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mattyb's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Trafficking, Physical abuse, Blood, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Vomit and Injury/Injury detail
caitcosentino's review
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
- Shocked that this is the premise of a children's book
- So so sad
- I liked the parts pre-Las Pozas & I liked the parts with Life & Death, but I really didn't enjoy the Las Pozas parts.
- It's possible that magical realism just isn't for me.
- Really neat learning about the Mexican cultural aspects
- I didn't realize how much of this was going to be about free will vs. predetermination
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child death, Torture, and Death
pika_chuu's review
3.75
Maybe because my family is from Oaxaca that I felt it should have had more elements of oaxaca in it… but overall I liked the story. Was a little slow at parts but I loved it. Is a read that explains a lot of Spanish words. Which makes sense for audience that doesn’t speak Spanish or doesn’t know much about Mexican culture and objects. But for me I found myself skipping those parts. Prefer books with a glossary vs explains in the story. So,etimes feels like it disrupts the flow of the story. A great plot and characters in it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Kidnapping, Death, and Child death
amandalorianxo's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This would be perfect for both middle school students and possibly freshmen in high school (mostly due to the higher-level vocabulary that is present throughout the novel.) I love the take on so many different ideas and concepts that make you think. The short chapters make the story manageable to break up in chunks. For kids that are looking for Mexican representation while adding illustrations that continue to lure you in, this book hits the mark. I did realize about a quarter ish of the way in that this was a little more emotional than I anticipated but if the kids are told ahead of time and are emotionally equipped, the content is not as intense as they might assume. Family, choices, fate, love, and some philosophical ideas are told in a way that is easy to understand. You root for Clara and Esteban throughout the entire story & while the end was bittersweet, you are swept up from beginning to end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death of parent
scarlettrogue's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
nicoleceballos's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Death
themoonphoenix's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Many years ago in a small village in Oaxaca, Mexico, lived Clara, a girl who will soon have a dangerous adventure. She comes from a loving and talented family, all the members of the family have some gift that seems magical, all except Clara.
One day, after a tragic incident, her life becomes intertwined in a game. Life and Death play Loteria and argue about destiny and free will. Clara will travel to Asrean to rescue her cousin, and Life and Death will follow her journey.
Love the journey, an interesting, beautiful place, but also dangerous, I liked that it was inspired by real places, part of the Mexican folklore. Feels a little like a fairy tale, to save her cousin, Clara will have to pass difficult tests and pay high prices. It is a story about family love, courage, and bravery.
Also, the illustrations were gorgeous.
It did not seem like a very dark story to me until the last pages, where I felt more rushed and did not see it coming, apart from that, it was a good story, Clara is a good protagonist, easy to love and understand, you just want that she saves her cousin and they both go home.
I love the scenes with her family, what a beautiful family nucleus she has, they are warm and good people.
Loteria is a short, entertaining, magical book that talks about different important and strong topics, but in an easy way.
One day, after a tragic incident, her life becomes intertwined in a game. Life and Death play Loteria and argue about destiny and free will. Clara will travel to Asrean to rescue her cousin, and Life and Death will follow her journey.
Love the journey, an interesting, beautiful place, but also dangerous, I liked that it was inspired by real places, part of the Mexican folklore. Feels a little like a fairy tale, to save her cousin, Clara will have to pass difficult tests and pay high prices. It is a story about family love, courage, and bravery.
Also, the illustrations were gorgeous.
It did not seem like a very dark story to me until the last pages, where I felt more rushed and did not see it coming, apart from that, it was a good story, Clara is a good protagonist, easy to love and understand, you just want that she saves her cousin and they both go home.
I love the scenes with her family, what a beautiful family nucleus she has, they are warm and good people.
Loteria is a short, entertaining, magical book that talks about different important and strong topics, but in an easy way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
piquant's review
dark
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Grief, and Kidnapping
alabiblioheck's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
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