Title: Los Monstruos: Felice and the Wailing Woman
Author: Diana López
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Contemporary
Publisher: Kokila
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: April 18, 2023
Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
The twelve-year-old daughter of La Llorona vows to free her mother and reverse the curses that have plagued the magical town of Tres Leches in this delightfully sweet and spellbinding adventure by beloved author Diana López.
When Felice learns that she’s the daughter of La Llorona, she catches a ride to the magical town of Tres Leches, where her mother is said to be haunting the river. Growing up with her uncle Clem in Corpus Christi, Felice knew that she had been rescued from drowning—it’s where her intense fear of water comes from—but she had no idea her mother remained trapped between worlds, looking for her. Guided by the magical town’s eccentric mayor, Felice vows to help her mother make peace with the events that turned her into the most famous monstruo of US–Mexico border lore. Along the way, she meets the children of other monstruos, like La Lechuza and the Dancing Devil, and together they free Tres Leches from magical and metaphorical curses that have haunted its people for generations.
Diana López’s electric return to middle grade—the first in a series—brims with magic, adventure, and Mexican folklore, and is perfect for fans of Ghost Squad by Claribel Ortega and the Jumbies series by Tracey Baptiste.
Review:
Twelve-year-old Felice grew up with her Uncle Clem in Corpus Christi after her mother and brothers drowned in a river in their hometown of Tres Leches. When her uncle’s friend comes to tell them that Felice’s mother is haunting the river as La Llorona, Felice runs away to go meet her mom. However, Felice has a strong fear of water, so she can’t even approach the river. She meets two children who also have parents known as Los Monstruos. With her new friends, Felice must figure out how to save Tres Leches from La Llorona.
This was a fun middle grade story. I enjoyed the representation of Mexican culture. The descriptions of the food made me so hungry! I also liked the representation of phobia and anxiety. Since Felice knew the river killed her mother and brothers, she had a phobia of water. She couldn’t even stand being near rain without having a panic attack. She had to figure out how to manage and conquer her fear, rather than letting it control her life. This was a positive message for kids.
Felice and the Wailing Woman is a great middle grade book!
Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for providing a copy of this book!
Content warnings: death of parents, death of siblings, parental abandonment, drowning
Have you read Los Monstruos: Felice and the Wailing Woman? What did you think of it?
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