Thank you to NetGalley and Rick Riordan Presents for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Paola Santiago lives with her mother in a small apartment not far from the Gila river in Arizona. Pao is very smart and obsessed with science in contrast to her mother who warns her to stay away from the river out of fear of the ghost La Llorona. Along with her two best friends, Dante and Emma, the trio frequently go down to the river to hang out or just stargaze. That is, until Emma goes missing like several other children in that area. Pao and Dante are determined to do whatever they can to help. Pao’s nightmares have returned along with other odd occurrences, including one very odd event with Dante’s abuela which starts them on their journey. But, time is limited as they must find Emma before the summer solstice in a few days.
This is another great addition to middle grade folklore/fantasy. It is realistic in its telling, especially as scientific Pao tries to rationalize what is happening. It also addresses the prejudice many Latinx face, particularly when dealing with the authorities. It is fairly quick-paced, slowing down a bit before the climax, before picking up again. I would definitely recommend this for readers in grades 4 and up.
#PaolaSantiagoAndTheRiverOfTears #NetGalley
This title will be available August 4, 2020.
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