Balance Keepers, Book 1: The Fires of Calderon

by Lindsay Cummings

Overview

The Fires of Calderon is Book One in #1 New York Times bestselling author Lindsay Cummings’s epic Balance Keepers series. These exciting fantasy-adventure books are full of magic, mystery, friendship, and humor, and are perfect for fans of books like Brandon Mull’s The Candy Shop War or the Unwanteds series by Lisa McMann.

Bestselling author of the Skeleton Creek series Patrick Carman describes The Fires of Calderon as “fast paced and packed with adventure,” and Peter Lerangis, bestselling author of the Seven Wonders series, says, “Wow!”

With themes of friendship, self-discovery, and courage; both boy and girl main characters; fierce creatures to battle; a mystery to solve; and a boarding school that could be described as Hogwarts Underground, there’s something for every reader to enjoy in this contemporary—and fantastically imaginative—spin on the classic A Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

When eleven-year-old Albert Flynn follows a mysterious map deep into the woods, and then under the woods, he discovers he’s a Balance Keeper—someone with special magical skills for keeping harmony in fantastical underground worlds. Together with his teammates Leroy and Birdie, Albert must master his magical talents in time to stop the fires in the Calderon Realm from destroying New York City above.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062275196
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	09/01/2015
Series:	Balance Keepers Series , #1
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	5.12(w) x 7.62(h) x 0.73(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Lindsay Cummings is a book blogger and the author of the teen series the Murder Complex. She lives in Texas with two German shepherds, one wolf cub who isn't very smart, a horse named Dan the Man, and a husband named Josh. She eats too many hot Cheetos and can't stop dyeing her hair crazy colors.

Editorial Reviews

Reminiscent at times of Journey to the Center of the Earth...a smart choice for younger readers, who will find in Albert and his friends great role models.

ALA Booklist

Balance Keepers transported me, as if my magic, into a world I didn’t want to leave and wished was real. Fast-paced and packed with adventure-a real gem.

Patrick Carman

A powerhouse debut filled with imagination and sneaky humor.

Peter Lerangis

A wild, enchanting adventure I could not put down.

Roland Smith

07/01/2014
Gr 4–6—Though the general premise is familiar, there are some engaging elements in this first book of a planned trilogy, as a boy discovers he has magical powers and teams up with other kids to save the world. Eleven-year-old Albert enters the magical underground realm of the Core, where young Balance Keepers use their powers to safeguard the earth. Each Keeper receives a tile that instills a particular ability, such as super-memory or speed, but Albert gets an extra special tile that allows him to use multiple powers. Brisk plotting and multiple action scenes are the strengths here, as Albert and his friends first compete against rival bullies in training sessions, then the pace accelerates as they embark on a real quest to save New York City. They face plenty of dangerous creatures and perilous situations, and seeing the kids apply their powers as well as common sense and teamwork, is fairly absorbing. Albert thinks of his new world as similar to a video game on more than one occasion, and at times the book reads that way, with characters facing one new test after another. Many of the plot constructs echo other children's fantasies, including super powered kids, a hero-training school, sneering bullies, a parent in need of rescue, and even discrimination against impure bloodlines. While some readers may wish for more depth and character development, others will find the familiar structure, coupled with some fun bits of adventure, a comfortably satisfying choice.—Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR

School Library Journal

2014-07-16
Eleven-year-old Albert Flynn is faced with a summer sorting mail in the dead-letter office, but a mysterious delivery promises an adventure beyond his wildest imagination. When Albert's father sends him into the forest to deliver a letter, he has no idea that he will wind up enlisted in a secret society deep within the Earth. Albert and fellow enlistees Birdie and Leroy find themselves in training to become Balance Keepers, guardians of the underworld realms. The three select tokens that promise ordinary powers, but they soon realize that even the abilities to swim like a fish or think like a supercomputer are not enough to prepare them for the dangerous tasks ahead. However, unless they can learn to master their talents and work as a team, the whole world might be in danger. While Albert is a likable hero, the formulaic plot and copycat characters point to this debut's major flaw: It's little more than a mashup of other familiar series. Uninspired dialogue, failed attempts at humor and a landslide of inconsistencies contribute to the overall problem. Even gruesome monsters and a seemingly impossible quest fail to energize this lackluster adventure. Unsuccessful both in concept and construct. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews