Alebrijes is another visionary science fiction middle grade novel from Donna Barba Higuera. If you love science fiction novels which make you think and question, this is perfect for you! I really enjoyed The Last Cuentista so I knew I had to read this one. Keep reading this book review of Alebrijes for my full thoughts.
Summary
This is the story as it was told to me by Leandro the Mighty.
For 400 years, Earth has been a barren wasteland. The few humans that survive scrape together an existence in the cruel city of Pocatel – or go it alone in the wilderness beyond, filled with wandering spirits and wyrms. They don’t last long.
13 year-old pickpocket Leandro and his sister Gabi do what they can to forge a life in Pocatel. The city does not take kindly to Cascabel like them – the descendants of those who worked the San Joaquin Valley for generations.
When Gabi is caught stealing precious fruit from the Pocatelan elite, Leando takes the fall. But his exile proves more than he ever could have imagined — far from a simple banishment, his consciousness is placed inside an ancient drone and left to fend on its own. But beyond the walls of Pocatel lie other alebrijes like Leandro who seek for a better world — as well as mutant monsters, wasteland pirates, a hidden oasis, and the truth.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Alebrijes is a science fiction world that completely captivated me. I haven’t been that interested in how the world works in a while. This book very much feels like it has parts in it and without spoilers, I really enjoyed the first part of the world. I had more of a difficult time envisioning the second which took me out of the reading experience a bit. However, the world and the bonds created in Alebrijes are something special. Like in The Last Cuentista, Alebrijes explores the importance of stories in their power to inspire and also as a weapon. It’s hard to believe just one person can make a difference, but Alebrijes is a great middle grade book to illustrate just that.
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Alebrijes has a fantastic world and I’m so thrilled stories like this exist for middle grade readers. Stories are powerful. And our individual wings can make a breeze. Just one leaf falling can be the difference. Find Alebrijes on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.