I loved this book so much! Pao is a really interesting character and the struggles she's going through are relatable - she's feeling distant from her best friends, she feels like she and her mom are different, on top of the worries she deals with because of financial circumstances. I loved how science was her refuge, and the way her point of view on it shifted over time was really interesting. I also loved watching the moments where she broke and did something she knew was wrong, because that felt incredibly realistic. Dante was an alright character - I wish we could have seen more of him outside of him needing to be a hero, but he was definitely more developed as a character than Emma (which is fair, considering that we didn't see much of her). Overall, the characters were very fun, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

I really liked the mythology and adventures presented in this book. Paola was a flawed yet likable protagonist who was easy to root for, especially as a major skeptic of the supernatural suddenly thrust into a realm of ghosts and monsters. It took a very long time for any action, and I think that is something that will be hard for a lot of the target audience (middle grade) to find enjoyable.

I loved getting to explore a new magical system through Meija's addition to the Rick Riordan imprint! The characters were well-drawn and the plot page-turning; young readers looking for new fantasy to read will eat this one up.

This wasn't my favorite. I had a really hard time connecting with Pao. I was more interested in Dante and the kids in the camp. I wanted to like it because I have always enjoyed hearing about La Llarona. It's a great ghost story/legend and this story just fell flat.

I loved this thrilling, spooky adventure built on Mexican folklore! With themes of friendship, loyalty, compassion, and courage, as well as characters that are well-developed, fantasy readers will love this exciting and suspenseful story!

I love having the Rick Riordan Presents books in the library. My son was a big fan of all of RR books, and I love having a variety of options and more mythologies for him, and students like him to read.

This review is for two of the books in the series so will be reusing it for each one.
Another series that takes readers on fascinating adventures and a wonderful merging of folklore, mythology, and the modern world!! What I loved about them (and the next in the series as well):

oh-so relatable characters (flaws and all)
fast-paced and full of page-turners that will keep you reading
that merging of folklore, mythology, and the modern world (did I already mention something like that? Sorry!)
science vs superstition or how they can co-exist:)
La Llorona, chupacabras, visionary dreams that are too real for comfort, and more
spookiness all around yet comforting too
and so much more to enjoy
Pick up this series now…

thanks to netgalley for the digital review copies of the books

No book should take me this long to read, but 2 digital ARCs, 1 physical ARC and an eAudio version later I have finally finished reading. Nothing about this is bad by any means, but it is simply not the book for me.

For Libraries: Your Percy Jackson and Tristan Strong fans will find a lot to enjoy with this new heroine.

Science-loving Paola doesn’t believe her mother’s tales of monsters until she finds herself thrust into a magical world in search of her missing friend.

Review: Fast-paced, spunky, spooky, Latinx folklore

I have elected not to read and review this book due to time constraints. Thank you for the opportunity.

The Rick Riordan Presents imprint is quickly becoming one of my auto-buys, and PAOLA SANTIAGO AND THE RIVER OF TEARS only solidifies its perfection!

Whimsical, atmospheric, and steeped in such rich cultural mythology, Mejia weaves a stunning web with her prose, creating settings that are lush and characters who simply leap off the page.

PAOLA SANTIAGO AND THE RIVER OF TEARS is the next great mythological tale -- whether you were a Riordan fan in the past or are simply looking for a new, exciting story to get lost in, make sure to check it out!

I enjoyed this middle-grade take on the Latinx community's culture and heritage. Paola was the perspective of a wonderful character to read from. She could be a little much at some points but that leans to be written to fit her age and the priorities in those stages of life. Her friendship with Emma and Dante was wonderful to read from as well as the people she meets along the way.
Paola Santiago and the River of Tears surrounds a girl who has grown up in a Latino community with a mother that relies heavily on the old culture and ghost stories told from generation to generation. Paola a young girl with the mindset of her generation pays no head to her mother's stories until it's too late.
The book was an enjoyable read that went by rather quickly and was entertaining all the way through. I look forward to continuing with the series as well as other books under the Rick Riordan Presents umbrella.

I truly enjoyed my time listening to the audiobook, and I’m excited to dive into the sequel at the start of the new year. PAOLA SANTIAGO AND THE RIVER OF TEARS is a Mexican folklore-inspired fantasy novel that features a swift moving plot and a strong undercurrent of friendship. This novel highlights that love within friendships is just as strong and important as love within family, and it’s this theme that drives Paola throughout the majority of the novel.

