Starfall: Phaeton and the Chariot of the Sun
Phaeton is the natural offspring of the Sun, but no one in his village believes him. After Phaeton fights his rival in front of their village over his parentage, he undertakes a long journey to the gates of dawn to confront his father and prove his worth. The trek is demanding, but when he arrives at his father's temple, he is awed and determined. His father grants him his wish: to ride the chariot of the sun. But as Phaeton tries to control the powerful steeds that pull the chariot, he fails and is forced to face his fate.
Michael Cadnum
Michael Cadnum (born 1949) is an American poet and novelist. He has written more than thirty books for adults, teens and children. He is best known for his adult suspense fiction, and young adult fiction based on myths, legends, and historical figures.
Cadnum attended both University of California at Berkeley, and San Francisco State University. He earned a National Endowment of the Arts fellowship for his poetry.
He currently lives in Albany, California.