Aku: Battle for Pyra  //  Book 02

Aku: Battle for Pyra. The adventure continues.

Three trials. Two teams. One gem.

Launch date // January 12, 2027

  • Junior Library Guild Selection
  • New York Times bestselling author Micah Johnson
Mission brief
Aku runs across lava stones on Pyra, the Gem glowing in his hands, with a volcano erupting behind him.
// 01 · The mission

days after ibra

A new signal. A planet made of fire.

Grandpa calls with an urgent new mission. Nash Altair, Aku's greatest enemy, has fled to Pyra, a world forged in lava and legend. One teleport mishap later, Grandpa, Aku, his friends and one very unwilling Dad are stranded there. And Grandpa is keeping a secret that could change everything.

A heart-pounding space odyssey about finding the team you want to save the world with.

  • Teamwork
  • Family
  • Sacrifice
// 02 · The trials of Pyra

Three trials. Two teams. One gem.

Aku's crew and Nash's soldiers race for the Gem, an ancient source of unlimited light. The only way to reach it is to survive Pyra's three deadly trials.

// 03 · The series

Start the journey. Continue the adventure.

Aku: Journey to Ibra book cover

Book 01 // Out now

Journey to Ibra

A beeping box in the basement. A missing grandfather. A planet that needs saving.

  • Instant New York Times bestseller
  • USA Today top 50
  • Junior Library Guild Selection

“An entertaining sci-fi romp with grounded, real-world tween struggles.”School Library Journal

Aku: Battle for Pyra book cover

Book 02 // January 12, 2027

Battle for Pyra

As two sides battle for the greatest source of power in the universe, three generations must unite. And only one boy knows the key: dream without limits.

  • Junior Library Guild Selection
  • From New York Times bestselling author Micah Johnson
  • Hardcover // $19.99
// 04 · Author visits

free for schools and libraries

Bring Micah to your classroom.

Micah shares his path from the Major Leagues to the New York Times bestseller list, takes kids inside the world of Aku, and leaves every student ready to chase their own dream. Virtual visits are built around both books.

  • Virtual: Wednesday and Friday slots available
  • Built around confidence and chasing dreams
  • Available in Spanish

“Several of the teachers said it was the best author visit we have ever had here.”

Middle school librarian
// 05 · Book facts

For librarians

On sale
Jan 12, 2027
Publisher
Random House Books for Young Readers
Illustrator
Durk van der Meer
Genre
Middle grade sci-fi
Ages // Grades
8 to 12 // 3 to 7
Lexile // F&P
650L // U
Pages
256
Hardcover
978-0-593-81182-5
Paperback
978-0-593-81184-9
Ebook
978-0-593-81185-6
Audiobook
979-8-217-41577-9
// 06 · Questions from parents

Is Aku right for my kid?

What is Aku: Battle for Pyra about?

It is Book 2 of the Aku series. Days after Ibra, Aku, his friends, his grandfather and his very unwilling dad land on Pyra, a planet made of lava. To win the Gem before Nash Altair does, they have to survive three deadly trials.

What age is the Aku series for?

Aku is a middle grade science fiction series for ages 8 to 12, grades 3 to 7. Battle for Pyra has a 650L Lexile level and a Fountas & Pinnell level of U.

Is Aku a good book for kids who love space?

Yes. Aku is a space adventure about a 12-year-old who dreams of becoming an astronaut, with teleporting helmets, alien planets, glowing forests and a famous astronaut who turns out to be the villain.

Is Aku a good book for girls?

Yes. Some of the strongest characters are girls. Benji is the fearless one on Aku’s crew, always first into danger. Bizzy is the brilliant inventor who built the teleport helmets. Queen Orax leads the Avalunas and fights to protect her planet.

Should kids read Book 1 first?

Yes. Start with Aku: Journey to Ibra, the instant New York Times bestseller. Battle for Pyra picks up days after it ends.

When does Aku: Battle for Pyra come out?

January 12, 2027, from Random House Books for Young Readers, in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audiobook. Pre-order now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Target, Walmart, Bookshop.org, Powell’s or Hudson Booksellers.

Who wrote the Aku books?

Micah Johnson, a former Major League Baseball player for the Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers who became an artist and New York Times bestselling author. Durk van der Meer illustrated the books.

Are there free resources for teachers and librarians?

Yes. Both books are Junior Library Guild Selections, there are 74 free printable activity sheets, and Micah offers free virtual school visits in English or Spanish.

// 07 · Launch-day alert

Don’t miss the launch.

We’ll email you when Battle for Pyra lands on January 12, plus new free activities and school visit news. No spam.

I’m a
// Final transmission
see you on pyra

The Gem is waiting.

Pre-order the hardcover today and be first through the portal on January 12, 2027.

Reading Quiz

Enter Ibra

A 3D adventure that turns finishing the book into the mission.

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