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The Last Cuentista #2
Alebrijes
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 over 400 years, the world 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 Cascabeles 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, Leandro 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 comes another novel and imaginative world to astonish us and hold a mirror to our own.
This is the story as it was told to me by Leandro the Mighty
For over 400 years, the world 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 Cascabeles 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, Leandro 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 comes another novel and imaginative world to astonish us and hold a mirror to our own.
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First published October 3, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 282 reviews
December 5, 2023
This was a solid four stars for me until I got to the epilogue, then it firmly became five stars.
October 25, 2023
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.
October 8, 2023
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.
August 27, 2023
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.
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.
January 29, 2024
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.
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.
October 17, 2023
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
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
October 21, 2023
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.
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.
January 25, 2024
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
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
January 27, 2024
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!
April 9, 2024
What an adventure!
September 27, 2024
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.
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.
January 15, 2024
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.
Really well done.
February 9, 2024
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.
October 23, 2023
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!!!
Slight spoiler: The Epilogue filled me with so much joy!!!
October 29, 2024
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
November 5, 2023
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!
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!
January 8, 2025
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2023
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.
March 30, 2024
Read for #middlegrademarch 2024: https://youtu.be/7uMSJCRGvYc
December 7, 2023
4.5 stars.
November 29, 2025
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!
August 24, 2023
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.
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.
February 8, 2024
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.
January 9, 2024
For being a middle grade reader, this book deals with some heavy topics including but not limited to death, justice, survival, compassion, and forgiveness.
Leandro Rivera and his younger sister Gabi live in the class divided society of Pocatel. Their days as Cascabeles are spent planting and harvesting potatoes in the hot sun, working all day for a measly ration. In recent weeks, the potato harvest seems to be suffering from an unknown virus, causing the availability of food to become slimmer and slimmer. Leandro, a crafty pickpocket is just working to keep he and his sister alive and out of the hands of the ruling Pocatelans.
An untimely altercation with a guard sees Leandro taking his sister's place for stealing a few small strawberries. The punishment? Exile to the world outside Pocatel. One of the Directors chooses him for a different kind of exile where his mind and soul is placed into a metal hummingbird, technology from the old world. From this new vantage, Leandro finds that not everything is as it seems with his world, and must figure out how to save his sister and the rest of the Cascabeles.
In this, we get a unique picture of what it means to survive and how to thrive, and the knowledge that thriving is often accompanied by forgiveness, even forgiveness of those who were once oppressors in a corrupt society.
I love love LOVED this book. Such excellent pacing and such a unique story. The intertwining of Mexican mythology and futuristic sci-fi is so enjoyable. Highly recommend that you pick up this novel!
Leandro Rivera and his younger sister Gabi live in the class divided society of Pocatel. Their days as Cascabeles are spent planting and harvesting potatoes in the hot sun, working all day for a measly ration. In recent weeks, the potato harvest seems to be suffering from an unknown virus, causing the availability of food to become slimmer and slimmer. Leandro, a crafty pickpocket is just working to keep he and his sister alive and out of the hands of the ruling Pocatelans.
An untimely altercation with a guard sees Leandro taking his sister's place for stealing a few small strawberries. The punishment? Exile to the world outside Pocatel. One of the Directors chooses him for a different kind of exile where his mind and soul is placed into a metal hummingbird, technology from the old world. From this new vantage, Leandro finds that not everything is as it seems with his world, and must figure out how to save his sister and the rest of the Cascabeles.
In this, we get a unique picture of what it means to survive and how to thrive, and the knowledge that thriving is often accompanied by forgiveness, even forgiveness of those who were once oppressors in a corrupt society.
I love love LOVED this book. Such excellent pacing and such a unique story. The intertwining of Mexican mythology and futuristic sci-fi is so enjoyable. Highly recommend that you pick up this novel!
