Summary: Maya is a girl who is obsessed with superheroes. She can't wait to attend Comic-Con
with her dad. One day, the world suddenly turns gray, and time seems to freeze. Maya tells her
friends but not her parents what has happened. Later, a shadowy figure invades her dreams. A
terrified Maya finally tells her dad about the strange occurrences. Her father warns her to avoid the
Lord of Shadows. Her father's sudden, mysterious disappearance causes Maya to realize her dad's
stories aren't just stories. The creatures and the tales are real. Maya and her friends Frankie and Eli
decide to attempt a daring rescue. Maya must summon all of her courage to rescue her dad from
the clutches of the Lord of the Shadows. If she fails, the life she knows it may be gone forever.
Maya and the Rising Dark has all the elements of a great middle-grade fantasy novel. The main
characters are brave but not perfect. The monsters are frightening but not too scary. People in the
neighborhood are not as they seem. Barron shatters the typical outsider’s view of Maya’s Southside
Chicago neighborhood. It’s not a place riddled with gangs and crime, it’s home. Maya is a realistic,
strong character with courage and compassion. Barron infuses the novel with struggles relatable to
any middle schooler: being stuck after school with a teacher working on math problems, trying to
find your place in the world, and parents who hide things from their children for their own protection.
Straight Talk for Librarians: Barron mixes in a hearty dose of humor with the action. Even the minor characters are memorable. Maya and the Rising Dark fills a void in middle-grade fantasy:
books with strong, nerdy, superhero-obsessed female characters. This book is a welcome addition
to both classroom and school libraries. I highly recommend this book for middle school-aged
readers who love fantasy and mythology. Give this book to fans of Kiranmala and the Kingdom
Beyond who are looking for a book recommendation.
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