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From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

Nathan, 11, is spending a few summer weeks with his paternal grandmother, Nali, who lives in a mobile home on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico. When he’s saved while lost in the desert by an ailing water monster, Nathan promises to do what he can to heal the Holy Being, whom Nathan calls Pond. Nathan is helped by a talking lizard who works with Pond to teach Nathan everything he needs to know for his journey to the Third World to meet with Mother Water Monster and retrieve medicine. At the same time, Nathan’s Uncle Jet, a veteran, is struggling with depression and drinking but is reluctant to participate in the N'dáá , a traditional ceremony also known as Enemy Way, that Nali is trying to arrange with their clan’s hataaÅ‚ii (medicine man) because she believes it will help him. The theme of healing in a story firmly grounded in Navajo traditions and culture and integrating the Navajo language throughout extends to the earth, as Nathan discovers Pond is suffering from radiation sickness from a polluted lake. The seamless blending of traditional beliefs and practices with contemporary life extends from Nathan’s interests and identity—including his passion for video games and hints that he has a future as a traditional healer—to the fact that Uncle Jet’s journey to healing is supported by both traditional and modern medicine. Appealing characters, a captivating plot, and dashes of humor all buoy a novel followed by a thoughtful and thought-provoking author’s note. (Ages 8-12)

CCBC Choices 2022 © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2022. Used with permission.

From Horn Book

July 1, 2021
Eleven-year-old Nathan convinces his (divorced) parents to let him stay with his grandmother, Nali (a Navajo word used for paternal relationships, e.g. paternal grandparents), in New Mexico during the summer so he can work on a science experiment. Nali's mobile home does not have indoor plumbing or electricity, and although this means no cellphone for two months, it is better than spending time with his dad and Dad's girlfriend. After planting traditional as well as store-bought corn seeds for his experiment, Nathan notices that the traditional seeds are missing. One night he finds a horned toad taking his seeds and follows it into the desert. There he finds a sick water monster. At the same time, Uncle Jet has returned home from the Marines and needs healing as well. Nathan is committed to helping them both. To do that, Nathan must travel to the Third World to meet with the Mother Water Monster. Young does a great job of mixing Navajo lore with current concerns. The water monster represents the many bodies of water that are sick from pollution and overuse; many Navajo men and women have returned home from war sick like Uncle Jet. The book explores how healing must come from both modern and traditional medicines. A glossary helps readers understand the Navajo words and relationships that are important to the story. Nicholl Denice Montgomery

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From Kirkus

April 15, 2021
Nathan, a young Navajo boy from Phoenix, Arizona, goes on an epic hero's journey. On the surface, 11-year-old Nathan is like many other boys. His parents are divorced, and he's a little upset with his father. His paternal grandmother, Nali, is supportive, and he's eager to spend the summer with her on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico, working on his science fair project. Nathan moves into her rural home, expecting a quiet summer. Instead, he has the adventure of a lifetime when he discovers something is eating Nali's heirloom seeds. Wandering into the desert, he encounters Pond, an ailing water monster. Adults cannot see Holy Beings from the creation stories, but as a child, Nathan can; with the help of a communication stone, he enters a world of Navajo cosmology. He brings a message to his grandmother about the Enemy Way and helps his Uncle Jet, a traumatized Marine veteran skeptical about his family's traditional ways, who is haunted by the shadow voice of an Ash Being. Healing--for the earth, the water monster, and Uncle Jet--is on the line as Nathan travels to the Third World to meet the most sacred Holy Being of all. The deeply grounded and original perspective of this story brings readers into both the worlds of Navajo blessing songs, rain songs, and traditional healing and everyday family relationships. Hands readers a meaningful new take on family love. (glossary, author's note) (Fiction. 10-14)

COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From Booklist

April 15, 2021
Grades 5-8 Young's compelling debut adds to the ranks of HarperCollins' new Heartdrum imprint, which focuses on Native creators and their stories. Here Nathan, a seemingly average Navajo boy, is dreading a "boring" summer with his nali, or grandmother. Her mobile home is cramped, and there's no electricity or phone service, but when her stories are brought to life after he comes across an ailing Water Monster in the desert--fresh out of the Navajo Creation Story--Nathan must figure out how best to aid the Holy Being. With the help of other Holy Beings, he embarks on a journey to protect his new companion, while also trying to help his troubled uncle Jet at home, who is suffering from his own difficult problems. As the title suggests, Nathan must help heal those he loves, and Young's narrative weaves traditional folklore, language, and mythos with modern emotion to craft a poignant tale of family, friendship, and protecting what you love most.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From AudioFile Magazine

Shaun Taylor-Corbett's narration breathes life into this Navajo fantasy. Summer with grandmother and Uncle Jet on the Navajo reservation lacks many creature comforts for Nathan. To fill his time, he wanders into the nearby desert, where he finds a sickly water monster and then goes on a quest to obtain a cure for the Holy Being and, perhaps, his Uncle Jet. Taylor-Corbett dives into this audiobook with aplomb. Each chapter opens with the chapter number spoken in Navajo and English; pronunciation of Navajo words and phrases in the story is authentic. Skillful character voicings make each easily identified. Excellent use of pacing and tension adds drama, particularly when Nathan faces "the five obstacles." Notes from the author and editor are included. An amazing experience of Navajo culture and life. S.D.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine