Race to the Sun

By: Rebecca Roanhorse

Narrated by: Kinsale Hueston

Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

Best-selling author Rick Riordan welcomes indigenous fantasy writer Rebecca Roanhorse to his imprint with this thrilling adventure about a Navajo girl who discovers she's a monsterslayer.

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. 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, which can only be done with the help of Navajo gods, all disguised as quirky "rez" personalities. After a series of dangerous--and mind-bending--trials, Nizhoni, Mac, and Davery finally reach the sun god, who outfits them with the weapons they need to take down Mr. Charles and the ancient monsters he has unleashed. But it will take more than weapons for Nizhoni to become the hero she was destined to be....

©2020 Rebecca Roanhorse (P)2020 Listening Library

Great Story (if you’re willing to take a 53-year-old white guy’s word for it)

To start with, Race to the Sun is a fun, engaging story of adventure, quest, and monster slaying for anyone, or at least anyone over eight or so willing to follow an 8 hour book. As an adult who strongly believes that representation matters, this book goes beyond that. The protagonist and narrator is a 13-year-old Navajo young lady, and her co-heroes are her 12-year-old brother and her Navajo/African American best friend. And, she struggles with her identity and loss, her friend is bookish, and her brother is an artist and fan of comics. Children and adults, both Indian/Native American and other will find these heroes identifiable. And many will see heroes like them here for the first time. Roanhorse also weaves aspects and characters from the Navajo legends and culture deftly into this story creating many interesting and likable allies and fearsome opponents.

Such a wonderful read for Diné and all!

For Indigenous Peoples day (or any time) I highly recommend Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse! A great piece of Indiginous Fiction full of Indigenous mythology and stories in a modern tale. It is available on Audible, Kindle and via Amazon. It is appropriate for mid grade kiddos, as well as readers of all ages, and has relatable as well as digestible experiences of being a native youth, sprinkled with exciting adventure. The main Character is a young Diné 7th grader. She can see monsters, a skill passed down through generations of her Shimá's side. Now Nizhoni, her brother Mac and her best friend, Davery, are thrust into a rescue mission that they can only accomplish with the help of the Diné gods. This is a wonderful Indigenous adventure story, filled with monsters, magic and myth. I can't recommend it more. A great story for those looking for Indigenous fiction and Indigenous authors, as well as those who just enjoy truely good writing! It is incredibly Important to have Indigenous representation both for Indigenous children and all children to see we are alive, here and still possess rich and beautiful cultures. This story brings the Navajo people and Indigenous culture alive to Diné and all children and readers. I admit to crying as I watched my own Diné daughter, Shich'é'é Yázhí, light up hearing her laungauge and hearing about a Diné hero only a couple years older than herself. Please give this story a listen and consider sharing it with any kiddos in your life. Rebecca Roanhorse is a black/indigenous (Ohkay Owingeh) writer. Some of her other work includes Trail of Lightning and Storm of Locusts. She specializes in federal Indian and tribal law and lives in New Mexico with her Navajo husband and their daughter. Who is your favorite Indigenous author?

Great for the ride home each day

Great for the ride home each day i pick up my kids we were fully invested in the story and culture. Thank you

Fantastic story and wonderful memories

As someone who grew up in Farmington, NM so near Shiprock it was fantastic to listen to this book and take an interest in a culture I didn’t get to learn nearly enough about when I was younger. It was fun for me also because I remember learning then about hogans, Shiprock and my continuing love of frybread. It is something I miss greatly as an adult living near to such a rich and fantastic culture most don’t get to experience. Ahéhee for the story and trip down memory lane. Most definitely recommend

great story

love the stoey and flow. Gripping! my daughter snd I both enjoyed it. we would love to hear more

Very enjoyable

The story isn’t perfect of course but it is very enjoyable and unique. I wish that it did a bit more world building and showed more of the finale conflict but I don’t regret reading it and would love to see the story continue. Spoilers!!! The ending was underwhelming a bit, there was supposed to be this big thing with all these monsters getting released but they where just one kind, the same birds as earlier but bigger, I also wish there was a bit more show don’t tell especially with the final blow to the villain , it was kind of a cliche to easy end but I will say the way it was written made it work well. You where sucked into the action. I just hope the next book if there is one is bigger. I’d love to learn more about the lore and meet more creatures and beings/ gods/ spirits/ guardians est . The author played it safe and simple but I feel like she’s capable of more and I hope she explores that. Definitely recommend this book. 8 if not 9/10