A review by onthesamepage
The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

What an impressive, deftly-woven story. There's so much to love here. Petra is a fantastic main character. I loved the balance between the storytelling parts, and the parts that had to do with her dealing with a world that is very different from what she was expecting. The focus on identity and family (found and otherwise) was so beautiful. I also really enjoyed the exploration of a new planet, and the way Petra engages with finding new species. 

There are a couple of moments that are heartbreaking—this is not an easy read because Petra is in a very tense situation, and that anxiety really bleeds through. The way the Collective mirrors white supremacy is eerie as well, and I can only hope that children/young teens who read this book take the lesson that the ends don't justify the means to heart, and that extremism is never the answer.
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