This book is stunning.

I'm forming a terribly bad habit here, but review to come later. Still recollecting my thoughts, and it's so much harder to write about something you loved the most.

Until later, a quote:

And I screamed, at first wordless, open mouthed screams. Dozens, maybe hundreds that Id swallowed over the past year. Then, when I was all screamed out, words formed, words for Esma. "I will see you again. And one day, I will save you, too."

A tale about friendship interweaving Mixteco and Gypsy cultures; told in past and present day. Historical fiction

phenomenal! This is one of those books you just can't put down!!! This book is a mix of Stargirl by Jerry Spinneli and Because of Mr. Terrupt by Rob Buyea.

this was middle grade but im sobbing rn and idk if it would make middle grade sob but i wanna make all small children ik read it

This one grew on me. I have to remember that I'm reading a book with a different intended audience, and then I can sink into it. Well-written, informative, and a good story.

I wanted to like this more than I did. It was interesting to learn more about the Mixteco and Romani cultures...sadly, this was just NFM.

I cried at the end.

Two very different children meet in 1950s. Teo is given the fortunate that this Lightning Queen will be his friend for life and that he will save her.

This book was filled with a beautiful friendship, different cultures, and different family dynamics. The story is told in two different timelines. We see Teo telling his grandson about his childhood growing up in a rural village in Mexico and we see the story through Teo's POV as a young boy.

Teo and Esme both come minority groups within Mexico. Teo is Mixtec Indan and Esme is Roma. Both groups are treated like terribly, they have their own languages, and they have their own cultures. They are able to relate to one another and that helps their bond depend.

My favorite aspect of this book was the deep friendship between Esme an Teo. They care so much about one another. They are challenging one another to become a better person.

While I really enjoyed the story, I am giving this a C.

​I wasn't able to commit to reading. This took me more than two weeks to read which is extremely unusual for me. I loved the story and the characters but I found it a chore to read.

I love magically realism and the high hopes that I had for this novel were fulfilled. On top of the threads of magic woven throughout the story was a absolutely wonderful story of friendship (something so important but so often overlooked in favor of an action or romance story line).

The Hill of Dust where most of the story takes place feels so real- the adobe, goats, atole, fruit groves, and rain. The location wraps you up in it and reflects the time the author spent in Oaxaca herself. The choice to focus on two marginalized ethnic groups for this story came from the stories she hear while working as an anthropologist and just feels so right for the story she presents.

Overall, I enjoyed this fast read and would recommend it to most high school or advanced middle grades readers.

I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.