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A review by lilifane
The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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? No
4.0
I really liked this, but it was definitely more action packed and heavy than I had expected from a middle grade book.
This is a story about Petra, a 12-year-old girl who has to leave earth with her family when a comet is on the trajectory to hit and destroy the planet. Only a small percentage of earth's population can be rescued on one of the 3 generational ships that will be travelling for over 300 years to their destination, a new livable planet. Petra's parents are scientists that will help build a new home for humanity. Petra's family as well as the other scientists and their families on the ship will spend the voyage in a long sleep and wake up with all the knowledge to rebuild society. But when Petra wakes up, nothing is as it was supposed to be.
I love the fact that there is a sci-fi middle grade story centered around a female Latinx protagonist with a disability. I also like the themes discussed in the book like the strength in diversity, the importance of one's past, of storytelling (be it oral or in books). The difference between equality and sameness. But also topics like grief, finding one's place and value in the world.
I just have to say parts of the plot were quite disturbing, and I don't know how I would have felt reading these scenes as a kid. A lot of death and destruction and life-threatening situations. And it was tense! I was very stressed throughout the whole second half of the book.
This is a story about Petra, a 12-year-old girl who has to leave earth with her family when a comet is on the trajectory to hit and destroy the planet. Only a small percentage of earth's population can be rescued on one of the 3 generational ships that will be travelling for over 300 years to their destination, a new livable planet. Petra's parents are scientists that will help build a new home for humanity. Petra's family as well as the other scientists and their families on the ship will spend the voyage in a long sleep and wake up with all the knowledge to rebuild society. But when Petra wakes up, nothing is as it was supposed to be.
I love the fact that there is a sci-fi middle grade story centered around a female Latinx protagonist with a disability. I also like the themes discussed in the book like the strength in diversity, the importance of one's past, of storytelling (be it oral or in books). The difference between equality and sameness. But also topics like grief, finding one's place and value in the world.
I just have to say parts of the plot were quite disturbing, and I don't know how I would have felt reading these scenes as a kid. A lot of death and destruction and life-threatening situations. And it was tense! I was very stressed throughout the whole second half of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Ableism, Genocide, and Murder