Salvación

To her family, 17-year-old Lola de La Peña is still regarded as a "niña," but when she dons her black attire, she is Salvación, the masked vigilante who helps those in need. Lola, her brother Victor, and her parents have moved from their privileged life in Sonora to Coloma to mine the magical sal negra, using its medicinal properties to cure others. When Damián "El Demonio" Hernandez and his gang show up, they terrorize the village and use their deadly sal roja on others. Also accompanying Damián is Alejandro, the handsome young right-hand man who captures Lola's heart and attention. Unsure if they can trust Alejandro, Lola and Victor work fast under the guise of Salvación and uncover more information before the malicious intruders cause further harm. Proudman's debut YA novel is perfect for fans of Latin historical fantasy and romance. Proudman's focus on colonialism of Indigenous lands during the establishment of Alta California will spark curiosity about this time period. A supreme choice for readers who have yearned for a femme Zorro.

During the day, 17-year-old Lola de La Peña assists her mother as she uses magical sal negra to help ailing travelers desiring miracle cures. At night, she is Salvación, a sword-wielding vigilante who protects her beloved Coloma, Calif., from intruders and recovers stolen sal negra. It's a dangerous but fulfilling life for Lola, who chafes against her community's expectations of Mexican women. Things take a frightening turn when a woman arrives seeking the legendary Salvación's help. She reveals that her town was overrun by militia leader Damien Hernández. He possesses sal roja, a dark and deadly magic--and he's on his way to Coloma. Now Lola must thwart Hernández's plans to use an ancient stolen amulet and the upcoming full moon's power to mine enough sal roja to destroy everything. While slow pacing deflates suspense, things kick into high gear when Lola embarks on her quest. In this swashbuckling, Zorro-inspired historical fantasy set after the signing of the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Proudman (Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories) utilizes a stubborn yet vulnerable heroine and an inventive magic system drawing from the history of Central American salt mines to levy weighty examinations of colonization and tradition. Ages 13--up. Agent: Kate Schafer Testerman, KT Literary. (May)

Lola de la Peña defies the gendered expectations of her family and 19th-century Mexican culture as she fights burgeoning threats, both magical and human, to her home. Mamá, Papá, Lola, and brother Víctor traveled to Alta California to fulfill Lola's mother's spiritual calling to heal people using sal negra, a magical substance that's mined there. Sal negra cures any injury or malady, and people in the town of Coloma wait to be treated by Mamá. But the stories of miraculous healing draw foes as well, including white men who intend to take the resource by force as they colonize Alta California, Indigenous territory recently ceded by Mexico to U.S. control. As Coloma grows more dangerous, Lola and Víctor team up to protect people; despite her parents' strong disapproval, Lola disguises herself as a masked woman vigilante known as Salvación. As her alter ego's reputation spreads, so do the dangers to Lola's family and town. When a mysterious caravan of men arrives, led by a charismatic leader who promises to restore Mexican sovereignty, they're welcomed by the townspeople and Lola's parents, who hope that now Salvación can retire. But a stranger's cryptic warning means Salvación may not be ready to give up the fight. Action-packed and thrilling with a touch of romance, Proudman's debut novel is an homage to folk hero stories told through a feminist lens. The work, which is rooted in ecological justice, effectively critiques colonialism and jingoistic nationalism. A heartfelt, swashbuckling, standout novel.(Historical fantasy. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.