Paola Santiago and the River of Tears is the story of a scientifically minded 12 year old girl named Paola. Paola has two best friends that she likes to hang out with. When one of her friends go missing she goes on a journey to save her. While on this journey she has to face the fact that science isn't the only important thing in life.
This book is very well written and will put you in the mind of a young Latinx girl who struggles with her cultural identity. Great job Tehlor!

I wanted to like this book so much more than I actually did. And I've had a difficult time pinpointing exactly what it was that kept me from sinking into the story. In the end, I think it's a combination of not enough time developing characters, resulting in somewhat flat cliches that I don't care about as much as I should if I'm going to be willing to follow them through some story choices that feel disjointed and lacking. At times I felt like I was being swept along by the river but not in a satisfyingly adventurous way; more like the confusing, hard-to-get-your-bearings or put your feet under you in a solid connection kind of way.
Because of the beautifully diverse context of the River of Tears, I'm hopeful that Mejia's future novels will benefit from time and feedback to provide a truly immersive and satisfying experience for the reader!

This book is another wonderful addition to the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. Paola Santiago is a scientist-in-training, skeptical of her mother’s superstitious stories of La Llorona and other ghosts that haunt the Gila River. When her best friend Emma disappears and Paola has strange dreams of a spirit taking her, she and her other best friend Dante set out to find their friend. Before long, Paola is lured into the netherworld of lost kids (presumed drowned) fighting the creatures from the Rift, a portal to the Underworld. Paola has to set aside her skepticism and call upon all her inner strength to go into the Underworld to save her friends. The story has it all.. adventure, spooky ghosts, an adorable demon puppy, a thrilling finale, and an amazing, heart-felt friendship story.

Great beginning with likeable characters and strong friend dynamics. Love the inclusion of the La Llorona legend. Another stellar addition to the Rick Riordan Presents imprint.

I guess I should start out by saying that I have always been a pretty big fan of mythology of all kinds, so my opinion on this one might be a bit biased, but I loved this one. It's a fun new take on the legend of La Llorona, a legend which has always intrigued me. Super fun middle-grade read that I wish I could experience for the first time again. I hear that it's a series, and I really look forward to getting to read the next one.

Any book from Rick Riordan Presents probably needs no introduction or book-talking to make it appealing to readers. Here are my thoughts anyway. Paola's story deals with Mexican and Southwestern folklore such as chupacabras and the legend of La Llorona (the Crying Woman). But it also deals with racial prejudice, differences between economic classes, immigration services, and the difficulty of growing up.

Paola relies on science because she dislikes and distrusts her mother's Tarot cards, incense, candles, and other "superstitious garbage that didn't work." Focusing on hard facts and researching scientific phenomena help Pao to feel in control and as if she is standing on her own, separate from her mother's beliefs. But when her friend Emma disappears and Pao's off dreams seem to give her clues to what happened, she might have to be more open-minded about spiritual things.

With some help from her friend Dante (despite their recently weird boy/girl awareness messing up their comfrotable friendship), Pao decides she will have to rescue Emma. After all, the police are notorious for not taking Latinx kids seriously, so they are on their own. Well, except there may be other forces trying to put an end to the creepy happenings along the Gila River. Can Pao and Dante trust these strangers with their friend's safety?

The story perfectly captures the way teens (and even preteens) try to distance themselves from their parents by embracing different values. With Pao it is science versus spiritualism, but it can take many forms. It also shows the awkwardness that can slip into boy-girl friendships as the friends realize they may also have romantic feelings. And there is the pain and resentment of friends that are growing up and beginning to find interests and new friends outside that tight bond that has always been there.

Mejia has perfectly captured that rocky area of middle school when kids are stuck between the childhood years and the teen years, still trying to hang onto what is comfortable but also wanting to strike out on their own. Trying to deal with all of that would be hard enough, but then there are the recent kidnappings in the area, Emma's disappearance, La Llorona and the other supernatural creatures, money problems, ICE raids on their neighbors, and it seems too much even for someone of Pao's determination.

Those who are new to the imprint will want to try out the other authors in Rick Riordan Presents. Those who are already fans will welcome this new addition and eagerly await the next book in the series.

Tehlor Kay’s writing didn’t seem very conducive to middle graders. There were so many words and ideas that I think would go over a middle grader’s head (she used the word “magnanimous” in the beginning of the book, which is one I barely use as a grown woman). And the times when the author was clearly trying to write to that age group felt a bit forced and corny. For example, the way she was describing Paola’s budding crush feelings was really stiff… it seemed like she didn’t quite know how to describe the butterflies for a 12-year-old, and so she just called those feelings silly or annoying.

