Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book.

I love books with splashes of magic in them, so I was drawn to this story - and the cover is so beautiful and intriguing! Yolanda is still dealing with her own grief, which has caused her to withdraw from her best friend Ghita and her twin sister Sonja, who now seem to only be interested in each other now. Yolanda retreats into her scientific studies until Wela falls mysteriously ill. With the threat of being sent to a foster home looming, Yolanda decides to follow Wela's wishes to take her to the pecan tree on the family land, which means she - and Sonja, Ghita, and Ghita's brother Hasik, must trek through the tall, tall grass that has suddenly appeared behind their home. The journey is one of healing in many ways, especially as they learn more about the family's past and their own magical abilities.
I loved the relationships between characters, the stories of the past that unravel a family mystery, and the changes Yolanda experiences. I highly recommend for readers who love mysteries, multigenerational stories, and unique forms of magic.

I love that this magical realism story had a happy ending! Such a good tale of sisterhood, queer rep, and brujeria — I need more MG brujeria in my life!

Into the Tall, Tall Grass is a beautiful coming-of-age story about a young girl trying to understand her family's magical gifts and generally feeling like she doesn't fit in anywhere. Even without similar life experiences, it is easy to relate to Yolanda as she grows and changes throughout the course of the book. The story is clever, touching, and the elements of magic realism really make for a compelling intergenerational tale. Some things aren't quite what they seem to Yolanda and other truths are clear but hard for her to face in light of her own feelings and prejudices. I had a hard time putting this down and definitely wish it had continued for a few more chapters!

I really enjoyed this book. I was excited to see a children's fiction title with magic realism. The characters are wonderfully diverse. I can't wait to recommend it to readers who enjoy sibling stories and and a book they can get lost in.

How can twin sisters look completely different and also have very little in common? Into the Tall, Tall Grass tells the story of the journey Yolanda and her twin sister, Sonja, take with their grandmother, Wela. Their friends, Ghita and Hansik, also join them on this voyage through the tall, tall grass. They are on a special mission to help their grandmother make it to an old pecan tree. This book is full of magic, grief, and family. I love how this book ties in different cultures. The beginning was a little slow, but the story picked up once I was able to start putting the pieces together. This is a great read for middle grade students, especially those dealing with loss or grief.

I am not usually one for fiction that includes magical realism but this middle grade novel was amazing. It had other elements that I do enjoy; friendship, romance, sadness, and a satisfying ending. It's about two sisters who come from a long line of family with special abilities. Yolanda hasn't received hers yet. Along with this, the death of her Welo, and her father being gone, she has put up a wall between her twin sister Sonja and her best friend Ghita. In order to save her Wela, Yolanda must venture across their land to the last pecan tree. Along with her sister and friends (Hasik, Ghita's brother), Yolanda is determined to save her family. This book was well-written, full of heart, and was hard to put down. I was rooting for Yolanda the entire time.

Into the Tall, Tall Grass is a story that builds. I felt the beginning was slow, and I had to force myself to focus. However, once the journey to the pecan tree started, all the building made sense, and I was hooked. The complexities of all the characters are real and genuine. You see the friction at the beginning of the story and how all their experiences have tied together. The flow of the grandmother's story is what really tied everything together. The tragedy was raw, and I loved it. This story was one that I almost stopped reading, but I am so glad that I kept going. I would have missed out on one wonderful adventure.

This book is so visually stimulating you feel as if you are on the journey with the characters. A story of mystery, with a touch of science, there is a wonderful use of the Spanish language throughout the book (definitions are worked in throughout the text). A beautiful story of the passage of life and family secrets unfold, Relationships between friends are mended. Relationships are built and grow on the journey to the place that will "set everything right". Restoration is the theme that resounded. The story is as beautiful as the cover of the book!