LOS MONSTRUOS

In this series opener, 12-year-old Felice discovers her mother is La Llorona and embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

The magical town of Tres Leches, Tejas, is home to La Llorona, a famous spirit from Mexican folklore. Haunting the local river, she cries out for her lost children. When Felice—whose father is absent and who believes her mother is dead—learns the truth, she sets her sights on visiting the river and meeting her mother. However, her overwhelming fear of water is one obstacle. Another is the opposition of her guardian, Uncle Clem. But Felice ultimately travels from her Corpus Christi home to Tres Leches along with its quirky mayor, Reynaldo, Clem’s best friend. There she learns that the town is less sweet than advertised: Despite the abundance of bakeries, the townspeople are unkind, and dangers lurk in even a field of bluebonnet flowers. Felice pairs up with two young outcasts who also have supernatural parents—Ava, the daughter of La Lechuza, and Rooster, the son of a devil—to reunite with her mother and save the town from its magical curses. Explorations of bullying, grief, loss, and fear permeate the landscape and are naturally woven into the story. The characterizations of the secondary characters are well developed. This intriguing adventure centering Mexican American characters gives a maligned monstruo a backstory that reframes her story sympathetically. It will leave readers anticipating the sequel.

A fresh, feminist take on Mexican folktales, rooted in family, belonging, and acceptance.