Mañanaland
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
Newbery Honoree Pam Muñoz Ryan weaves an entrancing tale of courage and self-discovery."Uniquely magical...Timely and timeless." -- New York Times* "This tightly packed, powerful fantasy contains resonant truths." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review* "Another unforgettable work from a master storyteller." -- Booklist, starred review* "Richly tiered... wrenchingly real...compelling." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review"A gem of a story with timely messages." -- School Library Journal"Rich and relevant." -- The Horn Book"A luminous embodiment of hope." -- Rita Williams-Garcia, Newbery Honor-winning author of One Crazy Summer and Clayton Byrd Goes Underground"Mañanaland is that rare gift of a book." -- Francisco X. Stork, award-winning author of DisappearedMaximiliano Córdoba loves stories, especially the legend Buelo tells him about a mythical gatekeeper who can guide brave travelers on a journey into tomorrow.If Max could see tomorrow, he would know if he'd make Santa Maria's celebrated fútbol team and whether he'd ever meet his mother, who disappeared when he was a baby. He longs to know more about her, but Papá won't talk. So when Max uncovers a buried family secret--involving an underground network of guardians who lead people fleeing a neighboring country to safety--he decides to seek answers on his own.With a treasured compass, a mysterious stone rubbing, and Buelo's legend as his only guides, he sets out on a perilous quest to discover if he is true of heart and what the future holds.This timeless tale of struggle, hope, and the search for tomorrow has much to offer today about compassion and our shared humanity.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
An exciting young-adult fantasy that also packs a positive, unifying message about the world we live in? We’re all for it! Pam Muñoz Ryan’s beautifully crafted book follows 12-year-old Maximiliano Córdoba, who’s driven by his desire to learn more about his mother, who vanished not long after he was born. But when Max goes searching for answers, he discovers an even bigger secret about his family—involving the so-called Guardians, powerful individuals who help desperate people flee the fictional Central American village of Santa Maria when their lives are in danger. Max is a compelling, relatable hero doing his best to understand the shadowy and confusing adult world around him as he embarks on a quest to help a young girl. Muñoz Ryan’s adventure story delivers a powerful message about the plight of refugees and Latin American migrants. Mañanaland’s timely connection to current events gives it depth and makes it a brilliant read for people of all ages.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Set in the fictional Latin country of Santa Maria, this richly tiered novel is, at its core, wrenchingly real. Maximiliano C rdoba, almost 12, often wonders "about big and bewildering things," principally why his mother disappeared when he was a baby, but Max's somber Pap refuses to answer any questions. Newbery Honoree Ryan (Echo) infuses the soccer-loving boy's story with mystery based on local myth, closely guarded secrets, and a missing birth certificate. As the boy walks with his solitary Pap , ironically a builder of bridges in their small town, a peregrine falcon appears; legend has it that the falcon annually brings "the ghosts of the hidden ones" refugees who fled a neighboring country's cruelties with the help of "guardians" who shepherded them to safety through local ruins. The author interlaces this lore with the intricate story of how Max's family played a key role in the real-life drama, and how the boy bravely steps in to carry on that legacy. Lyrical allusions to the heartbreaking reality of life under repressive regimes and Max's belief in the promise of tomorrow fuse the title and plot of this compelling novel, which ends on a reassuring note. Ages 8 12.
