The cursed carnival and other calamities: new stories about mythic heroes

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Description

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents ten new stories--including one of his own--about beloved heroes that sprang from the imaginations of some of the best middle grade authors working today."I hope you enjoy your trip through the multiverse mansion as much as I did. The real danger is that once you start exploring all the wonders herein, you may want to stay forever."--Rick RiordanA cave monster . . . an abandoned demon . . . a ghost who wants to erase history . . . a killer commandant . . . These are just some of the challenges confronting the young heroes in this highly entertaining anthology. All but one of the heroes previously starred in a popular book from Rick Riordan Presents. You'll be reunited with Aru Shah, Zane Obispo, Min the fox spirit, Sal and Gabi, Gum Baby, Nizhoni Begay, Paola Santiago, Sikander Aziz, and Riley Oh. Who is the new hero? Read Rick Riordan's short story to find out! Ten bestselling and award-winning middle grade authors contributed to this collection: Roshani Chokshi, J.C. Cervantes, Yoon Ha Lee, Carlos Hernandez, Kwame Mbalia, Rebecca Roanhorse, Tehlor Kay Mejia, Sarwat Chadda, Graci Kim, and Rick Riordan, who also served as the editor. The cultures represented by these own-voices stories are: Indian, Mesoamerican, Korean, Cuban, Black American, African, Navajo, Mexican, Mesopotamian, and Celtic.There's something for everyone in this collection of fast-paced and funny adventure stories that show what it takes to be a hero in any time, setting, and universe.Read more about the heroes in these best-selling books:
  • Rick Riordan Presents: Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
  • Rick Riordan Presents: The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes
  • Rick Riordan Presents: Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
  • Rick Riordan Presents: Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
  • Rick Riordan Presents: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
  • Rick Riordan Presents: Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
  • Rick Riordan Presents: Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia
  • Rick Riordan Presents: City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda
  • Rick Riordan Presents: The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim

Table of Contents

From the Book - First edition.

Calamity juice / by Carlos Hernandez --
Beware the grove of true love / by Roshani Chokshi --
The Cave of Doom / by Jennifer Cervantes --
The initiation / by Yoon Ha Lee --
The Gum Baby files / by Cake Literary --
The demon drum / by Rebecca Roanhorse --
Bruto and the freaky flower / by Tehlor Kay Mejia --
The loneliest demon / by Sarwat Chadda --
My night at the Gifted Carnival / by Graci Kim --
My life as a child outlaw / by Rick Riordan.

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These books have the appeal factors action-packed and fast-paced, and they have the genres "fantasy fiction" and "mythological fiction"; and the subjects "characters and characteristics in mythology," "gods and goddesses, greek," and "mythology, greek."
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These books have the appeal factors action-packed and fast-paced, and they have the genres "fantasy fiction" and "mythological fiction"; and the subjects "characters and characteristics in mythology," "mythical creatures," and "monsters."

Similar Authors From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for other authors you might want to read if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
Both Rick Riordan and Philip Pullman write clever, engaging fantasy fiction for older kids. These authors weave humor and suspense into action-packed plots to create attention-grabbing stories. Many of the authors' books are informed by historical periods (Ancient Greece or Victorian England, respectively). -- NoveList Contributor
Kids and tweens who crave non-stop action, imaginative world-building, and lightning-paced reads should appreciate these authors' witty and suspenseful fantasy series. Both authors are skilled at grabbing -- and holding -- readers' attention. -- Ellen Foreman
Readers craving fast-paced adventures with a mythological twist will love the writings of Rick Riordan and Michael Scott. Both authors create relatable characters that find themselves in worlds where magic and mythology come to life. Riordan's novels are good for middle grades and up, while Scott writes for teen readers. -- Diane Colson
In the page-turning fantasy series by both of these authors, modern kids and teens are drawn into the epic (and often dangerous) dramas of ancient gods and mythological monsters. Both authors offer snarky humor and diverse, relatable casts of characters. -- Rebecca Honeycutt
Fans of action-packed fantasy for older kids inspired by mythology will enjoy the works of Rick Riordan and Jennifer Cervantes. Cervantes' books are inspired by Maya legends, while Riordan draws on stories from several different cultures. -- Stephen Ashley
Intricate plots, large casts of characters, and fast-paced action are hallmarks of both of these authors' fantasy fiction for older kids and tweens. Add in abundant wit, humor, and creative world-building, and it's no surprise these authors are so popular. -- Ellen Foreman
Both authors feature likable characters with a penchant for sarcasm who engage in action-packed, suspenseful adventures laced with fantasy. Jonathan Stroud writes books for all ages, but his middle-grade books will appeal to fans of Rick Riordan. Riordan's milieu is mythological fantasy, while Stroud features the magical and supernatural. -- Diane Colson
Each author captures the experiences of ordinary boys undertaking extraordinary adventures in otherworldly realms. Rick Riordan is well known for his mythology-based, action-packed series, while Anthony Horowitz sends his courageous teen heroes into inventive spy fiction and suspenseful horror stories. -- Diane Colson
Both authors write action-packed, suspenseful stories featuring courageous teenagers. Rick Riordan's fantasy novels for middle grades are steeped in mythology, while Pittacus Lore's teen books involve alien encounters, but both explore the power of friendship and the danger of accepting a quest. -- Diane Colson
Teenagers entrusted with dangerous quests figure prominently in both authors' work. Rick Riordan writes fast-paced fantasy that features ordinary people and mythological characters. His tone is funny and suspenseful. Rick Yancey's books are also action-packed adventures, but they can be more gruesome and bleak in tone. -- Diane Colson
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These authors' works have the appeal factors action-packed, and they have the genre "mythological fiction"; and the subjects "quests," "monsters," and "prophecies."

