While investigating the disappearance of one of their allies, Steven and his fellow super-powered heroes work to defend the world from Maxwell's continuing quest to control all twelve Zodiac signs--and, by extension, gain their corresponding powers. This middle volume intensifies the plot with twists and shifting alliances, all leading to a game-changing climax that will leave fans eager for the next volume.

Gr 6 Up-In Convergence , Steven, while on a class trip to a museum in Hong Kong, stumbles across a mysterious ritual that awakens the powers of the Chinese zodiac and is embodied with the powers of the Tiger. Fearing for his safety, Carlos and Jasmine, trying to prevent the power-hungry Maxwell from completing the ritual, convince Steven to leave his life behind and join them. His interference allows Jasmine to receive half of the Dragon's power while half of the other Zodiac powers are released into the world. Steven works with his new friends to harness his powers and locate the young people throughout the world who have received the rogue powers. The Dragon's Return opens one year later, with Steven and the rest of the Zodiac team falling apart. Carlos is missing, Jasmine is focusing all her efforts on finding him, and some of the other Zodiacs are contemplating going home. Maxwell uses this turmoil to rage a second attack against the team, determined to retrieve all of the powers for himself. With Steven forced to take on the role of leader, will he know whom to trust and be able to get his friends to work together to stop Maxwell again? This is a fast-paced, action-filled superhero adventure with a likable Chinese American protagonist and a unique look at the Chinese zodiac. Give to superhero fans, especially reluctant readers, who will be drawn into the story with the help of Tong's full-page illustrations.

Picking up right where the first book ended, this second installment in the Zodiac Legacy (a proposed trilogy) follows the paths of the various holders of the Chinese zodiac's powers: Kim (Rabbit), Malik (Ox), Roxanne (Rooster), and, of course, the heroes Steven (Tiger) and Jasmine (Dragon). The nefarious Maxwell is holed up in his Australian hideout plotting a new way to capture the Dragon's power for himself, while the Zodiac team must determine which side they are truly on. Nicely populated with Tong's illustrations, the novel moves at a breakneck pace as it pursues multiple story lines of characters in different locales (and on different sides). Lee's attempts to explore characters' motives and feelings are uneven and lack intensity, but the heavily action-driven plot will make up for this absence for most readers. Reluctant readers and fans of graphic novels will enjoy seeing this book play in their heads as a film. Knowledge of the first book, Convergence (2015), is a must.