Balance Keepers, Book 1: The Fires of Calderon

The Fires of Calderon is Book One in #1 New York Times bestselling author Lindsay Cummings's epic Balance Keepers series. These exciting fantasy-adventure books are full of magic, mystery, friendship, and humor, and are perfect for fans of books like Brandon Mull's The Candy Shop War or the Unwanteds series by Lisa McMann.

Bestselling author of the Skeleton Creek series Patrick Carman describes The Fires of Calderon as "fast paced and packed with adventure," and Peter Lerangis, bestselling author of the Seven Wonders series, says, "Wow!"

With themes of friendship, self-discovery, and courage; both boy and girl main characters; fierce creatures to battle; a mystery to solve; and a boarding school that could be described as Hogwarts Underground, there's something for every reader to enjoy in this contemporary--and fantastically imaginative--spin on the classic A Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

When eleven-year-old Albert Flynn follows a mysterious map deep into the woods, and then under the woods, he discovers he's a Balance Keeper--someone with special magical skills for keeping harmony in fantastical underground worlds. Together with his teammates Leroy and Birdie, Albert must master his magical talents in time to stop the fires in the Calderon Realm from destroying New York City above.

He thought his dad was just a mail carrier and his summer would be boring. What will he do when he learns the truth is buried deep beneath the earth?

• A Hidden World: Albert thinks he's heading for a boring summer, but a mysterious map leads him to the Core--a magical, dangerous world hidden beneath the earth's surface.
• Magic School Adventure: Welcome to Hogwarts Underground! Albert must train at a secret boarding school to control his newfound powers and become a true Balance Keeper.
• Unlikely Friendships: He's never had a real friend, but now Albert must team up with the brainy Leroy and the fearless Birdie to form Team Hydra and save the world.
• Mythical Creatures: From six-armed Hexabons to fiery King Fireflies and the monstrous Hendeca, the underground Realms are filled with fierce creatures to battle and outsmart.
• A Family Secret: Albert's dad isn't just a mail carrier--he's a powerful Professor in the Core. But his father's secrets are bigger and more dangerous than Albert could ever imagine.