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.
The fate of an entire city rests on three kids who just met. A World Beneath Our Feet: When a mysterious map leads Albert Flynn to a door hidden inside a tree, he discovers The Core-a secret society of magical guardians living deep under the earth. Magical Training: At a school that's best described as Hogwarts Underground, Albert and his friends must learn to control their newfound powers before it's too late.
An Unlikely Team: With the fearless Birdie and the super-smart (but often terrified) Leroy by his side, Albert must learn what it means to be part of a team for the first time. High-Stakes Adventure: The mission is clear: venture into the dangerous Calderon Realm, stop the devastating fires, and save New York City from total destruction.