This novel was unlike anything I've read before. It is part realistic fiction, part spirituality narrative, part fantasy, part romance, the list goes on.
Sierra is an admirable, witty heroine. She talks a mile a minute, paints stunning murals in the city late into the night and has a family secret that she can't quite figure out. For some mysterious reason, her elderly abuelo (grandfather) who hasn't spoken in months starts muttering "lo siento" (I'm sorry) and Sierra wants to know why. Her adventure takes her into a “thrilling collision of artistry and spirituality” (47) that shows young women can be just as powerful as men in any realm. I found myself admiring Sierra for her courage and laughing as she and her friends dealt with every day teenager angst alongside issues of life and death (think Hunger Games or Divergent with a spiritual twist). VERDICT: I think this magical book would make a great addition to any middle or high school media center. It has the power to grab the unsuspecting reader and hold on for the ride, meanwhile exposing him or her to issues worth discussing: race, identity, family, culture, art, heritage, and the power of art to transform relationships.
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