Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Set in the world of García McCall's Summer of the Mariposas, this mesmerizing novel follows 15-year-old Mexican American twins Velia and Delia as they determine to save their father's soul from supernatural beings. Though Velia and Delia have always been close, the siblings find themselves at odds as they get older, as when Delia coaxes Velia into agreeing to go on tour with their recently returned musician father, who abandoned them years ago to make it big with his Tejano band. After Papá is attacked one night by a ghoulish dismembered hand, however, Velia realizes that she and her sister must work together to save him from the supernatural entity. Traveling from Eagle Pass, Texas, into Mexico, the siblings visit their abuelita, who informs them that their father's soul has been stolen by elemental shape-shifters called chaneques. The sisters are then recruited by twin Aztec goddesses Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl in the beings' efforts to vanquish the chaneques. Via the girls' propulsive, distinctly rendered alternating POVs, McCall presents an Aztec-influenced world teeming with magical creatures and powerful deities. Across their adventure, the twins struggle to see eye to eye, a dynamic that an author's note addresses as being inspired by sisters Antigone and Ismene from Sophocles's Antigone. A Spanish-language edition publishes simultaneously. Ages 13--17. Agent: Andrea Cascardi, Transatlantic Literary. (Oct.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 7--10--Twins Delia and Velia have experience with the supernatural thanks to the summer they spent with their sisters battling creatures from Mexican mythology. Outgoing and ready for anything, Delia engages readily with anything the universe must offer to the chagrin of the more reserved Velia. However, when their dad enters the property owned by an evil sorcerer of local legend and accidentally releases him, the twins find themselves acting in concert with and aided by the Mesoamerican gods to save both their dad and their local community. Between the frequent appearance of gods not often showcased in YA literature and the natural use of fluent Spanglish, Mexican American culture shines throughout. Unfortunately, the narration largely lacks emotional depth. The uncomplicated storytelling is best suited for younger teens, save for the incongruous higher-level vocabulary choices. VERDICT Select only for collections where younger YA is in demand and readers aren't picky about their mythology-inspired reads.
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
After a supernatural attack leaves their father near death, two sisters pursue the culprit in this trilogy opener set in the world of 2012'sSummer of the Mariposas. Fifteen-year-old twins Delia and Velia Gonzales-Garza used to be "so synchronized, [they] finished each other's sentences," but Delia has watched Velia change. Now they disagree on everything, including whether they should participate in their father's Tejano band tour. But their differences take a backseat when a monster steals Papá's tonalli, or "first soul," the seat of one's identity. As the Mexican American girls investigate with their friends Mochi Salazar and Hernan Molina, they're drawn deeper into Aztec magic and myth, each guided by the god she mirrors: Velia by Quetzalcoatl, "the one with the voice," and Delia by "fiery and passionate" Xolotl. Their mission to save their father leads them to the death goddess Mictecacihuatl, who presents the girls with an offer to become creature-hunting warrior women. This story inspired by Sophocles'Antigone seamlessly blends coming-of-age themes with folklore. McCall respectfully integrates well-researched Nahuatl vocabulary and Aztec mythology as she explores sisterhood, cultural identity, and blended family dynamics. The supporting characters enrich the story through their realistic and relatable interactions. Readers will appreciate the nuance and emotional depth of the relationships, especially the one between Delia and Velia. A rich, mythic story about selfhood and soul-deep family ties. (glossary of Nahua words, author's note, sources)(Fiction. 13-17) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