November 19, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest review. his book was amazing. I was hooked from the very beginning! Reading the right middle-grade novel as an adult is a magical experience in the way it sucks you in with constant action and the passionate emotions of preteens/young teens. I haven’t had this nostalgic feeling of “just one more chapter!” since I was that age, even with adult books I’ve given 5 stars. Alebrijes has probably been my favorite Netgalley ARC so far.
If you want to read this book I would definitely recommend going in blind, without reading the summary on the back of the book. I usually just skim summaries to get a general vibe without being spoiled on details, and that really worked here because I was very pleasantly surprised in the direction this went in.
Just as Higuera’s last book, The Last Cuentista, did, Alebrijes gave me strong vibes of “The Giver” by Lois Lowry. Both (all) books sensitively deal with very mature themes (racism, xeniphobia, corrupt government) through the eyes of a preteen/young teen, and I appreciate that a lot in a MG book.
One small hangup with the book was that Leandro’s deep friendship with Selah (shown by her action at the end) formed so quickly after they were distrustful of each other. I would have liked at least one scene that shows a conversation between these two that starts to show their understanding of each other. However that did not really dampen my enjoyment of the book.
And, if you know, you know- that epilogue had me SHOOK!!!! I audibly gasped multiple times reading that. Can’t wait for a sequel, hopefully.
If you want to read this book I would definitely recommend going in blind, without reading the summary on the back of the book. I usually just skim summaries to get a general vibe without being spoiled on details, and that really worked here because I was very pleasantly surprised in the direction this went in.
Just as Higuera’s last book, The Last Cuentista, did, Alebrijes gave me strong vibes of “The Giver” by Lois Lowry. Both (all) books sensitively deal with very mature themes (racism, xeniphobia, corrupt government) through the eyes of a preteen/young teen, and I appreciate that a lot in a MG book.
One small hangup with the book was that Leandro’s deep friendship with Selah (shown by her action at the end) formed so quickly after they were distrustful of each other. I would have liked at least one scene that shows a conversation between these two that starts to show their understanding of each other. However that did not really dampen my enjoyment of the book.
And, if you know, you know- that epilogue had me SHOOK!!!! I audibly gasped multiple times reading that. Can’t wait for a sequel, hopefully.
February 5, 2024
Public Service Announcement: That bird on the cover is Not an owl. It's a Hummingbird. I know, I know - hard to believe - but based on other illustrations and the plot of the book, I have come to the conclusion that the creature pictured is a mechanical hummingbird.
I love a book with maps. And this one has one at the very beginning. I referred to it often, especially in the first half(ish) of the book. That said, this map didn't always ring true, or feel like it matched what was described in the text. Minor stuff. Most readers probably wouldn't notice.
It was fun for me to read a dystopian book that felt pretty squarely J. I haven't read The Last Cuentista, Higuera's other sci-fi book, but from what I've heard, that might be pitched slightly older. This deals with heavy stuff, but felt very accessible to a younger age group. I wasn't expecting the twist that comes around halfway through (and won't spoil it here), even though it's one of the coolest parts.
I loved the representation of Latine folx and culture, especially in the sci-fi futuristic context.
I love a book with maps. And this one has one at the very beginning. I referred to it often, especially in the first half(ish) of the book. That said, this map didn't always ring true, or feel like it matched what was described in the text. Minor stuff. Most readers probably wouldn't notice.
It was fun for me to read a dystopian book that felt pretty squarely J. I haven't read The Last Cuentista, Higuera's other sci-fi book, but from what I've heard, that might be pitched slightly older. This deals with heavy stuff, but felt very accessible to a younger age group. I wasn't expecting the twist that comes around halfway through (and won't spoil it here), even though it's one of the coolest parts.
I loved the representation of Latine folx and culture, especially in the sci-fi futuristic context.
