Alebrijes

The Last Cuentista #2

by Donna Barba Higuera

The next stunning novel from Donna Barba Higuera, author of Newbery and Pura Belpré Award-winning The Last Cuentista

This is the story as it was told to me by Leandro the Mighty.

For 400 years, Earth has been a barren wasteland. The few humans that survive scrape together an existence in the cruel city of Pocatel – or go it alone in the wilderness beyond, filled with wandering spirits and wyrms. They don't last long.

13 year-old pickpocket Leandro and his sister Gabi do what they can to forge a life in Pocatel. The city does not take kindly to Cascabel like them – the descendants of those who worked the San Joaquin Valley for generations.

When Gabi is caught stealing precious fruit from the Pocatelan elite, Leando takes the fall. But his exile proves more than he ever could have imagined -- far from a simple banishment, his consciousness is placed inside an ancient drone and left to fend on its own. But beyond the walls of Pocatel lie other alebrijes like Leandro who seek for a better world -- as well as mutant monsters, wasteland pirates, a hidden oasis, and the truth.

From Donna Barba Higuera, Newbery and Pura Belpré Medal-winning author of The Last Cuentista, comes another novel to astonish us and create a whole new imaginative world, that holds a mirror to our own.

Genres: Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopia, Fiction, Young Adult, Audiobook

416 pages, Hardcover

First published October 3, 2023

Reviews

[Tomes And Textiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a solid four stars for me until I got to the epilogue, then it firmly became five stars.

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alebrijes is a middle grade, Latinè inspired science fiction story with pretty heavy themes for the age. It follows a young boy trying to survive and protect his younger sister in a dystopian world- dealing with hunger, an oppressive government, and constant fear. When his sister tries to steal a strawberry, he takes the fall for her and ends up with his consciousness exiled into an ancient mechanical bird. It's a story about oppression and resistance, with a government that lies and is the cause of a lot of deaths. I suspect this might be drawing on the real world experiences of some people in Latin American countries, but with a sci-fi twist. I like how this takes a cultural artifact (alebrijes) and uses it to tell a futuristic story. Emotionally pretty intense, but a good story and while I haven't read the previous book by this author, I'm pretty sure the epilogue loosely ties the books together. The audio narration is okay, but a little stilted and not my favorite. I received an audio copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t work for me, but think it was mostly a me problem and a bit of a marketing problem. If certain plot events don’t happen until 40% through the book, maybe don’t put them on the back cover, because when they’re in the description I expect them to happen early & spend a huge chunk of the book waiting for them.

[Shayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alebrijes was a fantastic book, and I plan on using it for my 7th grade book club when it’s available in paperback. It starts out a little bit slow, but after the alebrijes enter the story (around 30%), it gets really good and it’s hard to put down. Higuera does a lot of world building, which is necessary but I like really fast paced books so it kind of made it hard to get though initially, but stick with it! I don’t speak Spanish so it also took me a while to get into the style of the book because she adds so many Spanish words and phrases. I started by looking them up on Google translate, but she uses enough context clues and defines the words later that I stopped. It just took me out of the story and isn’t necessarily to look up.

I haven’t read a lot of science fiction or dystopian novels, but I think the premise for Alebrijes is very unique and different from other books out there. It still has the oppressive ruling regime that is hiding secrets which I think is pretty standard in most dystopian books, but I really enjoyed how it all played out. I also liked that the story is the main focus and not a love triangle- maybe because this is more a middle grade book than a YA book.

I really liked Leandro’s character. I added this book to my book challenge under the prompt “character I would be friends with.” He cares for his younger sister and will do anything to help others. He is the moral core in a very unjust world. I think readers will connect to his love of family and how he views others vs the leadership of Pocatell. Gabi is a spitfire and strong, but more reckless. Selah’s character is more cynical but she has her reasons. I think there will be a lot of good discussion about the character’s choices through out the book. I can’t wait to read this with my students! I also want to read Higuera’s other book, The Last Cuesta, now.