I was confused about the mythology itself. I still don’t quite understand how all of the kids at camp got to be there, and how Paola and Dante went from their world to the mythological one in a cactus field, and so many other things. I’m hoping that this world and underworld will make more sense in forthcoming books in the series. Because at this point I’m just confused. To me, the wrong parts were overexplained, and other aspects I had questions on were not explained enough.

Paola was an excellent main character. An incredibly science-driven and mature girl who isn’t about nonsense and knows what the dangers and prejudices she will have to face because she is Latina.

I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series, and to see where the author takes Paola next. Paola and her story have a lot of potential.

This book deeply hit home to me.
I loved that I was able to discuss this book with my mother because we have a HUGE Mexican american family. I loved the out of this world yet so close to home adventure that Pao goes on with her best friend Dante to find and save their friend Emma ( my name is Emily by the way and I go by Emma....was a very scary story for me)

My mother knew of the stories of La Llorona and the Gila River. As a lite girl she was told of the Cuco.
Knowing all this made the story more relatable and enjoyable. The funny little add ins of how kids get hit with chanclas...I LOVED IT!
I'm so excited and can't wait for the next book and hope to get a chance to review it.

4/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Rick Riordan Presents for sending me a free early copy to review!
I love the intros Rick Riordan writes for the books under his imprint, they're so wholesome and lovely and they just get me so excited to read the book.  This one was spooky which I'm not normally a fan of because I'm a scaredy-cat but this one was ok and definitely appropriate for middle grade readers.  There was a little bit of confusion for me throughout the book about what the goal was but as it went on I had a better understanding though it wasn't a clear laid out plan like most quest based books.  I liked the idea of a possible crush between long time friends because I feel like that's a really relatable thing for readers especially in this age group and trying to navigate that is really difficult and I haven't really seen it done like this before.  Overall it was a really fun read with just the right amount of spookiness, especially for the age group.  The ending was really well done, it wrapped things up while also leaving some unanswered questions to build on in the future and I'm excited to see where the sequel goes. I will definitely be picking up future installments and keeping an eye out for other books by the author.  This is a really great book about friendship, and forgiveness and I'm really curious to see the future of the potential crushes between the main characters and how they will navigate that.
TW/CW kidnapping, violence, death, murder, injury/bodily harm

As a fan of the Rick Riordan Presents series, I was a bit disappointed with this book. The author characterized Pao as a scientist, but she didn't really act like one. I also found the treatment of Marissa, the lost girl in the desert, problematic. When she is first mentioned, she is just the lost girl. When she pops up later, suddenly she has a whole back story with Pao. It felt like the author was just throwing things in as convenient rather than crafting a well-plotted story.

That said, the book has a lot of great action sections that I think kids will enjoy.

Anytime I see a book that is coming out from the Rick Riordan Presents, I immediately add it to my TBR. And anytime I see a book from that publisher, along with being an author I’ve already loved and adored, I know that I am going to like it! And though this one had it’s faults, I still really liked it and can’t wait to read the next one!


Paola is all about science. She’s completely different from her mom who embarrasses her with all her superstitions. But when her friend goes missing after another girl has already been gone a year, her and her friend Dante do their best to try to save Emma. Along the way they run into so many things she thought were made up…..


Ok so I liked this because I like Mejia’s writing. I loved her world-building and writing style. But for some reason I wasn’t as into it as with her other books? Maybe because this was a MG? Whatever it is I just didn’t fall for it like her others.


After writing it out there, I’m thinking it was the main character. Paola was just really mean. I’m thinking it’s going to be a reason she’s like that that hasn’t come up yet, but I just couldn’t take her throughout the book. She was mean and rude and I didn’t care for it.


As for the plot, I did think it was kind of slow. She didn’t run in to that many myths or ghosts, so it was basically just her going around being mean to every one? But the myths and hints of their culture (like the magical chancla? BRILLIANT) are definitely what made the rest of the book for me.


This had it’s flaws, but it was also really good. I can’t wait to read more Paola, as a new and improved character. Rick Riordan’s imprint is definitely a favorite and will ALWAYS be my first pick for all middle grades!

*Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Another Rick Riordan Presents imprint does it again! Paola Santiago puts her faith in science and concrete facts rather than her mom’s tales and superstitions about chupaccabras and La Llorona. She is sucked into it (not by choice) when her friend, Emma, is kidnapped. Will Paola find her light as she is faces the very Mexican folklore and myths that she doesn't believe in?

With so many engaging characters, this was a fun action-packed read. Definitely recommend!

As always, the Rick Riordan Presents imprint does another heritage justice. This is a stunning tale of adventure where characters and setting are as strong as the story.

