El princípe y la coyote:

by David Bowles

Mexico. 1418.

Meet Prince Acolmiztli. Puma of the Acolhua People. Heir to his father’s throne. Half Acolhuan, half Mexica. Singer. Warrior. Poet. Sixteen years old.

And now, betrayed. A palace plot, placed by the deadly Tepaneca Empire, kills his mother and siblings, puts his father’s army into retreat, and sends Prince Acolmiztli into a treacherous exile. Battling hunger, snow-swept mountains, and the machinations of the city-states all around him, Prince Acolmiztli vows revenge. It will take years, but he will return to seek justice. And he'll do it with a new

Nezahualcoyotl. Fasting Coyote. One of the most legendary figures in history.

From the award-winning comes a heart-pounding historical epic that is Gladiator meets the Song of Achilles -- The Count of Monte Cristo set in pre-Columbian Mexico. Illustrated throughout gorgeously by Amanda Mijangos, The Prince & the Coyote brings to life one of Mexico’s most treasured heroes – Nezahualcoyotl – in a story that will thrill readers far and wide.
 

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, Fiction, LGBT, Mythology, Queer

456 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 2023

About the author

David Bowles is a Mexican American author and translator from south Texas. He has written several award-winning titles, most notably THEY CALL ME GÜERO and MY TWO BORDER TOWNS

His work has also been published in multiple anthologies, plus venues such as The New York Times, Strange Horizons, School Library Journal, Rattle, Translation Review, and the Journal of Children’s Literature.

Additionally, David has worked on several TV/film projects. In 2019, he co-founded the hashtag and activist movement #DignidadLiteraria, which has negotiated greater Latinx representation in publishing. He is presently the president of the Texas Institute of Letters.

Reviews

[Courtney Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am going to try this one again and have upped a star after hearing the author speak. He puts so much effort into his research and it’s like sitting with a history professor. May up another star even after I get through this.

[ili · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read this book I got excited, I loved it immediately because I am familiar with the setting. I really have been longing for a pre-Columbian Mesoamerican story! This YA book delivered. I was in awe of Acolmiztli’s thought processes, his decisions, his beliefs, his philosophy. He’s def a likable character. You are immediately drawn to him as a reader and feel for him because of all that happens. I loved reading Nahuatl words and thinking how cool it is that we still use some of these words to this day. I loved envisioning what is currently called Mexico City pre-Columbian times. I loved reading about the Indigenous peoples’ rituals, traditions, way of life for the royals and farmers. I loved reading about the different languages, accents, the empires/tribes and how different they are from one another. I loved that a Xochihuah (Two-Spirit) person played an important role.

There are a lot of Nahuatl vocabulary terms/names and a guide is included to help you with pronunciation. I did struggle at times, but I was happy to decolonize my mouth and tongue in order to pronounce these words correctly.

It’s a big book, so be prepared for that.

[Annalise Kraines · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you grew up with a Western history curriculum that spent maybe two paragraphs on the indigenous of ancient Central America, pick up this amazing book. A sweeping, dramatic epic comparable to Hamlet. This is not only a fascinating story, but a treasure tribe of well-researched information about pre-Columbian indigenous culture and life. You'll never underestimate the power and prowess of ancient indigenous civilization ever again. Also THIS GUY DID SO MUCH. A poet-warrior-king, highly educated, fleeing for his life after a coup destroyed his family and propped up a dictator. His story is told in both prose and poetry, and the illustrations are truly amazing. Nexahualcoyotl has captured my imagination and my awe.

[Lauren Perez Esper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this one but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it. This YA novel is full of adventure, romance, poetry, and history!
It is also full of diverse and queer representation, something that I love to see in YA books. Fans of The Song of Achilles will enjoy this one!

For me, the standout of the story was the rich history of Mexico in its pre-colonization era. I enjoyed learning about Nezahualcoyoti and Nahuatl language. This book also covered so many fantastic themes throughout, one could do a deep dive and discover so much meaning! The book is also full of beautiful illustrations by Amanda Mijangos, which really elevated the reading experience.

This is a gorgeous story that I am grateful for the experience of reading and would love for more people to discover!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating journey into pre-European/Spanish Meso-America.