Paola learns how to give herself some grace and that’s it’s okay to not have all the answers right away. This is an especially important message for the target audience, and I loved Paola’s journey of self-acceptance, how she learns to accept her edges along with her “palatable” traits. There’s themes of forgiveness of the self, as well as acceptance and understanding of parents even when you might not agree with them. This novel also talks heavily about everyone’s inner dualities and complexities.

I'll never say no to a Riordan Presents book crossing my desk, and this is exactly what I was hoping it would be. An adventure with an amazing payoff and a great protagonist, this one had me on the edge of my seat from moment one. I loved Paola and her friends, and even though there was such a great ending, I'm even happier to hear that there's going to be more adventures with them.

Paola is a protagonist so grounded in reality, and I love it. Her friends are her power, and that's always one of the best tropes for me. Dante is an awesome contrast, there's something that works about their friendship in a way that keeps the adventure light. Having the protagonist be the chronic overthinker, the one who wants to keep her friends safe no matter what, while also having to deal with the one with the hero complex is such a change from a lot of kids media, and I'm so here for it. Naomi and Marisa provide such a good contrast, being the experienced ones who think they know what's going on, the characters are definitely this book's strong suit.

Not to say the plot falters because of it, I had so much fun and there were tense moments that had me hooked the entire way through. This is one I'm so happy to have gotten to read, and we need more.

Tehlor Kay Mejia is becoming one of my favorite authors, so when I saw she was writing a middle grade fantasy, I couldn't wait. I have yet to be disappointed in a Rick Riordan Presents title and this book was no different. Paola (Pao) and her two best friends, Dante and Emma are forbidden to go near the Gila River due to the danger. While they often go near the river, they stay far from the water - people have disappeared, never to be found when they get too close to the river. When Emma disappears, the grown up dismiss what Pao saw by the river, so she decides to find Emma on her own. Reluctantly, Dante joins her and they discover that Pao's mother's mystical beliefs aren't so strange after all. This book is full of adventure and friendship - Pao is a strong lead and her friends/friendships are well rounded - as a reader I wanted to find out what happened to Emma, but also ached for Pao as she adjusts to the change in her friendship dynamic with Dante. I look forward to the future books in this series.

Poala Santiago and the River of Tears is an exciting and adventurous retelling of the Latin American legend of La llorona, a ghost who haunts waterfronts mourning her children, whom she drowned. Poala is a heroine full of flaws and emotions that young adults will be able to relate to, and the underlying theme of loyalty and friendship make this a welcome addition to the growing genre of legend retellings.

The perfect fantasy story surrounds La Llorona, a scare-your-pants-off creature that turns out to be--gulp!--real and part of Paola's very real hero's journey. More fantastic fare from Rick Riordan Presents.

**CONTAINS SPOILERS** Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

WOW! I absolutely loved this, especially as someone who grew up hearing the legend of La Llorona. Even with it being meant for out of my age range, it was genuinely still enjoyable and kept me guessing about the Nino's and Ondina. Pao and Dante were adorable, and I loved the relationships and the world building in general with everyone.

I only gave it 4 stars because I do wish that there had been a bit more resolve with Pao and her mother, and Pao and Nino's towards the end. I know with everything with Ondina and the ending they meant more so for that to be a resolution between Pao and her mother but I wish there had been more. There was one specific thing involving Dante's grandmother that felt out of nowhere, but genuinely has made me want to continue with the next book!

Overall, this was really enjoyable and I cannot wait until I get my hands on the next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Rick Riordan presents / Disney for an early sneak peak at this middle grade novel!

Having been raised in a Mexican household, I am absolutely no stranger to La Llarona. I was excited to see how a middle grade story would handle that. Aside from that, I've also read *almost* everything that Rick Riordan Presents has put out save for about 2 or 3 titles because it's a cause I am 100% committed to. Lifting up marginalized voices is so important to me, so I will always pick up a RRP book to see if I can use it in my classroom or at the very least buy a copy for the class library.

With Paola Santiago I was a little let down, but I can't say for sure what it was for me. I appreciated the Spanish banter that took place between characters, mostly because I grew up hearing the same thing from my grandparents, so it was comforting to see in a middle grade novel too. Overall, I think I will still buy a copy for my class library but I likely won't continue with this particular series myself. If you enjoy a mildly spooky middle grade, this one is for you!

I found this entry in the Rick Riordan Presents imprint hard to get into, but I think it ended strong and I'm excited to read the next series entry.