in the American Southwest.

Awards

• 2020 Junior Library Guild Selection

Educator Information
Recommended Ages: 8 to 12.

Family-is-everything theme will resonate with middle graders.

Features a relatable protagonist who fears she doesn't have what it takes to be a hero and a greedy villain who calls to mind challenges that Indigenous people are facing right now.

Cover art by Navajo artist Dale DeForest Ray.

A note from the author: "This one is for my daughter (who is Navajo on her dad’s side) and her cousins and all the Native kids who deserve to be the heroes in their own stories. I hope all kids enjoy it." - Rebecca Roanhorse

Additional Information
320 pages | Paperback