Absolutely PG rated and great for a school library. I think it’s really targeted to grades 4-8, but has a broader appeal that older kids and adults will enjoy. There are several deaths, but that’s the only thing that could be triggering.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Elizabeth☮ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the far future, factions are more pronounced. Young Leandro and his sister Gabi are orphans. They dig for potatoes each day to earn their keep. They are part of the working class known as Cascabeles. The ruling class, Pocatelans, offer no mercy or relief from the daily demands of life.

Leandro and Gabi are banished when Gabi gets caught stealing a strawberry. Leandro takes the fall, but soon realizes things may not be as they seem.

The title refers to a means of creating an avatar for the Pocactelans that are imprisoned. They physically are imprisoned, but their “being” is transferred into an inanimate object. It’s is the equivalent to an avatar in a drone (but the drones are animals of some kind).

This is an original story with plenty of action. It starts slow, but builds momentum towards the end.

The cover is absolutely gorgeous. You can’t tell in the image, but the frame surrounding the bird is actually a cut out. So when you open it, it reveals the entire bird.

[Yamini · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book reminded me of the Disney song "A Whole New World". This is new, strict and hard to survive the world, where the earth is a barren land and the survivors live in a small city. Following our protagonist - who is a protective brother to his little sister, is the story of a boy who takes it upon himself to face the consequences of his sister's theft and find himself punished in the most insane way possible. The banishment takes him to far-off lands away from the scary but secure settings of the city. But this new place is so much more! Would anyone even want to return from here?

The book was mesmerising with elements of soul transfer and vivid areal characters. I found many themes mentioned in the book equally reflected in our present society (social injustice, prejudices and hope for a better future). I recommend this book to be read with an open mind and a hopeful soul.

Thankyou @netgalley @donnabarbahiguera @recordedbooks @levinequerido for the ARC

Genre: #childrens #middlegrade #fantasy #scifi
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️

#Alebrijes #NetGalley

[Feliciana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Alebrijes. The beginning of the book is paced a little slower than I typically like, but I did not mind in this case. A lot of the book is setting up the world, which was done extremely well. The protagonist, Leandro, has so much heart that one can’t help but root for him. Higuera’s creativity in bringing the mystical and fantastical alebrijes to life is beautiful, and it’s exciting to see more Latinx representation in middle grade science fiction/fantasy.

Alebrijes highlights community, empathy, love, and resilience, and I think this would be a great addition to any middle grade library.

Potential Triggers: collective oppression, death of parent/relatives, some violence (not detailed).

I was approved for both the ebook and audiobook. Cisco Fernandez and Frankie Corzo were the audiobook narrators. I enjoyed their narrations.

Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media, Recorded Books, and Levine Querido for these ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Zoe Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so so excited for this book, but it just really fell flat for me. The selling point for me on this book is mentioned in the summary on the back of the book. The concept of Leandro's consciousness being placed into a drone was what initially drew me to this book. This idea encompassed maybe 1/3 of the whole book.

There are topics mentioned here that are extremely important. Higuera frames immigration and racism in a way that young people who may be first encountering this topic will understand.

I was not emotionally attached to any of the characters and the world was quite dark and depressing and dealt with heavy things like death and banishment which I thought was a bit over confident in emotional readiness for a book meant for tweens.

2.75 stars

[Pam Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong middle grade sci-fi book that has some pretty mature themes but delivers a high-interest, unusual story. The beginning was a little confusing but once I figured out "the world" the story came together quickly and I was in 100%! This might be better for older middle grade kids (5th+) as there are some intense scenes that may bother younger kids. Overall, a well-written sci-fi for this age group!

[📖Moon Book Eater🍽️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an adventure!

[Sahana Callahan · Rating 2 out of 5]

it dragged for me, and i didnt find the magic/tech of the world to be explained in a way that stuck for me. cool concept, didn't love the execution

[Lois Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5.

This is a strong follow up to the author's debut award-winning novel, "The Last Cuentista." And yes, you might want to read that book before reading this one.