With its stunning illustrations and rich portrayal of indigenous culture and language, this book is a beautiful celebration of the greatness of Indigenous peoples in Mexico.
I myself, like the author, have never heard of the Nezahualcoyotl, an Indigenous king and I was very intrigued. The ingenuity and storytelling is mesmerizing. Absolutely beautiful.

This particular book invites BIPOC readers to appreciate their heritage and the vibrant history that predates European and Spanish contact. A must-read for all ages.

A very special thanks to Hear Our Voices Tours and Netgalley for the complimentary copy.

[Felix Hommy Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Prince & The Coyote is the kind of book that wins all of the awards and gets all of the accolades and praise. It is a work of art, from beginning to end. It’s the kind of book that will be on many lists of all time favorite books.

What I loved the most about the book:

⭐️The poetry - The book includes poetry interconnected with the prose, and it’s done seamlessly.

⭐️No gender binary - The story defies the gender binary and it makes sense, being a Pre-Columbian Mexican story: when / where gender was not yet defined by the European standards.

⭐️EPIC story - This story has everything: romance, war, drama, politics, betrayal and more!

⭐️Gorgeous illustrations - The book is beautifully illustrated by Amanda Mijangos

⭐️The celebration of Indigenous people - The book will have you learning about the Mesoamerican Indigenous culture, language and way of living.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I paired the energy / vibes of your this book with three tarot cards:

🔮Seven of Swords - Cunningness and trickery

🔮Strength - Our main characters shows that strength can be shown and expressed in many different ways

🔮Ace of Wands - The card of “the spark of creativity” is the perfect representation for the story of a poet, so….

Five Ace of Wands out of five Ace of Wands to The Prince and The Coyote by David Bowles!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*I receive an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1418 Acolmiztli, the Crown Prince of the Acolhua in Pre-Colombian Mexico, begins his journey to manhood and governing his people. His life is one full of ritual and learning and sacrifice in the name of becoming the best leader he can be.

David Bowles creates such a deep connection with his characters, and aided by the illustrations by Amanda Mijangos, you can feel their joy, their devotion, and their anguish. Seeing the displays of love between Acolmitzli’s parents and his own love for his culture and his future responsibilities made it all the more painful to watch it be ripped away.

This book for me was more than a beautiful depiction of a culture we don’t often see in media today. It was an intricately woven tapestry of love and loss through the lens of a teenage boy with the weight of an entire people on his shoulders.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointingly boring, and it shouldn’t be! Nezahualcoyotl is a fascinating historical figure who lived a hell of a life, but he comes off as so bland here.

The prose is passable, but the pacing oscillates between breakneck and slow as a slug. Ah, well.

2.5, but I’m rounding up for what I can tell was a monumental effort of research from the author.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5*

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The authors note at the end was more interesting than anything else in the book.

[Chris G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre-European contact in Mezo-America, sixteen year old Prince Acolmiztl leaves home to begin intensive training that is interrupted by the outbreak of war. Forced to flee, the prince leaves behind his family and pregnant girlfriend. He wanders alone in the mountains, befriended by a coyote who saves his life. Finding a farming community, the prince conceals his identity when he learns that the war has gone badly and all those he loves most are dead. Tempted to remain with the alluring daughter of the farm family, the prince eventually realizes he must try to avenge his family and rescue the people who are still loyal to him. An epic adventure, full of indigenous language and culture. It looks like the book is beautifully illustrated but the prepub ebook version only displayed the art in fragments. EARC from Edelweiss
.

