This week I traveled from Mesopotamia to Latin America and their different mythologies. It was great. I enjoyed Cece and am so happy that she found her voice and strength despite her family and community. Her friendship with the criaturas shows the importance of acceptance.

What do I not love about this title? I can’t think of anything. This was a much needed and thoroughly enjoyable distraction. This is one of those books that pulls you into its world and has you entranced. The descriptions are vivid and has scenes playing out in my mind. The characters are flawed but also complex, relatable, and empathetic. The story weaves in cultural stories beautifully and has me researching brujas to learn more. I will definitely be purchasing and booktalking this one.

Life in the desert town of Tierra del Sol is marred by the season the the criatura, when spirit creatures come to threaten the humans of the town. But Cece has a different view of the criatura after one helped her find her way home when she was younger.
Marked by the town as an outsider because of her interaction with a criatura, Cece has grown up thinking of herself as weak and all too different
But when her sister is kidnapped by a dark and powerful criatura, CeCe knows she’s the only one to save her beloved sibling.
What follows is a fast paced adventure as Cece gathers unexpected allies to defeat both the shadow enemies and her own self doubts.
With rich world building woven through with Mexican mythology, this book is a wonderful and exciting read.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2992568597?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1

CECE RIOS AND THE DESERT OF SOULS is an action/adventure story with a soul. I loved the messages in Cece's story: the importance of finding your own strength, of unexpected friendships, of kindness, of family. I loved the girl power! And the beautiful legends that are central to the story made me want to learn more about Mexican folklore. I wish I could quote from this uncorrected proof, because the prose often reads like poetry. Highly recommend for middle grade readers who like action stories with heart.

Thank you so much to Kaela Rivera and to Harper Collins Children's for the eARC of this book.

This book is especially entertaining for those who like to read fiction incorporating folklore and mythology, written by somebody with a family background tied to the mythological region it is based in. This feels aimed toward the market of teens, and upper elementary school kids who like Rick Riordan Presents books. I will buy this book for my library and will recommend it to anybody looking for books like Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, and other similar works.