Review by Booklist Review
Every resident of Santo Cristo knows that trouble starts at sundown, when thick fog settles over the town. Anyone who strays from the red-lit paths tends to disappear into the murk, never to be seen again. Fearless Bayani barely ever heeds the warnings, and during a rare evening festival, the promise of a shortcut beckons him across a peculiar bridge with his little sister, Isay, and cousin Aaron in tow. To their shock, the bridge pulls up its footings and disappears, leaving the bewildered trio stranded in the Land of Night. When the children are separated by sinister circumstances, they'll have to face menacing mythological beings, a hostile landscape, and their own deepest fears if there's any hope of surviving the ordeal. This fantasy spins Filipino folklore into a taut and touching tale. Deliciously eerie and occasionally macabre descriptions lend light horror to the proceedings, though unexpected friendships and Isay's unflagging optimism cast a hopeful glow. An unusual and enthralling exploration of what it means to hold onto light in a dark world.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Over the past few years, the fictional town of Santo Cristo has become known as a place from which dozens of people have gone missing. During Santo Cristo's annual fiesta and evening procession, three local kids--12-year-old Bayani, his younger sister Isay, and their cousin Aaron--become the latest in the string of disappearances when, as the trio cross a bridge, the structure inexplicably grows legs and runs away with the tweens as its unwilling passengers. It carries them to an eerie location seemingly removed from reality, where they encounter a kapre. The creature, of Filipino folklore, informs the children that they must again find and cross the bridge to return home. As the group embarks on their quest, they learn more about the mysterious place's origins. Cruz (Markit and the Ocean of Stars) draws upon Filipino mythology to deliver a fantastical tale about overcoming fear and cultivating a love for the earth and its inhabitants. Bayani's emboldening mantra--"There is always a way"--highlights the novel's emphasis on positivity and tenacity as a means to counter literal and figurative darkness. It's an engaging tale that blends magical adventure with hopeful depictions of friendship. Tagalog words and phrases appear throughout. Ages 8--12. Agent: Melanie Figueroa, Root Literary. (July)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Three children must contend with self-doubt, monsters from Filipino folklore, and an everlasting night to find their way home. For years, people in the fictional town of Santo Cristo have been disappearing; the missing are referred to simply as the Losts. During the annual town fiesta, 12-year-old Bayani, his younger sister Isay, and their cousin Aaron wander off. After crossing an unusual bridge that grows legs and runs away, they find themselves in the Land Beyond, a mysterious place shrouded in endless night. They soon meet a Kapre, a treelike creature who tells them that they must find the bridge and "light [their] way out of this land." Armed with nothing but candles, Bayani, Isay, and Aaron venture deeper into the night, where they encounter not only monsters, but also other Losts. When the three become separated, they must define what bravery means for themselves and hold on to hope in order to chart a path home. Cruz seamlessly weaves Filipino folklore into this atmospheric and charming adventure, balancing the story's darker elements with moments of humor and themes of hope and friendship. Words from Tagalog and other Filipino languages are naturally incorporated into the story, and context clues will make it easy for readers who don't speak the languages to pick up on their meaning. Each chapter includes a subtitle hinting at its content. An enchanting and whimsical story about finding light within darkness. (author's note)(Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