[Philip McCarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the epitome of quality historical fiction. I was blown away by the historical details, the way the characters and world of the time were brought to life, and the amount of knowledge I learned. This is definitely my ignorance speaking, but I had no idea that the story being told was an actual historical story that led to the creation of the Triple Alliance. Which when I read that in the afterword, elevated this book even more for me. The story follows the life of Acolmiztli Nezahualcoyotl, from his teen years to his reclamation of the throne. His life in Tetzcoco is a lavish one where he learns all about the ins and outs of politics, religious life, and a love for his people which he would someday rule over. This all changes when his relatives from across the lake kill his father and take over the city, forcing him to flee. Once in hiding he forms a tight bond with a coyote who helps him survive until things have blown over enough. This stretch has some wonderfully written dream sequences and works well as a turning point for Acolmiztli. He then descends from the mountains and lives on a farm where he works the land and the farmer's daughter and himself fall in love. Folks from Acolhua (the city state he governs) discover him while he is at market, yet he requires them to stay quiet until things are in order. There is something so thrilling about a king working to reclaim his throne through political allegiances behind the scenes. These pay off and lead him to live in Tenochtitlan, laying the groundwork for taking over once again. This is where his genius of architectural knowledge really shows itself, constructing an aqueduct which is integral for his plans. Eventually he reclaims the throne and everything works out for him.

I can't sing the praises of this book enough. The artwork throughout is simply gorgeous, the maps, family trees, pronunciation guide, and cultural notes all were extremely helpful for orienting myself in the cultural sphere of the story. Sekalli and Itzcalloh, two characters made up for the story, are fantastic in their playful banter and relationship that grows because they both are in love with Acolmiztli, as wife and concubine. Just overall an outstanding book with beautiful poetry within that move the story quickly and open the hearts of the characters well.

[abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*

the art in this is gorgeous; look at that cover! i’d be really interested in learning more about nezahualcoyotl (he was clearly a really fascinating man, who did so many things), but this wasn’t great—the narrative was strangely paced and felt very rushed; the characters (and their development) very half-baked, and nezahualcoyotl comes across as very obnoxious, patronising, and entirely unchallenged in his privilege. which, yeah, i know, he’s a prince/king, but he spent enough time around commoners and in exile that it would’ve been interesting to see him grapple with class. especially as his queen is a common woman.

i would’ve liked to have had more of izcalloh—they were the shining star of this, and their relationship with nezahualcoyotl was lovely.

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

I normally love fiction that isn’t quite like anything else I’ve read, but disappointingly, this was exactly like other terrible books. The infodumping and the narrative are both entirely too self aware, which wrecks the feel of the novel. The author wants to tell a story from a largely unexplored piece of history, but ruins any immersion with the use of very modern terms like “transgender.” To top it all off, he falls into that common pitfall of male writers, making a female character die to advance the plot of the male main character. “Flowers in the heart” do not make one female, and the way women are just discarded along the story disgusted me. This book was a nope in so many ways.

[Alina Karapandzich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly one of the best books I have ever read. As someone who has translated and used Homer's epics in my thesis, this book tells a story that has not captured my heart in such a way since I first read the Iliad. The author's note at the end too is beautiful and important and I am grateful that I am learning about an important historical figure now (better late than never) and am able to do so in a way that is pure poetry and art.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my typical read, but I really enjoyed it. As an American, I never get to learn about Mexican culture in school. Getting educated through my silly hobby books is kinda crazy to me, but I'm glad I'm learning something! I also thought it was super cool that this book wasn't afraid to discuss gender and sexuality.

[Rebecca Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

A really interesting setting and concept, could not get into the characters or very complex politics. Didn't finish.

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't be a real criticism cause that's not how it works, but this would've worked more for me personally if written more as an adult fic, but like, I can't complain on the actual circumstances of the construction of the novel, that's not fair.

[Vex Vermillion VA · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely incredible read!

[pvp_Niki]

DNF after about 15%
Unfortunately, the writing style is not my cup of tea.

I was drawn to this book because of the setting, I was really excited to read a story set in pre-columbian Mexico. I think this book is perfect for those who are looking for a classic historical fiction or an epic for this setting and period in history we don't really see represented. It's clear that the era and setting is well researched and there are beautiful illustrations throughout the book that really enchance the experience of reading this book.

