FALL OF THE FIREFLIES

After a supernatural attack leaves their father near death, two sisters pursue the culprit in this trilogy opener set in the world of 2012’s Summer of the Mariposas.

Fifteen-year-old twins Delia and Velia Gonzales-Garza used to be “so synchronized, [they] finished each other’s sentences,” but Delia has watched Velia change. Now they disagree on everything, including whether they should participate in their father’s Tejano band tour. But their differences take a backseat when a monster steals Papá’s tonalli, or “first soul,” the seat of one’s identity. As the Mexican American girls investigate with their friends Mochi Salazar and Hernan Molina, they’re drawn deeper into Aztec magic and myth, each guided by the god she mirrors: Velia by Quetzalcoatl, “the one with the voice,” and Delia by “fiery and passionate” Xolotl. Their mission to save their father leads them to the death goddess Mictecacihuatl, who presents the girls with an offer to become creature-hunting warrior women. This story inspired by Sophocles’ Antigone seamlessly blends coming-of-age themes with folklore. McCall respectfully integrates well-researched Nahuatl vocabulary and Aztec mythology as she explores sisterhood, cultural identity, and blended family dynamics. The supporting characters enrich the story through their realistic and relatable interactions. Readers will appreciate the nuance and emotional depth of the relationships, especially the one between Delia and Velia.

A rich, mythic story about selfhood and soul-deep family ties.