December 20, 2023
Ah, Alebrijes! This middle-grade gem dances on the edges of Latinè inspiration and science fiction, weaving a narrative that tackles weighty themes despite its audience. Picture a young lad, fiercely protecting his sister amid a world devoured by dystopia—hunger, an iron-fisted regime, and ceaseless trepidation. The pivotal moment arrives when he shoulders the blame for his sister's pilfered strawberry, landing himself in an ancient mechanical bird, his consciousness exiled.
It's a tale that grapples with oppression and the resilience of resistance, spotlighting a deceitful government accountable for myriad tragedies. And yes, it draws whispers from the real-life struggles of some Latin American communities, spun marvelously within a sci-fi tapestry. What captivates me most is how it wields a cultural artifact, the alebrijes, to stitch a futuristic narrative—emotionally gripping yet an undeniable marvel of storytelling.
I'm taking away a star for all the Spanish words. Balancing the use of Spanish within an English-dominated narrative is crucial for accessibility and inclusivity. Perhaps a gentle infusion of translations or contextual clues alongside the Spanish phrases could bridge this gap, ensuring that all readers feel welcomed and engaged without feeling overwhelmed or excluded by linguistic barriers.
It's a tale that grapples with oppression and the resilience of resistance, spotlighting a deceitful government accountable for myriad tragedies. And yes, it draws whispers from the real-life struggles of some Latin American communities, spun marvelously within a sci-fi tapestry. What captivates me most is how it wields a cultural artifact, the alebrijes, to stitch a futuristic narrative—emotionally gripping yet an undeniable marvel of storytelling.
I'm taking away a star for all the Spanish words. Balancing the use of Spanish within an English-dominated narrative is crucial for accessibility and inclusivity. Perhaps a gentle infusion of translations or contextual clues alongside the Spanish phrases could bridge this gap, ensuring that all readers feel welcomed and engaged without feeling overwhelmed or excluded by linguistic barriers.
July 15, 2024
It was so good I found it hard to put down! Set in a dystopian future, Leandro and his sister Gabi are forced to work in the fields for the wealthy townspeople of Pocatelan. When Leandro takes the rap for Gabi's theft of a single strawberry, he is exiled. But with his consciousness implanted in a drone of a hummingbird (an Alebrije)he leaves Pocatelan to explore the wastelands beyond. What he discovers unravels a web of lies that he and his people have been trapped in for years.
This is a real page turner with characters you can really connect with. The scene settings are really evocative too.
This one is catalogued in my library as a children's book, but it could go up into the YA. I'd aim it at 12 and up.
This is a real page turner with characters you can really connect with. The scene settings are really evocative too.
This one is catalogued in my library as a children's book, but it could go up into the YA. I'd aim it at 12 and up.
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November 17, 2025Oof I found this really hard to get into. I loved The Last Cuentista soo much that I really tried to persevere to get through this (and I did finish it, where if it had been from an unknown author I might have DNF'd) but it was just very convoluted to me and I feel like it would be very hard for a tween reader to follow. Unless they just gloss over a LOT of details maybe? It just felt like it took a really long time to get off the ground (bird pun???)
anyway just NOT my cup of tea but maybe a good rec for kids really craving more dystopias.
anyway just NOT my cup of tea but maybe a good rec for kids really craving more dystopias.
January 28, 2024
Very great book! Loved it for the post-apocalyptic survival, and the uprising of the "lower class" to bring about the truth. Loved the theme of change and hope for something better. It is definitely not what I imagined what it would be, but it was very good! I did not expect what was included in the Epilogue at all.
I know editors/authors can't catch every mistake, but the amount of misspellings, missing words, and grammatical errors was a little distracting at times. It's not really a big deal, but it was often enough that I had to stop and re-read parts to make sure it said what it said, and then change it in my mind to make it make sense.
I know editors/authors can't catch every mistake, but the amount of misspellings, missing words, and grammatical errors was a little distracting at times. It's not really a big deal, but it was often enough that I had to stop and re-read parts to make sure it said what it said, and then change it in my mind to make it make sense.
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