I don't read middle grade books that often, and the ones I do are usually ones I grew up with. I loved the sound of this book, and I'm so happy that I can honestly say it was a fantastic read! The pacing is just perfect, giving us a gradual buildup and then full steam ahead.

I appreciated the themes of friendship, not appreciating what you have and seeing people in a different light. The ending was a total surprise to me and I really enjoyed it. The book’s nuanced look at the nature of stories (and at the motives of storytellers) is a delight, asking the reader to simultaneously think more critically and be more open-minded about folktales. At first I was wondering how these kids would be able to do what many adults in the story couldn’t do. But Tehlor did an awesome job of bringing it all together. I’m hoping that this author has a sequel up their sleeve because I would love to find out what happens next!

Generally speaking, you know what you're in for with this book. As with any of the "Rick Riordan presents" books, we have a regular kid who is confronted with the reality of myth or folk lore. There's magic, spirits, and an over-arching villain who must be defeated within a specific time frame. This book shines in the details that have been fitted into that framework. It's more than just a different culture. Pao's life experiences are unique. She's facing borderline poverty, racism and classism. The world seems designed to prevent her from advancing. And with her interest in science, she's dismissive of folklore as nonsense. She sees her mother's interests as not only foolish, but potentially damaging. This adds to the conflict on multiple levels. And her interest in science informs her approach to the challenges she faces.

Paola Santiago has never believed in her mom’s tales and superstitions about chupaccabras and La Llorona. Instead, she puts more stock in science and things she can explain. When her friends, Emma gets kidnapped, however, Dante’s grandmother gives them an Arma de Alma and sends them to the River of Tears. When they cross over, the two soon discover that the tales are true. An unseen force is kidnapping children and draining them of their life force. With the help of Los Niños de Luz, the duo will have to face the force head on. Will they be able to save Emma? What force could be worse than La Llorona? Action-packed and full of mystery, this adventure is engaging and easy to read. The Spanish intermixed in the text meshes well into the story, is easy to figure out in context, and doesn’t overwhelm the story. The characters are likable, flawed, and easy to relate to. Fans of Rick Riordan, mythology, fantasy, and adventure will enjoy reading this book. The characters are of Latino descent.

I found this book to such a fun and diverse read. I really loved the mythology and story this book tackled. I think it had some of my fav middle grade elements, like exploring myths, friendship and story connections to modern day. I really liked how this book looked at how mexican children have realtionships with the police. I think the pacing at points was not the strongest and sometimes the pacing laged a bit and did not keep me as eagaged toward the second half of the book. But overall I really grew to the like the characters and the world overall. Will def read book 2 for sure.

Rick Riordan Presents has become my most read Middle Grade books. I love folklore and Tehlor Kay Mejia really delivered with an amazing novel that provides a whole new version of an old legend. I found Paola incredibly likable and I understood, as a daughter myself, how tense a mother/daughter relationship can be. I was delighted to be introduced to a new culture and couldn't not put this book down. The themes of family and friendship were both moving and very real. Overall this was fantastic and I cannot wait for more!

First of all, I was SO. EXCITED. to get this ARC because I’m a huge fan of mythology related stories and learning about different mythologies is the best! I’ve read a few other RRP books so I went into this thinking it would have that same fun nature as the other RRP books did but oh my goodness I was so surprised when it was actually much darker and creepier than I thought (IN THE BEST WAY)!

Paola is a 12 year old scientist that doesn’t believe in the ghost stories and other folklore her mother is obsessed with. So naturally, her whole world is flipped upside down when she gets sucked into this whole adventure!

I loved reading through Paola’s POV. She is so spunky and fun and stubborn. Plus her science facts thrown in there just made this so fun and engaging to read! I really related to her need to rationalize everything and feeling a bit left out with her friends.

On top of that, the whole story was just so addicting. I think I read this in like two sittings because it was so engrossing! It was equal amounts of magical, spooky and fun! I was definitely stressed for Paola and her friends as they fought Chupacabras and other scary monsters!

On top of that, I loved learning about the different mythological creatures and magic involved! The entire quest was so well done and I know I’m definitely repeating myself here but I cannot emphasize enough how surprised I was and how dark it got! I’d never heard the stories about La Llorona before so I was so creeped out by that as well! Kids were told these stories?! *shudders*

I would recommend this to anyone who wants a dark and spooky adventure, likes random scientific facts to try to rationalize magic, magical chanclas?!, a flashlight that may or may not actually work the way it’s intended, and unlikely pets made extremely unlikely places. If you enjoy friends who will do anything for each other, fierce female characters, fighting monsters and twists and turns, you’ll definitely love this adventure!

