Heir to Fire

In Gila Flats, fourteen year old shy teen Ryan Morales with his friend Donut finds a spider that has never before been discovered before. Both boys go to Corrine's pool party where somehow Ryan make the water turn hot. His faints and when he comes to he is told by his parents that he always had an affinity for fire and heat. They also tell him he was adopted as his father found him in the desert with an amulet near him and a protective circle drawn around him. When Ryan goes to see his friend Donut, he acts strange and sees the new spider around his neck just like the ones that are attached to the necks of the townsfolk except for Corrine. They go to the Oobakka house where they find the humanoid spider king who has come to earth to kill the fire prince of the world of Akasalon. The spider king and his minions conquered Ryan's former world and they want to do away with the last heir to the throne; Ryan doesn't know how to stop them but Corrine feels he will find a way. Targeted for middle school pre-teens, HEIR TO FIRE is an exciting horror story in which young readers will identify with the reluctant hero, a reticent teen who tries to do his best to defeat evil. The characters are realistic and the audience will find themselves rooting for the hero to defeat the monsters. The illustrations are well drawn enhancing the fascinating storyline. Harriet Klausner

Just as a disclaimer, if you don't like books with big, hairy spiders, or stories with multi-tailed spiders who attach themselves to the back of people's necks, who also exert mind-control, well....let's just say that this story might not be for you. However, if your arachnophobia doesn't extend to books, as is the case with me personally, then read on, because have I got a story for you. Ryan Morales has always been just a little bit different. In fact, his parents have been worried about the fact that Ryan doesn't seem to have many friends, except for Donut. Donut, as his name implies, is a little stocky, a lot talkative, and a really huge lover of bugs and insects. When Ryan seems to make an impression on Corrine, his dream girl, events are set in motion that are beyond anything Ryan could have ever dreamed of. First, there's the incident at Corrine's pool party, where it looks as if Ryan made the water start boiling. Sure, her parents put it down to a malfunctioning water heater, but a few people don't seem to believe that. Especially Ryan's parents, who, when he recovers from his fainting spell, overhear him utter the word "Akashalon." From there it goes downhill, as the residents of Gila Flats start acting weird. Weird, and then crazy, as they attempt to stop Ryan and Corrine, two of the only residents without a spider attached to the back of their necks, from finding out the true role that the Fire Prince is met to fulfill. This is a great book for younger teens, pre-teens, or older reluctant readers. Filled with wonderful illustrations, short chapters, and an intriguing story line, you'll be glad that the last page of HEIR TO FIRE isn't "the end," but rather just the beginning. Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"