Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia - ADVISABLE

Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia, 350 pages. Disney, 2020. $17 

Content: G (mild danger) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Paola, 12yo, ekes an existent out with her mother and the extended family of their run down apartment building in Arizona, leaning especially on her best friends: Dante, who is also in the building, and Emma, who lives in a much richer part of town. The trio spend many hours along of the banks of the Gila River looking at the stars. Paola’s mind is set firmly on mathematics and knowledge – eschewing the Mexican folklore that her mother has fed her. When Emma disappears, however, Paola is desperate and when Dante’s Abuela offers them a bit of hope – tied to the mystical as it is – the pair find themselves deep in the desert, on a desperate fight against supernatural forces – La Llorana herself. 

Mejia paints an exciting portrait with Latinx mythology ala Rick Riordan. Unfortunately it takes Mejia 80 pages to get to something that will catch your attention – I can only hope that students who pick it up will hold on that long. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS  #ownvoices