This middle grade novel is another dystopia tale in which survivors live in a settlement and divided by an unfair caste system. Fear and punishments dominate this settlement, but for the lower caste workers, tales of their ancestors give them hope for a better and a more bountiful life. When the protagonist takes the blame for his sister's theft, his soul is transferred to a miniature drone to complete a task during his banishment. However, the protagonist learns the horrific truth surrounding the ruling caste and the way they seek to maintain dominance.

For a middle grade novel, I was impressed with how the narrative didn't fall into "expected" tropes and expectations, and instead included more elements of realism to make this novel more like its genre. Yes, this novel is another example of the "hopepunk" subgenre. All fans and readers of dystopian novels should read this book.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I'm looking forward to discussing this novel in an upcoming YA Book Club.

[Cathie (ClassyLibrarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was going to give this a three but then I read the epilogue and bumped it to a solid four. An oppressive dystopian tale where children are horribly treated. There is the separation of haves and have nots. Leonardo wants to take his sister and runaway to find the magical place La Cuna that he has heard stories about. This undertaking is not smooth and he is faced with many decisions and threats.
Really well done.

[Bethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. First question: is this related to The Last Cuentista? Maybe one of the stories? Maybe this is the land/time they came from? Just sit back and listen as the world building progresses and the characters evolve. Beautiful sci fi landscape with just enough action and intrigue to move the story ahead. Love that the shelter dog was most beautiful of the old world metal drones. Young readers might not catch the irony of the Puppeteer being the director of truth. Listen carefully to epilogue for the answer to my first question. Masterful storytelling! Frankie Corzo and Cisco Fernandez excellent on audio.

[Kyra Dawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, I am absolutely wowed by Donna Barba Higuera's rich world-building and beautiful yet accessible prose. The concept of this story is so original that I understand why it took a minute to set up the stakes of the plot. The payoff is worth the wait if readers are willing to wait for it. I don't think I'll ever get over how beautifully Higuera blends folklore with dystopian technology in a way that feels so compelling and real. Leandro has *officially* joined the ranks alongside Petra as one of my favorite book characters. I'm reading this book as an adult now, but I know I would have loved it as a child and I'm excited to share this book with my future children. Anyway, I could go on and on about the heartbreaking and heartwarming life of this story, but if you want a tale as mind-bending as A Wrinkle in Time, then this is the story for you.

Slight spoiler: The Epilogue filled me with so much joy!!!

[Tena Edlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I see what the author is doing with the series, but I didn’t see it until the epilogue. That’s too long. This book was a slog, and I only got done because I made myself. Hard to say at this point if I’ll bother with the third when it comes out. It’s a shame because I enjoyed the first book a lot!

[Amie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poor pacing thoughtout. When it takes nearly 200 pages to get to the events in the book’s summary, you’ve got a problem. And trying to shoehorn it as a Last Cuentista companion book was cheap.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Alebrijes further proves Donna Barba Higuera is a visionary writer. Her stories are inventive, mind-expanding tales for middle grade, YA, and adult readers alike.

Alebrijes is a dystopian tale centering the importance of community and cultural memory in finding the strength, hope, and courage to stand up to oppression and strive to build a better society for all. Ms. Barba Higuera weaves Mexican folklore with technology and science fiction - the Alebrijes in this world are ancient tech drones, taking the form of various birds and beasts that existed before societal collapse.

The city of Pocatel sits in the parched and unforgiving landscape of post-apocalyptic California. English-speaking Pocatelans have subjugated the Spanish-speaking Cascabeles, whom they force to labor in the fields or face death by exile to the lethal trench and wyrmfields beyond, where giant serpentine creatures devour those cast into their path. The Cascabels are starving and barely surviving under the brutal Pocatelan regime.

Enter our MC Leandro Rivera, a young boy doing all he can to keep himself and his little sister Gabi alive, while also protecting others when he can. Leandro lands in a life-or-death situation and embarks on the search for the mythical land of La Cuna, the Cradle, a lush ancestral land where there is hope and plenty.

