Call Me Ixchel: Mayan Goddess of the Moon

The Thinking Girl's Treasury of Glorious Goddesses

by Janie Havemeyer

Ixchel, Mayan Goddess of the Moon, is a spunky young goddess throwing lightning bolts with her friends until she meets and falls in love with the God of the Sun. Their tempestuous relationship leads to many colorful adventures, including an elopement across the Milky Way, a visit to the underworld, and a sojourn with the Vulture King. But can the sun and the moon stay together? Are they two halves of a whole, or a world apart? Does the rambunctious young goddess finally grow up — and where can you find her now? Told by Ixchel in the first person, this lively book gives young readers a unique entry into the world of Mayan mythology, and provides interesting cultural and historical context in a nonfiction section illustrated with maps and photographs.

Genres: Middle Grade

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 14, 2014

About the author

Janie Havemeyer has worked as a museum educator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, an elementary school teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area, and a social studies curriculum designer. For the past six years, she has been working as a literacy tutor. She writes narrative, nonfiction picture books for children, and is busy thinking about the next eccentric character whose story she wants to tell.

Reviews

[Lacey Louwagie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book ended up being better than I expected it to be. At first, the book's tone was really off-putting, trying too hard to be conversational and "modern" in a way that didn't jibe with the ancient Mayan setting. Even if one buys into the idea that goddesses are immortal regardless of whether people continue to believe in them, it's jarring to hear one refer to herself as a "rockstar" in the first-person or to compare the size of an ancient ball court to a modern basketball court. Still, once I was able to get past the tonal issues, I appreciated this book's age-appropriate handling of a possessive/abusive marital relationship and Ixchel's strength in overcoming it.

This book may have fallen into two-star territory if not for the impressive backmatter. I loved the accessible notes that served as a non-intimidating entry into Mayan mythology for kids who were exposed to it for the first time. Especially helpful was the "Established myth/fact/fiction" chart that detailed where certain parts of this retelling came from. Since I am as unfamiliar with Mayan mythology as the typical 9-year-old, I found this all to be very educational. I also liked the final chapter, "Ixchel Today" in which Ixchel gave a brief overview of how her legacy has lived on despite the colonization of Mexico.

As educational fodder, this is good, accessible stuff that could well spur kids' interest in history, ancient mythology, and other cultures. As fiction asked to stand on its own merits it is less successful, although it's nice to see a publisher tackling some lesser-known mythology for a young audience.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gr 4-7- Athena, Ixchel, and Isis relate their tales in this engaging series on goddesses. While at their heart these stories remain true, each author takes creative liberty with descriptions, thoughts, and dialogue to give the appeal of fiction; by bridging the separate myths they create a seamless narrative. Later on, a timeline isolates the mythical, historical, and fictional parts for contemplation. Each deity feels relatable, modern, and human. While this means the series loses some authenticity, girls in particular will appreciate the tone. This spirit of accessibility extends into the section featuring photos and relevant information on the civilization and their beliefs. The presence of cultural notes in the story, specific terms from the language, and fun lesser-known tidbits, speaks to a thorough research effort that goes beyond the facts, one which cements in us a deeper understanding of the ancient peoples behind these myths.

*reviewed for School Library Journal http://www.slj.com/*