Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this free advanced copy. The plot of Loteria seemed so interesting and I overall enjoyed it. The writing was fantastic. Also, the illustrations are BEAUTIFUL. I think the author did a good job of distilling philosophical concepts down for the middle grade level. However, the ending was a little dark for me, even as an adult.

Loteria is a fascinating, imaginative book for middle grade readers. The descriptions of place and food are immersive and wonderful. I also really liked the illustrations sprinkled into the text. It encourages children to consider their choices and solve riddles. I loved the fantasy and folklore contained in this magical, well-crafted book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

This book reminded me of Book of Life, more than Coco, with the characters of Life and Death playing a game that influences the other characters in this middle grade novel. I loved the setting — Oaxaca is beautiful, and it brings the magic and mythology of the city to life. Not sure how I felt about the ending, but I like a little darkness! Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy, all opinions are my own

This was a fun middle grade book with such a lush and vibrant setting. I loved seeing the ideas of life and death personified and becoming immersed in Mexican culture and folklore. The illustrations were beautiful and were really great in helping me to visualize what was going on.
Our main character, Clara, was very courageous and someone a lot of middle grade readers would enjoy. She and her cousin, Esteban, can give lot of good lessons to young kids such as how to become confident and how to deal with grief.
As for the ending, I was surprised by how dark it was. The reason I am rating this three stars is because I think the ending was a bit rushed and I would have liked to see Clara and Esteban have a larger conflict with the king.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC of the book.
This is a difficult book to review because I don't want to spoil the book for other readers. It has a Narnia/Alice in Wonderland feel to it - but darker. There is a great deal of philosophical discussion surrounding the concepts of free will and choice. Also love and grief. And I felt that there were certain plot elements that were never really resolved. It is possible that the final book will have more of an Epilogue than the copy I read which will explain some of the things that seem unresolved to me.

Lotería is a fresh, unique story with lyrical language that brings Mexican tradition to this middle grades magical realism novel. It's one of those books that simply consumes your attention, where you must keep going to find out what the next card flip will do. Clara is brave and loyal, a dedicated friend who adventures to save someone she loves -- a character that will be hard to forget. It's easy to see why people are comparing this to past Newbery winners.

Really interesting philosophical questions brought up with this one. The characters were enjoyable, especially Clara, but the family members might’ve been fleshed out a bit more. Life and Death were also represented very well.

Clara is just an ordinary girl living in a colorful Mexican neighborhood until fate chooses her to take part in a serious card game between Life and Death. At first the results of the game are small, but Clara soon finds herself facing not only difficult choices but an impossible quest. In the meantime Life and Death puzzle over whether Clara's fate is truly inevitable or if she has some free will in the matter.

Beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully told, Loteria blends a seemingly random series of events with a deeper question about how people can respond when they're dealt an unexpected hand, in this case literally. Cultural elements from the author's Mexican heritage pop in unashamed to add a fullness to this surreal world. Frida Kahlo would have loved this book. It reminded me a lot of the game Once Upon a Time, which I played as a child. In it, each player must struggle to tell a story using a hand of cards, often forcefully wresting the plot from other players to get to the desired ending. Like Loteria, this frequently resulted in some startling and head-scratching moments, but it always worked together for an exciting tale. While I found some parts of this book needlessly upsetting, it was overall very beautiful for what it is, and I would love to see it in the hands of middle-grade students of Mexican heritage as well as anyone who loves a bit of surrealism in their children's fiction.

I am a sucker for books based around the folk lore of different cultures. I love seeing how authors can bring these stories into a modern context! Loteria did not let me down. This is a beautiful story of family and the persistence of a girl who believes she is not special in the same way her family members are.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I enjoyed this one. It is rich in imagery and Mexican lore. The debate of choice versus destiny made the story a deeper debate of right and wrong. The ending did not disappoint. I will recommend this.

It's not often that you get a book for this age group that attempts to illustrate the tides of fortune. The ways in which dozens of small events and choices are tied together, each influenced byt hings that happened before. That means that a lot happens in this book but we don't get much development of individual characters. Interesting but not terribly compelling.

Loteria is a game of life and death. Is our destiny preordained or do we have free will? Clara gets caught up in this journey and must find a way to save a loved one. Each card turned changes her fate. This is steeped in a culturally rich landscape that I knew little about. This isn't a light and fluffy feel-good book. It's rather dark but that is part of what pulls you in. The pace is good to keep you wanting to turn the page to see what happens.

I love the idea that the author took her story from-the Mexican card game. This is very creative and opens the door to cultural concepts that teachers can use when teaching about Mexican culture. The cover of this book is colorful and definitely eye-catching. I would recommend this book to teachers who teach Mexican Heritage history in their curriculum each year. Young readers will find this to be a page-turner to find out if Clara chooses life and Life wins. There is an underlying lesson for young readers with this concept.
Recommended for ages 8-12.