I think the writing style probably fits the genre and readers enjoying a lot of history books will love this book, but for me the narration was too distant to feel involved and the first 15% is basically a lot of infodump and some events and activities a ruler tipically participates in. I usually prefer books that are character-driven, when I can very soon feel invested in the characters and their personal stories. All the political factions and interests and familial relations however are really dense at the beginning of the book and are pretty confusing unless you have some basic knowledge of that part of the history which I unfortunately don't. (It's of course not the author's or the book's fault we don't really hear about this period in history in education or in the media.)
I have to admit that I'm not really invested in political intrigue and ruling families drama unless it's either on a very personal level i.e. I'm invested in the characters because the narration shows them closely, or on a global level e.g. this faction has to succeed because people will suffer if they don't. And if I see the start of a personal plotline I can easily get through any kind of infodump but here I just felt detached and I simply felt that I cannot work myself through the book to find out if it becomes something more to my liking.

However, this only reflects my taste, if you're a fan of classic historical fiction you're very likely to love this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC.

[Remus]

I received this book as an ARC for the hearourvoices booktour. The opinions on this book are my own.

Its very hard for me to put my thoughts to this book into words. First of all I have to say that I know nothing about Mexico‘s history so it was all very new to me. It was an amazing learning opportunity and I loved reading about how Neza was a real person. The history and architecture was well researched and it showed really well how indigenous people lived before colonization.
I really loved this book and I will probably reread it some time.

There were a lot of characters and most names (city names too) were unfamiliar to me because I dont know Nahuatl. That made it really hard for me to keep track of all the characters and sometimes I lost track of what was happening.
There is a list of some of the characters at the start of the book and a pronounciation guide for Nahuatl words is provided. I really really love that, I just didn’t think about using it, because I read it in the kindle app.

Neza as a character is lovely and I liked him a lot. It was interesting to see his growth and how he changed from a little boy to a king.

The plot was really good and I was interested in all the different places and storylines that David weaved together. For me the story dragged at certain places, but this might be because I was stressed about finishing all my ARCs for September. I‘m pretty sure that that truly was just a me problem.

I wish I had taken more time to read this book to really savour the writing style. It is beautiful and feels very warm and surprisingly I really enjoyed the poetry that was sprinkled in between and it just added to my enjoyment of the book.

The book is fully illustrated and the illustrations truly are to die for! This is a book that is worth having a physical copy of.

I truly recommend this to everyone who likes epic sagas and is interested in the indigenous life of people before contact with europeans.

[Mia Karlsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing and so beautifully written. I cared about Acolmiztli and his journey and respected him as a character. I would have liked to know him in real life! The characters all embodied humanity; intense love, and deep hate. And it was handled so well. The artwork was perfect, it helped lift up the story and made me feel connected to the coyote. I'm so glad I read this book!

[apple_plectic · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful, beautiful book. i loved how he used nezahualcoyotl's songs and poetry interspersed with chapters, but they never felt less than the normal writing. i only wished the author had included a list of further reading on nahua history/nezahualcoyotl for those interested, especially with how much research he apparently did.

[Marielle Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful retelling of a "hero's journey" tale that kept me captivated from start to finish. I had never even heard of Acolmiztli or his life before reading this book. Blame an education system that rarely if ever teaches anything about other countries, even if they're right across the border. But enough of that. The book showed off a culture and people I knew almost nothing about wonderfully, making it easy to follow along despite being very different from the 21st century without alienating the reader with too many details they wouldn't be familiar with.

Acolmiztli's journey from boy to man is an interesting and courageous tale as we see him go from being a reluctant warrior to coming to his lowest point to rising up again to take revenge. Also, the fact he's a shameless flirt and womanizer (term used in a gender-neutral way) without it being seen as making him horrible was also a nice breath of fresh air. His journey to survive as the coyote does entertained me and I devoured the book in only a few days.

My one issue, which is probably just because of the real-life events it was based on, is that Acolmiztli never seems to fully get revenge on those that have taken everything from him. He worms his way in and pretends to be a loyal little lapdog of the Emperor so that he can amass power and the forces needed to take back his city but when the time comes to take back his city and people after being hyped up for so long, the results are a bit.....underwhelming. For one, the ancient Emperor just abruptly dies after living to be older than dirt, given he's implied to be close to one-hundred when he finally kicks the bucket. There's no satisfaction to be had when your opponent gets to live to a ripe old age and die snug in his bed instead of at least having a poisonous serpent slipped into it with him. This is like if the Emperor in Star Wars just keeled over in Return of the Jedi from a heart attack in the middle of the film instead of being the final big bad for Luke to face.

