The Storm Runner

Zane Obispo hates school, mostly because the other kids bully him violently.  He's been homeschooled for the past year, living out in the middle of nowhere with just his mom and his dog, Rosie.  Out there, no one will bug him about his one small leg and foot.  No one can explain it, but Zane has to deal with the limp, the can, and the obnoxious middle schoolers.

He spends a lot of his time exploring the dormant volcano in his backyard, and he doesn't want to give up the solitary life, but his mom got him a scholarship at a Catholic school nearby, and Zane's carefree days are over. 

That's when things get crazy, Zane sees what looks like a spaceship crash near the volcano, and something that seriously looks like an alien comes out.  Then this girl named Brooks he meets at school tells him he is godborn and destined to release an evil god from an ancient relic.  The Mayan gods are real, and they are a bloodthirsty bunch!  Oh, yeah, she's also a shapeshifter who can turn into a hawk.  Umm...Zane thinks she's crazy until it all starts to come true. 

When his beloved dog Rosie dies, Zane makes a deal with the god of death, Au-Puch to get her back.  Now he and Brooks have to find a way to stop Au-Puch before he destroys the world.  Zane is supposed to become the storm runner, but how can run when he can barely walk?

This new series by J.C. Cervantes under the Rick Riordan imprint is perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson books and anyone who loves a good fantasy adventure.  What puts this one above the rest is Zane's weakness, the thing he's hated his whole life, the thing that has been a handicap and a torment turns out to be a strength.  Highly recommended.