We follow Leandro on his dangerous journey, wherein his consciousness is implanted in a hummingbird drone and he must race against time to find a way to stop the Pocatelan dictator from killing off the Cascabeles. And so we find ourselves in the midst of a dark and frightening vision of what the future of our civilization could hold. But on this journey, Leandro finds hope and inspiration and ultimately learns “The smallest flap of wings can change the course of history."

I loved The Last Cuentista and so I was thrilled to receive a copy of Alebrijes from RB Media and Netgalley for my honest review. The audiobook narrators Cisco Fernandez and Frankie Corzo are excellent. I did find it helpful to look at a copy of the book, which has a map and artwork. Highly recommend in any format, to anyone of any age!

[BookswithLydscl | · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* rounded up to 4.

I loved the last cuentista and the closing 'twist' linking it to that story pushed this up for me. Otherwise it was a safe 3 for the most part.
Oppressive, dystopian middle grade sci-fi- it's certainly got a lot of heavy themes for books directed at the age group and the slow start may not work for a lot of readers. I love world building but felt it really was a little too slow and we could have got the story moving before the 30/40% mark.
However it is beautifully done and the themes and ideas presented are outstanding, especially for a story aimed at younger readers.
I hear there will be a third book for this 'universe' which I eagerly wait for even if I can't quite say i loved this story ad much as book 1.

[Maeve Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and imaginative story!! Dystopian, yes, but I also loved the centering of community and the importance of having a strong, loving community to surround yourself with through difficult times.

[Barb Middleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the twist at the end. The author is a wonderful storyteller but I wanted a bit more with the world building and villain’s motivations. I could be biased because I just finished two Brandon Sanderson books and his world building is over the top.

[Katey Flowers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for #middlegrademarch 2024: https://youtu.be/7uMSJCRGvYc

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

[Keeley · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley and Levine Querido for granting me access to an early copy of this book*

Why I Requested It: Primarily I requested this because I found the cover intriguing, with the impression that this would be a more lighthearted, serene read that would reinvest my interest in books aimed at younger readers (boy was I wrong about all of that). Also, some reviewers I follow said good things about Higuera's previous book, The Last Cuentista, so I planned on reading the two of them in order to compare and contrast them, which I have now done.

What It's About: In the future, there are few viable places on Earth to live. One of these places is Pocatel, a city divided by the privileged and the Cascabel that are forced to toil. Leandro is a young Cascabel boy who tries to escape town with his younger sister but he takes the fall for her getting caught stealing, he is subject to an unusual form of banishment, discovers the truths about his city, and eventually comes back to try and save his sister.

Finishing Thoughts: This book really failed for me because not only were there things I personally disliked very present in the narrative but there were also things I don't think made this a successful story. The thing I personally disliked was how mean spirited all the adults were in the story. The world is dystopian, but it felt like many characters were going out of their way to be cruel, to children no less. I never like the "bully" archetype because I find most of the time its just not necessary but I just wasn't expecting it to get that dark in a story aimed at children. The Last Cuentista is also a dystopian, but in a different way that doesn't rely on this bullying form of oppression which actually makes it feel more sinister (though it does have its own weaknesses in execution). Both Alebrijes and The Last Cuentista both struggle with pacing, but in the latter things don't start feeling slow until roughly half way through but in the former it felt like was treading through molasses the whole time and that's probably because the narrative relied on plot and action to move things forward, but there was almost no action. Part of what also made the story really slow is the fact that its the most generic storyline I've read in years so I was very interested in what happened. Contrast that with The Last Cuentista which at least had a minor science component to it and moments that surprised me. In Alebrijes, nothing surprised me, especially during the "last stand." The last aspect of the narrative that irritated me was the protagonist himself. At some point before the halfway point it hit me how incredibly passive this boy was and how little he actually contributed to the story, which is something that does not change. The few active scenes he manage to be even more frustrating because it proves how incompetent he is and that no one should take him seriously. Why this is frustrating is because the beginning sets up his personal story of wanting to a hero and wanting to be taken seriously but he just can't seem to manage to do anything right without some assistance, which is the opposite of the protagonist in The Last Cuentista. To end on a positive note, while this didn't connect with me I can appreciate the inclusion of Latin culture and language in the story, which is also seen in The Last Cuentista. In conclusion, I personally would not recommend this book (I have a hard time even seeing my child self enjoying this), but it is worth giving The Last Cuentista a try.