Published Reviews

Booklist Review

From Rick Riordan Presents comes this anthology of 10 short stories with heroes from the imprint traipsing through the multiverse. Edited by Riordan, who also contributed one of his own stories, this book offers a little bit of everything. There are doorways that open up to silly and funny adventure tales in unicorn and chicken universes. There are ghosts and monsters and a cave of doom. There are sword wielders, a hero with mad fire skills, and a Mayan shapeshifter who can also breathe underwater. There is even a young fighter who once stunned a duck. The stories are diverse and pull from a spectrum of culture's mythologies, including Indian, African American, and Celtic, to name only a few. Contributors include Pura Belpré Award winner Carlos Hernandez and Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book award winner Kwame Mbalia. If the multiverse is a favorite theme, Me vs. the Multiverse: Pleased to Meet Me (2020), by S. G. Wilson, or Strangeworlds Travel Agency (2021), by L. D. Lapinski, are other middle-grade books worth checking out. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Yes, Riordan's name is on the cover, which will draw in plenty of readers, but don't miss the cache of the contributors, who have plenty of fans themselves.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
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Publisher's Weekly Review

This middle grade anthology from Rick Riordan Presents serves up 10 new stories from the imprint's contributing authors, including a Celtic mythology--inspired piece by Riordan, who edited the volume. Carlos Hernandez kicks things off with an exuberant romp as characters Sal and Gabi chase a wayward, unicorn-riding classmate through alternate worlds, in the process linking to other tales. Elsewhere, Kwame Mbalia's Gum Baby takes center stage, battling a ghost capable of erasing Black history; Tehlor Kay Mejia's Paola Santiago risks everything to help her ailing pet chupacabra; and Yoon Ha Lee's space-faring fox spirit Min embarks upon a new adventure when she and her ghost brother are sent to spy school. As companion pieces to existing series that nevertheless remain accessible for newcomers, these stories both expand each world and offer readers a full sampling of the imprint's versatility. With an inclusive range of contributors drawing upon their respective heritages and experiences to craft culturally specific, gratifyingly adventurous tales, there's a little something for everyone here, like a world tour of wonder and excitement. Ages 8--12. Agent: Nancy Gallt, Gallt & Zacker Literary. (Sept.)

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School Library Journal Review

Gr 4--8--Ten Rick Riordan Presents authors, including Riordan himself, share myths from Korean, Mexican, Native American, Cuban, Indian, and Mesopotamian cultures, among others. The collection is cohesive, with common threads of adventure and kid-friendly humor. Most of the stories are set in the present; only two myths have historic/otherworldly settings: Riordan's Irish yarn of mythical warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill and Ha Lee's space-based tale "The Initiation." Some authors use their myths as vehicles for themes such as cultural pride (Rebecca Roanhorse's "The Demon Drum"), Black history (Kwame Mbalia's "The Gum Baby Files"), and immigration (Sarwat Chadda's "The Loneliest Demon"). Readers can reunite with Sal and Gabi in Carlos Hernandez's "Calamity Juice" and adventure with Aru's sisters in Roshani Chokshi's "Beware the Grove of True Love." Most offerings are told in first person, and readers may find it difficult to quickly identify the hero, setting, and premise without careful reading. Many myths also assume prior knowledge of the authors' other stories and, to avoid confusion, should be read by series fans. While some can be enjoyed as stand-alone tales, other entries are aimed at readers who have read Rick Riordan Presents stories and want more from the "Multiverse Mansion" of beloved characters and authors. VERDICT An entertaining collection recommended for libraries that own other Rick Riordan Presents titles.--Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Lib. Assoc., CT

