From mentioning the caging of migrant children, to the story of Sal, a neighbor of Paola’s, whose parents were arrested by Immigration, the terror of La Llorona is nothing compared to what she sees every day with non-mythical people. The bigotry and racism that Paola experiences because of how she looks is shocking, but a true reflection of what many Latino people experience. The scariest part of the book is Paola’s interactions with the police when they report Emma missing. While the book has multiple mythical elements that highlight Mexican and Mexican-American folklore author Tehlor Kay Mejia has seeded the book with modern day real life elements of horror that is far scarier than La Llorona. Paola is a compelling and likable character that readers will quickly plant roots with on the first page, and then connect with her as she learns the truth about what happened to Emma and other missing children in the desert.
I have read all previous Rick Riordan Presents novels, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but when I started Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, I didn’t know what to expect. When Emma disappears and the police turn up no leads, it’s up to Paola, Dante, and some magical items from Dante’s abuela to find her and save the world. These three friends do not let family dysfunction or wealth keep them from being kids. Dante lives with his abuela at the same apartment complex as Paola, while Emma comes from a more upper-class family from a different side of town. She spends her days with her best friends Emma and Dante stargazing and snacking on junk food. Set in Silver Springs, Arizona, Paolo lives on the edge of town at a rundown apartment complex.
In the latest edition to the Rick Riordan Presents Banner, we are introduced to our title character Paola Santiago who is on the cusp of 7th grade, obsessed with space, and making sense of the mythical tales and superstitions that her mother has embarrassed her with since she was a child.
Readers will be excited and a little bit scared as they dive into the world of La Llorona and Mexican folklore with Tehlor Kay Mejia’s Paola Santiago and the River of Tears.
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