Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Ten mythology tales best for fans of the 10 authors' series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE CURSED CARNIVAL AND OTHER CALAMITIES: NEW STORIES ABOUT MYTHIC HEROES includes 10 stories from 10 different traditions and ten authors. Carlos Hernandez's "Calamity Juice" finds the students of Florida's Culeco Academy riding puking unicorns through the multiverse to find their lost friend. Roshani Chokshi's "Beware the Grove of True Love" shows the last punishment for Aru and friends for dissing the goddess Urvashi: survive the retelling of a love story full of misery. In "The Cave of Doom," by J. C. Cervantes, Zane and Brooks get trapped in a cave with an ancient shapeshifting monster after their tour company's first one-star review. In "The Initiation," by Yoon Ha Lee, Min finds it hard to hide her true fox-spirit identity when she's sent to spy school on a gas giant planet. In "The Gum Baby Files," by Kwame Mbalia, Gum Baby goes up against a ghost that erases history at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. In "The Demon Drum," by Rebecca Roanhorse, a powwow goes off the rails thanks to a cursed drum that Nizhoni and friends are determined to silence. In "Bruto and the Freaky Flower," by Tehlor Kay Mejia, Paola's supernatural dog is sick and finding the flower than can save him may be the end of her. In "The Loneliest Demon," by Sarwat Chadda, Sik's mom makes him help a demon who wants to kill him get home again. In "My Night at the Gifted Carnival," by Graci Kim, Riley feels out of place at a carnival full of magic until she stumbles on a way to help kids kidnapped by a faceless ghost. In "My Life As an Outlaw," by Rick Riordan, Demne runs from the clan that killed his father into some sticky situations with murderers, kings, artisans, and a gigantic boar.
Is It Any Good?
Kids who really keep up with their world mythology and modern books about it will be delighted with these 10 short stories, while others may be a bit confused or underwhelmed. With the first story, "Calamity Juice," by Carlos Hernandez, we dive right in with puking unicorns, multiverses, and a host of characters from Sal and Gabi Break the Universe. If you're new to Sal and Gabi's many worlds, this is a dense introduction to it that may not appeal. This story has an extra payoff, though, when the flying unicorn makes some funny cameos in other stories in the collection.
One of the stand-out tales, "The Gum Baby Files," is by Kwame Mbalia, who writes the popular Tristan Strong series. Even if the main character who throws sap everywhere is a bit baffling to those new to the series, the trip to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum is well worth it. In Tehlor Kay Mejia's "Bruto and the Freaky Flower," even if readers don't know a thing about the Paola Santiago series, they will feel for Paola when she's desperate to save her supernatural dog and will get wrapped up in the exciting quest. Rick Riordan fans won't be disappointed with his new, rather violent take on Celtic mythology in his story "My Life As an Outlaw." In 2020 he added a master's degree in Gaelic literature to his accolades, and it shows. Readers go back to Ireland in the time of warring clans and roving bands of tradespeople, storytellers, and murderers. This story is the easiest to get wrapped up in because we're meeting a young, vengeful boy named Demne for the first time, and hopefully not the last.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about their favorite story from The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities. Is it from an author you already know and read? What makes it stand out?
Which folkloric and mythological traditions did you know nothing about before reading this book? Which are your favorite? How can you find out more?
What is the ghost in the story "The Gum Baby Files," by Kwame Mbalia, doing at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum? Why is it so dangerous? Why is knowing our history important, and why do we so often need reminders that it's important?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Activism , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along ) , Friendship , History , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Disney-Hyperion
- Publication date : September 28, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 496
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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