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Book Cover for: The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories about Mythic Heroes, Rick Riordan

The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories about Mythic Heroes

Rick Riordan

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents ten original stories--including his own--about heroes that by top best middle grade authors. Now in trade paperback.

A 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 best-selling 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

Book Details

  • Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents
  • Publish Date: May 2nd, 2023
  • Pages: 464
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 7.50in - 5.20in - 1.30in - 0.65lb
  • EAN: 9781368073172
  • Recommended age: 08-12
  • Categories: Fantasy - GeneralAction & Adventure - GeneralLegends, Myths, Fables - General

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About the Author

Rick Riordan (he/him), dubbed "storyteller of the gods" by Publishers Weekly, is the author of five #1 New York Times best-selling middle grade series with millions of copies sold throughout the world: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus, and the Trials of Apollo, based on Greek and Roman mythology; the Kane Chronicles, based on Ancient Egyptian mythology; and Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, based on Norse mythology. Rick's most recent book is The Sun and the Star, co-written with Mark Oshiro. Rick is also the publisher of an imprint at Disney-Hyperion, Rick Riordan Presents, dedicated to finding other authors of highly entertaining fiction based on world cultures and mythologies. He lives in Boston with his wife and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @ReadRiordan.

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Praise for this book

"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. A captivating collection of stories based on world mythologies."--Kirkus Reviews
"This collection will appeal to any middle grade reader who loves fantasy. Each simply-told story has a similar tone with contemporary, believable dialogue and features action as the focal point. Fans of the authors' works will be delighted to read a new adventure by their favorite heroes and hopefully will be inspired to read books by the other authors featured in the collection. The short chapters are perfect for classroom read-alouds."--School Library Connection
"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."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)