This is an immersive fantasy based on Navajo Creation Myth that tackles drought, radiation poisoning of the desert Southwest, and a young boy's complex relationship with his father, grandmother and an alcoholic uncle. It's a multi-layered read, with several plots overlapping, none of which come to a happy ending, but still end on a hopeful note.
Nathan tells his father, who's seeing a new girlfriend he doesn't like, that he prefers to visit his grandmother on the Navajo reservation (where there's no running water or electricity) over the summer and do his science fair project. He'll plant two types of corn, Native kernels and more modern seeds, and see which is most drought-resistant. Drought has plagued his grandmother's land for two decades and more, and it's so dry she can't grow her vegetable patch the way she'd like.
His grandmother teaches him to sow the seeds the traditional way, but something, a horned toad to be exact, steals his traditional seeds overnight, before they can sprout. Nathan stakes out the corn patch and startles the reptile into dropping its turquoise necklace, which acts like a translator. With it in his fist, Nathan can understand the animals around him. He disturbs a tarantula on the wood pile, and apologizes.
Nathan gets lost in the desert one night and the talking animals lead him to a very sick Water Monster, who lives in what's left of a lake, now nothing more than a pond. The Pond Monster, despite burning with fever, saves Nathan, and in return, Nathan promises to save the Pond Monster by learning its songs, going to the Fourth World and asking a Holy Being for more medicine to cure the Pond Monster.
At the same time, his uncle, Jet, comes "home" to live with grandma and Nathan. Jet has lost his job, again, and drinks too much. He's an alcoholic. He's also plagued by an Ash Monster, a creature that Nathan sees and learns attached itself to Jet while Jet served in the military. Nathan's grandmother wants Jet to undergo an expensive ritual that will help sever the Ash Monster from Jet, but adults can't see it, only Nathan can, and it's hard to convince his uncle he's worth saving.
I can't say more, without ruining the ending. Just know, we cried and cried over this one. Pull up a box of tissues and read through your tears. You'll fall in love with Pond Monster and Nathan.
Enjoy!