Loteria is a fantastic and fast-reading magical realism middle grade novel. The book beautiful describes Oaxaca City and surrounding areas and lovingly portrays the beautiful culture and customs of Mexico. Add in a story with a courageous, hopeful heroine and an adventure in a magical world and you have a book readers won't want to put down.

Have you ever mapped out your life? Really looked at how different decisions or events pointed you down the path you’re on? Lotería is like that, only Life and Death are behind everything. Of course, there’s more to the novel than that. But it’s that idea of interconnectedness that goes beyond the magic and mythology.

From the beginning, author Karla Arenas Valenti transports readers to a world rich with details. Sounds, colors, smells. All five senses are awakened. But it’s not just the imagery that draws you in. Her warm tone and sense of familiarity mixed with magical realism hit just the right notes. Add the gorgeous illustrations by Dana Sanmar, and you’ve got the whole package.

Lotería would not work without its main characters — Clara, Life and Death. Clara’s frustration of her lack of control over her own life will resonate with young readers. And Life and Death’s philosophical conversations are understandable and thought-provoking.

Lotería is a bit darker than I initially thought, and it’s not particularly fast moving, especially toward the beginning. For those reasons, I suggest tailoring it to your reader’s needs rather than the suggested age.

I love any story involving the age old argument between life and death personified and Loteria does NOT disappoint! While yes it is a slow burn, you can’t help but become immersed in the worlds that Valenti has created. Her prose is descriptive and fluid. I truly enjoyed reading this middle grade novel and can’t wait to share it with my students!

Loteria is not what I expected from the cover. Sure, I read the description, but it was darker than I expected.

This book was much deeper with more solemn themes than I had anticipated. It is a story that can likely be appreciated in different ways at different ages. The ideas of death and life and free will and destiny are covered in a very unique way and I enjoyed the framing of the loteria as metaphor. Some of the imagery is terrible to think on too long, and Clara’s choice is sad. It may be hard for some children to deal with Clara’s plight towards the end of the book. I wished that there was a way to create a happier ending and I became frustrated with Life and Death that they didn’t see they could have done something differently. The book can spur great discussion about destiny vs. choice. Aside from the main characters and their family most other characters were greedy, impatient, or unhelpful - and sometimes get their due. The author’s note should not be missed. I am impressed with the research that went in to the story. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

4.5 stars

Wow, I wasn't sure about this book when I first started, partly because I thought the target audience was children and I thought the discussions were too complicated for children to fully appreciate. I've now realized this is considered young adult, although it doesn't really have the usual YA tropes, which is a good thing. There are two stories occurring in parallel. Catrina (Lady Death) and Life are playing a game of Loteria, which is a Mexican game of chance, similar to bingo. However, in this story, it is apparent that they meet once a year to play the game for a randomly chosen child's life. If Life wins, then the child is granted a long life, but if Death wins, then the child is taken. In this story, Clara is the one who is chosen. Lady Death and Life play one round until one of them places a marker, and whichever image is covered, that image plays a role in the next phase of the story.

Initially, the story seemed to be slow-going, as Life and Death have philosophical discussions about Free Will vs. Determinism. As each round is played, you can see how the story addresses a part of what they're discussing. It could have been boring, but it really wasn't. I just felt drawn into the story. Magical realism is definitely the name of the game as Clara and her cousin Esteban are drawn into the world of Aztlan, the legendary homeland of the Aztec people. But this book draws not only on Aztec Mythology, but also on Mexican culture (I know there are overlaps). It also incorporates real places like Oaxaca City (where Clara is from), Las Grutas de Cacahuamilpa (inspired as La Gruta de Oro in this story), El Arbol del Tule (one of the largest and oldest trees in the world) and many other places. I love that the author tells us his inspiration for many of the things he included in his story.

The story was definitely a slow burn, but as the story proceeded, I found myself more and more invested in what was happening with Clara. By the time I got near the end, I had tears streaming down my face. I loved how it ended, even if it had me weeping. It was such a beautiful ending. I am so glad I gave this story a chance! I also loved the illustrations, although my illustrations were not in color. I'm not sure if they were supposed to be in color, but I bet they would be even more stunning in color. If you are a reader who enjoys stories that share their culture and other world mythologies, you should definitely give this one a try. It's a pretty quick read, even if it's a slow burn.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What a wonderful middle grade read. Really imaginative and unique storyline that grabs your attention and holds it until the end. The ending was unexpected enough to make my mouth drop. I can't wait to share this one with the library patrons!