Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls: An Own Voices Middle Grade Fantasy about Forbidden Magic and a Sister's Quest for Children (Ages 8-12) - Hardcover

Rivera, Kaela

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0062947559 ISBN 13: 9780062947550

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2021

Synopsis

When a powerful desert spirit kidnaps her sister, Cece Rios must learn forbidden magic to get her back, in this own voices middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of The Storm Runner and Aru Shah and the End of Time.

Living in the remote town of Tierra del Sol is dangerous, especially in the criatura months, when powerful spirits roam the desert and threaten humankind. But Cecelia Rios has always believed there was more to the criaturas, much to her family’s disapproval. After all, only brujas―humans who capture and control criaturas―consort with the spirits, and brujeria is a terrible crime.

When her older sister, Juana, is kidnapped by El Sombrerón, a powerful dark criatura, Cece is determined to bring Juana back. To get into Devil’s Alley, though, she’ll have to become a bruja herself―while hiding her quest from her parents, her town, and the other brujas. Thankfully, the legendary criatura Coyote has a soft spot for humans and agrees to help her on her journey.

With him at her side, Cece sets out to reunite her family―and maybe even change what it means to be a bruja along the way.

She was told to fear the criaturas. Now, one may be her only hope.

• A World of Mexican Folklore: Journey to the town of Tierra del Sol, where dark criaturas like El Sombrerón roam the desert and legendary spirits like Coyote walk among humans.
• Becoming a Bruja: To save her sister, Cece must master forbidden magic—a power her family and culture have taught her to fear.
• A Desperate Quest: Guided by the mischievous Coyote, Cece must travel to the dangerous spirit world of Devil’s Alley to confront the creature who stole her sister.
• An Unbreakable Sisterhood: A heartfelt and thrilling adventure about a girl who will risk everything—her family, her reputation, and her life—to bring her sister Juana home.

About this title

About the Author

Kaela Rivera was raised to believe in will-o’-the-wisps and el chupacabra, but even scary stories couldn’t stop her from reading in the isolated treetops, caves, and creeks of Tennessee’s Appalachian forests.

She still believes in the folktales of her Mexican-American and British parents, but now she writes about them from the adventure-filled mountains of the Wild West. When she’s not crafting stories, she’s using her English degree from BYU-I as an editor for a marketing company (or secretly doodling her characters in the margins of her notebook).

Her biggest hope is to highlight and explore the beauty of cultural differences—and how sharing those differences can bring us all closer.

Reviews

Gr 5 Up-Cecelia Rios does the unthinkable by freeing a dark criatura from the grips of her village. Criaturas have long plagued the residents of the Tierra del Sol desert. Forewarned by her Mama, Cece knows that criaturas were creatures born from the dust and the words of the Great Namer, which aim to harm humans. Shadowed by betrayal and shame, Cece deems herself weak, believing the town whispers that water smothered her inner fire. But when her sister Juana is kidnapped by the criatura, El Sombreron, Cece grapples with a decision that rivals her Mama's beliefs. Her powerful choice unearths secrets of her family's past and leads Cece down a forbidden path. Confronted with her fears, Cece forms unexpected alliances while battling a foe unlike any criatura: herself. Set against the Tierra del Sol backdrop, intertwined with rich Mexican folklore and culturally infused language, this is a brilliantly unveiled coming-of-age story not for the faint of heart. Rivera cultivates a valiant heroine unafraid to follow her heart and stand against the norm. With a captivating story line and adversaries lurking between the pages, readers will remain engrossed as fantasy mingles with the real world. The engaging plot unravels with twists and turns, keeping readers on edge even after Cece's revelation. VERDICT Courage, determination, and unwavering love are the foundation of this debut; a much-needed addition to public and school libraries.-Suraya Jairam, Queens P.L., Hollis, NYα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0062947559
• ISBN 13: 9780062947550
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 352