Rise of the First City — Aaron Duran

The Earth shook and a monster rose, but together Eric Del Bosque and Heather Foster put the creature down. They returned Ashen Forest Estates back to a peaceful neighborhood outside the small town of Grizzlydale. With summer ending, the only real challenge facing Eric and Heather is a new school and the awkwardness of adolescence. Until an ancient power flowing under the very streets of their town begins to rise. And with it, untold horrors that wish to consume every living thing in Grizzlydale, starting with Eric and Heather. As if avoiding the school bully wasn't enough of a challenge… The second novel in the Forgotten Tyrs series, Rise of the First City continues the adventure compared to Ramona Quimby meets The Evil Dead. Author Aaron Duran tapped into his own love of creepy childhood stories to create a unique tale that balances the challenges of adolescence with unnamable horrors. Drawing upon his own Latino background, Aaron deftly works in cultural nuances of Eric and his family that adds an air of welcome diversity to the growing middle school reader market.