Review Detail

Sixteen-year-old Manuela, 'Manu' is in hiding from her father's Argentinian crime family. She also runs the risk of being deported back to Argentina which would mean certain death. When her mother is detained by ICE, she flees and finds a secret world that she thought only lived in her vivid dreams. A world that comes to life at the full moon. Not only does she find that this world is indeed real, but a truth about herself. A truth that if it leaks out might mean her own death.

What worked: Where do I start? I LOVED this Latinx world something fierce. It's filled with brujas, werewolves, and romance. Garber's world is so vivid with lush descriptions infused with Latinx magic. Add to that it shows how it is to feel 'different' in our current political climate.

Manu lives in two worlds. One that is human and the other one she stumbles on while fleeing after her mother is detained by ICE. The writing here is magical and kind of like a Latinx Harry Potter meets Legacies. Only in this story there are assigned roles-girls are witches in training and boys are werewolves. These lines haven't been breached until Manu's appearance. She's unique-a hybrid. Someone that is dangerous to those in authority. If her real identity is discovered, she will be executed.

I love how Manu shows how not everyone is open to her differences and how her friends do rally around her. There are scenes where sexism is shown and how some are willing to buck the system.

I also love how Spanish isn't in italics. Spanish is throughout, but Manu's shows her bilingual skills and readers won't be confused.

The bubbling romance is show slowly and how Manu fights against it. Tiago at first is the guy whose willing to help out and be a friend.

Captivating Latinx paranormal fantasy with lush, vivid descriptions and characters you cheer on. Also a book that shows what it's like to be considered 'other' in current US climate. Can't wait to read Manu's next adventures in this enchanting magical story.