by Donna Barba Higuera
From Pura Belpré Honor-winner Donna Barba Higuera—a brilliant journey through the stars, to the very heart of what makes us human.
Había una vez ...
There lived a girl named Petra Peña, who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller, like her abuelita.
But Petra's world is ending. Earth has been destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children – among them Petra and her family – have been chosen to journey to a new planet. They are the ones who must carry on the human race.
Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to this new planet – and the discovery that she is the only person who remembers Earth. A sinister Collective has taken over the ship during its journey, bent on erasing the sins of humanity's past. They have systematically purged the memories of all aboard – or purged them altogether.
Petra alone now carries the stories of our past, and with them, any hope for our future. Can she make them live again?
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"Gripping, euphonious, and full of storytelling magic." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A strong, heroic character, fighting incredible odds to survive and protect others." - School Library Journal (starred review)
"Higuera spins a tale that crosses the depths of space, interweaving Mexican folklore with a mystical strand of science fiction." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"The brilliance of Higuera's narrative is that it shows rather than tells us the power of story. As Petra shares her tales and they guide her shipmates out of darkness, readers will find corners of their own hearts illuminated as well. This book is gripping in its twists and turns, and moving in its themes - truly a beautiful cuento." - New York Times
"Clever and compelling . wonderfully subversive." - The Wall Street Journal
This information about The Last Cuentista was first featured
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Donna Barba Higuera grew up in Central California and now lives in the Pacific Northwest. She has spent her entire life blending folklore with her experiences into stories that fill her imagination. Now she weaves them to write picture books and novels. Donna's first book, Lupe Wong Won't Dance, won a PNBA Book Award and a Pura Belpré Honor.
Dictators ride to and fro on tigers from which they dare not dismount. And the tigers are getting hungry.
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