THE WAY TO RIO LUNA

A boy’s magical adventure to find his lost sister.

Danny Monteverde believes in wishes, fairy dust, and fairy tales, but Danny and his sister’s story hasn’t had its happy ending yet. He and Pili have been bounced among foster homes and orphanages for a long time. Unfortunately, the siblings are separated after Danny turns 9, and soon, his sister disappears. The next two years are torturous for Danny, as the siblings’ favorite book and most valuable possession, The Way to Rio Luna, is taken away by Danny’s foster parents after he digs in their backyard trying to find a secret portal to Pili. However, Danny’s luck seems about to change when he discovers the original The Way to Rio Luna with the help of magic arrows on a field trip to the New York Public Library. With newfound friend Glory Papillon and a cast of magical creatures, Danny soon finds out that the magic within him is the key to reuniting with his sister and helping those he encounters on the way. In creating her diverse cast, Córdova opts for physical descriptions, often in the form of simile—“Danny’s hair [is] thick and wavy like ropes of black licorice”; his social worker has skin “like fresh coffee with steamed milk”—rather than specific cultural markers (Glory is also a kid of color). Funny and exciting, Córdova’s story primes readers for a light, amusing series to come.

An entertaining series opener.