Plus many of those that Acolmiztli doesn't particularly like or care for end up becoming pieces for him to use in his long-term goals but none of them save his bastard half-brother truly seem to end up getting their comeuppance in the end. It just feels like this big, awesome tale gets told but the ending just sort of peters out.

On the plus side, Acolmiztli and his loved ones end up in the happiest place possible, and wonder of wonders the main LGBT+ character makes it out not only alive but still with their place at Acolmiztli's side as his head concubine intact! All in all, a very good read, and one I highly recommend for those who want to learn more about the world beyond the very USA-focused POV we often see in literature.

[Sandy]

This book was such a cool read. As soon as I came across this book I knew I had to check it out. Not only was it a cool revenge story featuring an intelligent, cunning, and multitalented person, but it was cool also just to read a story from a people before the colonists arrived in which we get to see them from their own perspective on their own terms and not as a footnote in someone else’s story.

I will admit that I think the first part was a little slow to me as it took its time to paint a picture of the world the story inhabits and really get into the actual story this book set out to tell. But once I got to that tipping point where the initial conflict first begins I was pulled in. I can’t say I particularly connected or identified with Nezahualcoyotl all that much since he is very much the perfect, well rounded, princely type and is meant to be a bit removed from everyone else, and I don’t know if it is really all that necessary for the story to have meaning, I just tend to get more enjoyment out of it that way. I definitely really liked Sekalli and Izcalloh a lot though. It was cool with Izcalloh’s character seeing how the cultures in the area consider gender to be more of a spectrum. But for the most part I couldn’t help be feel removed from the story. But if you are really in it more for the adventure and plot all that jazz then you will definitely love this for sure. The story and plot itself were for sure enough to keep me going though and I read the second half of this book real fast. What also kept me interested was getting to learn all about the peoples and cultures that lived around that lake during this time period. I think it was really cool to have the section in the back to explain concepts that readers might be unfamiliar with, and I found it especially cool and helpful.

[Eduardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had hoped to have this out yesterday, but I only finished it today (and returned to the library).

This book, it turns out, is about a real person! Nezahualcoyotl was a real pre-Columbian figure and poet, and ruler of Texcoco, who had a huge effect on the region. He’s one of the few indigenous poets of the era whose poetry survived, which is pretty cool! And so many of his achievements–involving becoming a warrior and avenging his father’s murder–happened while he was still very young.

So this book tries to take that story and turn it into a semi-mythological historical epic, marketed at young adults. And I think it does… okay?

Look, I admire the ambition, but I don’t know how this works as a “Mesoamerican ‘Count of Monte Cristo’”, which is how it tries to bill itself. Our hero kind of stumbles his way through a lot–and I get having a guy totally in control is hard to get right if you’re not Dumas. He’s also prone to falling in love at the drop of a hat and immediately acting on it. Maybe that’s true of the historical figure; I don’t know. It made me think this supposedly brilliant historical figure look a bit silly to me, though.

There are also… a lot of characters here, and if you’re not good with names, especially names that look like they’d give spellcheck a heart attack, this is going to be difficult. Even having a couple of family trees at the beginning wasn’t a guaranteed fix, unless you’re planning on flipping back a lot. “Obsidian & Blood” had this issue, too, but I think it had fewer characters, and a much more limited Plot.

There are also several lengthy sections in verse? Because Nezahualcoyotl was a poet. There’s also an appendix with explanations to some of the references to the culture throughout.

It’s interesting, though I don’t think it’s as truly GREAT as it could have been.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been in the fight of my life… what seems to be for many years… I fight not for the sake of arguing or sport… no, I dont shed blood… it’s a fight to protect self, those I love, my community… that’s righteous anger - I felt that with the Prince.
•
#theprinceandthecoyote was an epic and engaging journey for which I found myself on a ride while quite unlike my own in many different ways, I was much like the main character, Our Prince… it was with Prince Nezahualcóyotl that I found myself understanding more about myself in ways I was grateful and pleasantly surprised.
•
It’s not too often you read a book that is literally not like you in “most ways,” that you find yourself being the most deeply recognized and understood. The dualities of life and love and needing/desiring to exist in the duality between. You can’t share, you can’t express, you live for the sake of others… The here and there. Them and they… loving in the best way you know you can. Then you find a moment after experiences with spirituality/divinity/the journey of self discovery… devotion to self authenticity & divinity never leads astray.