I am so glad that Rick Riordan has started this line of books that showcase folklore and history from other cultures! I think it is a wonderful way to get children excited about reading and learning about various cultures and not just Greek and Roman deities. This story has a female protagonist who doesn't believe in the Hispanic stories and folklore that her mother has taught her throughout her life. She feels more comfortable studying space and science than tarot cards and candles. I think that the intended, middle grade, audience will love this book. As an adult, I kept losing interest in the story (although that may have more to do with the real world than with the River of Tears). Overall, it was enjoyable, just not my favorite.

I’ve been looking forward to this book pretty much since it was announced, because, one, Rick Riordan Presents as an imprint is hitting it out of the park with these releases and, two, La Llorona was a part of my childhood, and yes to all the Mexican folklore in this.

Paola Santiago and the River of Tears is a harrowing adventure into a dark world full of myth and superstition, where a young girl learns to find her light.

This was a fun adventure that took a little while to get started, but once I was in, I was in. That much was as expected. What I didn’t expect was how much heart this story had. Oof, it got me directly in the feels several times, and the last 25% especially were such an emotional roller coaster. I can’t wait for the second book now, based on some secrets this book teases!

My Thoughts:

- Paola Santiago is a girl who believes firmly in science and logic … and who is about to have everything she thought she knew tested. First, I thought it was so refreshing for a female protagonist to so unabashedly love science. Paola’s arc was so wonderfully partly because she doesn’t just believe in science, but she believes in it to the detriment of everything that doesn’t cleanly and logically fit into her world view. You know, like her mother’s superstitions and folklore, which annoy her to no end, because she thinks her mother is holding her back by falling into some Mexican stereotype. One that Paola doesn’t want to be a part of. The real beauty of Paola’s arc is that she not only grows a little more mature by the end, but she accepts that she’s not always going to have such maturity, because she’s 12, and it’s okay to be 12. Honestly, this was such a fresh, wonderful take on it, and I loved it. What Paola really showcases is that you can learn from these and turn it around later, even if you’re not always perfect in the moment.

- This book is chock full of Mexican culture, from some Spanish phrases to la chancla (it’s not quite what you think, I promise), and monsters right out of Mexican folklore. I know some Mexican folklore, but not nearly as much as I thought, apparently? Because I was surprised by additions more often than I should have been, so I refuse to tell you anything about the folklore itself so you can discover it as you go, too. In case you couldn’t tell from the La Llorona mention, some of this folklore can get downright dark and creepy. I mean, you’ve got a woman who drowned her children and is now lamenting it in death as the figurehead of this book. Not exactly screaming roses and sunshine here. The book itself was definitely uplifting and had a positive message, but I’d be remiss in not saying that it delves into some pretty ugly things. The way some of these creatures are described, too! It’s just *chef’s kiss*.

- It takes a little while for this book to really get going, but once it does, it’s a wild ride full of adventure and feels! I feel like we’ve come to expect adventure from a Rick Riordan Presents book at this point, but there’s nothing better than the feels naturally blindsiding you in the middle of a life-threatening romp for the sake of humanity, am I right? Little Paola is dealing with a lot of big emotions, from racism to a father who abandoned her and her mother, to racism, to her first major crush. It’s a lot for anyone. It’s not even only Paola’s feelings in this, because the antagonist has some pretty big feelings, too, which was really nice to see. Scary, murdery, and mostly bad for humanity feelings, but big feelings, nonetheless.

- I loved the strong friends vibe in this book, and how Paola is grappling with it maybe becoming something more. Paola struggles with a lot of age-appropriate things, like how to handle a first crush, if the feeling is mutual, and even jealousy. It’s hard when friendship dynamics change, no matter what the reason is. I liked the fact that the budding maybe-romance was present and treated realistically but didn’t dominate the book. Paola’s experience was so sweet and so entirely pre-teen that I couldn’t help but love it. Also, the banter between these two? On. Point. Twelve year old’s got some snark. Who would’ve guessed?

- The major themes in this book are forgiveness and understanding, and it made for such a beautiful read. I’m not even sure I can impress upon you just how much I absolutely LOVED this aspect of the book. I may have teared up a little bit. Just a little. I probably had something in my eye is all. *sniff* I actually don’t want to say too much about this theme, because it was so well done that you really just need to discover it. Needless to say, there’s a lot of forgiveness to go around. My favorite thing (probably because I’m biased) has to be the dynamic between Paola and her mother, which is where the understanding comes in. Because while Paola’s mother always believed in the folklore, Paola turned her nose up at it, and it was a real point of contention between them.