This second book in Lindsay Cummings’s Balance Keepers series explodes with just as much magic, mystery, friendship, and humor as the first one. Fans of books like Brandon Mull’s The Candy Shop War or the Unwanteds series by Lisa McMann will love the action and imagination in this epic fantasy-adventure series.

With both boy and girl main characters, creatures like Hammerfin sharks to battle, a traitor to expose, and a boarding school that could be described as Hogwarts Underground, there’s something for every reader to enjoy in this series reminiscent of the classic Journey to the Center of the Earth. An anti-bullying theme also makes this great for in-classroom reading.

In The Pillars of Ponderay , Balance Keepers Albert, Birdie, and Leroy enter the underground watery Realm of Ponderay along with their archrival, Hoyt, in an attempt to reset the Balance of the Realm. If they don’t succeed in time, all of California above could be consumed by tsunamis and hurricanes.

**

Review

“Full of adventure, strange creatures, and personal conflict, this sequel to The Fires of Calderon (2014) surpasses the original. Nonstop action and plenty of twists propel the plot and pave the way for the next installment.” (ALA Booklist)

Praise for BALANCE KEEPERS #1: THE FIRES OF CALDERON: “There are some engaging elements in this first book of a planned trilogy...Brisk plotting and multiple action scenes...a satisfying choice.” (School Library Journal)

Praise for BALANCE KEEPERS #1: THE FIRES OF CALDERON: “Reminiscent at times of Journey to the Center of the Earth...a smart choice for younger readers, who will find in Albert and his friends great role models.” (ALA Booklist)

Praise for BALANCE KEEPERS #1: THE FIRES OF CALDERON: “Balance Keepers transported me, as if my magic, into a world I didn’t want to leave and wished was real. Fast-paced and packed with adventure-a real gem.” (Patrick Carman, bestselling author of the Skeleton Creek series and the Floors trilogy)

Praise for BALANCE KEEPERS #1: THE FIRES OF CALDERON: “A powerhouse debut filled with imagination and sneaky humor.” (Peter Lerangis, New York Times bestselling author of the Seven Wonders series)

Praise for BALANCE KEEPERS #1: THE FIRES OF CALDERON: “A wild, enchanting adventure I could not put down.” (Roland Smith, author of Peak and Cryptid Hunters)

From the Back Cover

Albert Flynn is psyched to return to the Core, the magical world at the center of the earth where Balance Keepers fix problems in three underground Realms. Last term, Albert and his Balance Keeper teammates Birdie and Leroy saved New York by fixing the Calderon Realm and were crowned First Unit, aka the Coolest Kids in the Core.

Now Albert and his teammates have been called to the Core for an emergency training session . . . along with their archenemy, Hoyt. There's a horrible Imbalance in the Ponderay Realm, and they have only seven days before California will be swallowed by hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis.

But things feel off in the Core. Their mentor Trey is acting super weird, and Hoyt is beating them fair and square in the training competitions. Even with the superpowers of Albert's Master Tile, Albert, Birdie, and Leroy just can't seem to get their First Unit mojo back.

Worse yet, the Imbalance is way too severe to have been caused by natural means—there's a traitor in their midst.

Will Albert, Leroy, and Birdie discover who's been putting the Core—and the world above—in danger? Can they save Ponderay before California becomes an underwater wasteland forever?

This second book in Lindsay Cummings's epic fantasy adventure series is packed with fantastical creatures, perilous journeys, and the magic of choosing to do what's right.