I really loved this book. This book taught me a lot about an early culture I never deeply knew about. My sister has been to Mexico multiple times but not I. I’m encouraged by this book. I highly recommend it.

If you’re going on a discover of self, have been through a lot. Or need a soft place to land and want to travel through a complex journey that’s far out of your own. This is for you. I vibe with the Prince. We get eachother.

I love it.

[Linden Leman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE the project of writing a "modern novel" version of Nezahualcóyotl's life. It felt like I got a cultural history lesson in a medium where I will actually remember names and events and more importantly, the worldview of (at least noble) pre-columbian nahuatl peoples. I especially loved how integrated the spirituality/religion of the people was with the 1st-person experience of the plot. The spiritual dimension felt very alive throughout a story where politics (who did what where) can easily overcrowd the human-ness of the narrative.

Still, I felt like Bowles bit off more than he could chew trying to capture so much of the history and legend, making things feel rushed after the exposition and throughout the rest of the novel.

Ultimately, my only real complaint is the book's glorification of war and patriarchy. Bowles doesn't spare the details; he is honest about the brutality of it all. But he doesn't try and insert/impose an opposing voice to all the "rich boys" scrambling to kill each other from the first page to the last page. Instead, there is plenty of space dedicated to the spiritual/theological grounds for violence and retribution. It comes off romanticized and lacking perspective from the peasant class. Perhaps Bowles is fully aware of this and just decided to try and stay true to how Mexicans then and now relate to the story, rather than impose some kind of "critical theory" lens. In other words, he isn't going for a "revisionist" history here, but instead if focusing on bringing this important tale to life for Mexican-Americans and the reader!

[babygirllit (Tish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the flow of this book and the beautiful illustrations throughout the story. 

I went into this book not knowing what to expect, but it caught me by surprise in a good way. Very enjoyable read.❤

Favorite Quotes: Each one of these touch my heart.
🟠 “You deserve this happiness and peace, Mother.”

🟤 “Until the end, my precious flower."

🟠 ‘Never let your enemy see your full strength until you know you can defeat him.’ 

🟤 At the heart of destruction, one can find shelter.
In the impenetrable darkness, one can be a light.
Amid the swirling arms of the hurricane, there is stillness.

🟠 I must remain at the center of the storm. But when I emerge, he will have cleared a path for me. My enemies will be weakened. I shall burst triumphant from the snow and greet the sun- bangled world with a battle cry.

🟤 I too was once a young girl in love. I know there’s no commanding the heart, no changing the course of that raging flood.  Let yourselves spin in its eddies for the moment. But once this harvest is sold in the marketplace, be ready to tell your father.”

🟠 It will take so much love to heal him. Fortunately, the rest of my family is waiting, hearts open, brimming with affection.

[CPL Teen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Prince & the Coyote by David Bowles is a stunning blend of history, adventure, romance, and poetry set in pre-Columbian Mexico. The book follows fifteen-year-old Acolmiztli, a crown prince who, after a deadly power struggle, must flee his city-state and take on a new identity as Nezahualcoyotl, or "fasting coyote." As he navigates the wilderness and the complex political landscape, Neza's journey is filled with rich Indigenous culture, and poetic elements that bring the story to life.

Bowles's meticulous incorporation of the Nahuatl language and the historical context of Nezahualcoyotl’s life adds depth to the narrative, making it a remarkable celebration of Mexican heritage. The stunning illustrations and the portrayal of pre-Columbian Mexico's greatness are beautifully executed, creating an immersive experience.

While the book's length and density might deter some teens, it is a must-read for those interested in diverse and historical narratives. It offers a captivating exploration of Indigenous culture and a heartfelt love story, inviting readers of all ages to appreciate a vibrant history that predates European contact.