[Rebecca Shelton · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Alebrijes" ventures into the dystopian genre with a bold narrative that spans a barren Earth 400 years in the future. The narrative follows 13-year-old Leandro and his sister Gabi, who struggle to survive in the harsh city of Pocatel as descendants of the Cascabel, marginalized for generations. When Gabi's theft leads to Leandro's banishment, his consciousness is transferred to an ancient drone, introducing him to a world beyond Pocatel filled with mutant monsters, pirates, hidden oases, and fellow alebrijes striving for a better world.

The book delves deep into themes such as anti-government sentiments, anticolonialism, the quest for building new communities, and the essence of care within these communities. These themes, while rich and compelling, contribute to the book's heavy tone, which might be better suited for a young adult (YA) audience rather than middle-grade readers. The complex subject matter and the intricacies of the dystopian setting may challenge younger readers to grasp and fully appreciate the narrative's depth.

Higuera's writing style, enriched with Spanish dialogue, adds a layer of authenticity and diversity, celebrating the cultural backdrop of its characters. However, the incorporation of Spanish without sufficient context or translation might pose comprehension difficulties for readers not familiar with the language, affecting the flow and immersive experience of the story.

In conclusion, "Alebrijes" receives a rating of 2 out of 5. This rating reflects my own personal disconnect with the story rather than a critique of its quality. The narrative is undeniably well-crafted, featuring robust world-building and a meaningful exploration of its themes. However, the length of the book and the complexity of its content made it challenging to engage with fully. For readers who relish rich, thematic depth and don't mind navigating through complex narratives, "Alebrijes" could offer a rewarding experience. Yet, for those seeking a more accessible entry into dystopian fiction, especially within the middle-grade demographic, this book might not resonate as strongly.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like to see more middle grade science fiction coming out on bookshelves! This one felt like it was slow to start out with and really ramped up when Leandro started uncovering all the secrets the Pocatelans have been hiding. Then it was like hold on to your drone beaks.

With an unputdownable blend of heart, bravery, Old-World fusion technology, and Mexican folklore, these Cascabeles will slither in and have you wringing out every drop of hope in this harsh landscape.

Want to point out that this is upper middle grade for 10+ Undoubtably for a certain scene that I was for sure not expecting, and don't want to spoil. But definitely caused me to eek.

[Kendra · Rating 2 out of 5]

In post-apocalyptic Mexico, the elite live well and the poor starve. And sometimes they're just killed outright. Young Leandro agrees to take part in a risky project in order to save his little sister: his consciousness is transferred into a hummingbird robot. There follow many adventures in which Leandro isn't very smart, followed by someone saving him. He finally gets back into his body, fights the elite baddies, and he and his sister leave for a place where things actually grow in the ground and apparently it's utopia.

I felt like I was in a video game, and I did not enjoy it much. Like a lot of other male leads in fantasy series, Leandro isn't actually the hero. He's an inept dude who has to be saved time and again. This means the reader has to keep reading the POV of a character who, were they to encounter them in a movie, would be yelling at the screen: NO DON'T GO THERE and DUH DRINK THE WATER. Sigh.

[Kelsie · Rating 1 out of 5]

As an adult, I was so confused. Though the background knowledge is partly the responsibility of the reader to find, there wasn’t enough in the book to make it accessible in any way to readers, especially children. So much happened that was not tied together clearly enough. Also not a fan of it as an audiobook.

[B · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was incomprehensible. Not enough worldbuilding or context for it to make sense. Something listed on the synopsis doesn't happen until halfway. I can't imagine a child being able to make sense of this book.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fine, but definitely on the younger side of YA. I got it from a ‘blind date with a book’. Wish they would have given an age recommendation, then I could have picked something else. Oh well