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Kirkus Book Review

In this anthology penned by authors from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint--and Riordan himself--mythological adventures lie in wait. In the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Gum Baby must save her friends from a ghostie dressed in rags in Kwame Mbalia's "The Gum Baby Files." In Carlos Hernandez' "Calamity Juice," Cuban American Sal and Gabi must figure out which alternate version of the universe has swallowed up their friend. In "Beware the Grove of True Love" by Roshani Chokshi, Aru Shah and her Pandava sisters enter a Night Bazaar in the Otherworld; they must return gunghroos, or anklet bells, to a magical being they upset. And at the All-Nations Assembly powwow, Diné girl Nizhoni; her best friend, Davery; and other Native youth try--and fail--to take a break from slaying monsters in "The Demon Drum" by Rebecca Roanhorse. The 10 short stories in this anthology pulse with imagination and humor, and each entry is a true page-turner set in a fully realized, satisfyingly complete fantasy world that is accessible even to readers who are not familiar with the authors' novels. At times, the dialogue can feel forced, as though the writers are trying to shape their styles to match Riordan's; the strongest stories are the ones that avoid this pitfall and which have the most distinctive voices. A captivating collection of stories based on world mythologies. (guide to Irish names, contributor bios) (Fantasy. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
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Booklist Reviews

From Rick Riordan Presents comes this anthology of 10 short stories with heroes from the imprint traipsing through the multiverse. Edited by Riordan, who also contributed one of his own stories, this book offers a little bit of everything. There are doorways that open up to silly and funny adventure tales in unicorn and chicken universes. There are ghosts and monsters and a cave of doom. There are sword wielders, a hero with mad fire skills, and a Mayan shapeshifter who can also breathe underwater. There is even a young fighter who once stunned a duck. The stories are diverse and pull from a spectrum of culture's mythologies, including Indian, African American, and Celtic, to name only a few. Contributors include Pura Belpré Award winner Carlos Hernandez and Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book award winner Kwame Mbalia. If the multiverse is a favorite theme, Me vs. the Multiverse: Pleased to Meet Me (2020), by S. G. Wilson, or Strangeworlds Travel Agency (2021), by L. D. Lapinski, are other middle-grade books worth checking out. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Yes, Riordan's name is on the cover, which will draw in plenty of readers, but don't miss the cache of the contributors, who have plenty of fans themselves. Grades 3-7. Copyright 2021 Booklist Reviews.

Copyright 2021 Booklist Reviews.
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Publishers Weekly Reviews

This middle grade anthology from Rick Riordan Presents serves up 10 new stories from the imprint's contributing authors, including a Celtic mythology–inspired piece by Riordan, who edited the volume. Carlos Hernandez kicks things off with an exuberant romp as characters Sal and Gabi chase a wayward, unicorn-riding classmate through alternate worlds, in the process linking to other tales. Elsewhere, Kwame Mbalia's Gum Baby takes center stage, battling a ghost capable of erasing Black history; Tehlor Kay Mejia's Paola Santiago risks everything to help her ailing pet chupacabra; and Yoon Ha Lee's space-faring fox spirit Min embarks upon a new adventure when she and her ghost brother are sent to spy school. As companion pieces to existing series that nevertheless remain accessible for newcomers, these stories both expand each world and offer readers a full sampling of the imprint's versatility. With an inclusive range of contributors drawing upon their respective heritages and experiences to craft culturally specific, gratifyingly adventurous tales, there's a little something for everyone here, like a world tour of wonder and excitement. Ages 8–12. Agent: Nancy Gallt, Gallt & Zacker Literary. (Sept.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly.

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly.
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School Library Journal Reviews

Gr 4–8—Ten Rick Riordan Presents authors, including Riordan himself, share myths from Korean, Mexican, Native American, Cuban, Indian, and Mesopotamian cultures, among others. The collection is cohesive, with common threads of adventure and kid-friendly humor. Most of the stories are set in the present; only two myths have historic/otherworldly settings: Riordan's Irish yarn of mythical warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill and Ha Lee's space-based tale "The Initiation." Some authors use their myths as vehicles for themes such as cultural pride (Rebecca Roanhorse's "The Demon Drum"), Black history (Kwame Mbalia's "The Gum Baby Files"), and immigration (Sarwat Chadda's "The Loneliest Demon"). Readers can reunite with Sal and Gabi in Carlos Hernandez's "Calamity Juice" and adventure with Aru's sisters in Roshani Chokshi's "Beware the Grove of True Love." Most offerings are told in first person, and readers may find it difficult to quickly identify the hero, setting, and premise without careful reading. Many myths also assume prior knowledge of the authors' other stories and, to avoid confusion, should be read by series fans. While some can be enjoyed as stand-alone tales, other entries are aimed at readers who have read Rick Riordan Presents stories and want more from the "Multiverse Mansion" of beloved characters and authors. VERDICT An entertaining collection recommended for libraries that own other Rick Riordan Presents titles.—Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Lib. Assoc., CT

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal.

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal.
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