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raethereviewer's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved every minute of this story and the audiobook elevated it to another level. It was really nice to see Mari learn about the family she hadn’t met before. I absolutely love the ghost element and everything tied together beautifully. I was in tears by the end.
zoraidasolo's review
5.0
A true delight. Themes of family, embracing culture, and ancestors + ghosts = everything I love.
anneessdee's review
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
clamon's review
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookwhimsy2's review
4.0
This is such a cute and much-needed story. Mari, whose full name is Maricela, is being harassed by a classmate and next-door neighbor who keeps shaming her for being Cuban-American. The microaggressions have affected Mari so much that when her family is performing their New Year ritual of burning effigies to eliminate bad luck, Mari holds back and never burns her.
What follows is El Cocodrilo hanging her with bad luck to the point where it affects her school and her friendships. In order to combat El Cocodrilo, Mari needs to come to terms with her cultural identity and her family history. While at the same time fix the tension within her friend group.
At first, I was a bit put off by Mari feeling embarrassed of her cultural traditions, but I also realized that when we are kids, it is so easy for people to make us feel ashamed. Part of maturing means learning how to deal with those who will try to shame us, and that is part of the journey that Mari is on. Ultimately, it is a wonderful story about love, family, and friendship.
Content Warnings: racism, curses, discussions of death, off-the-page family death
I received a free advance reader's copy via NetGalley.
What follows is El Cocodrilo hanging her with bad luck to the point where it affects her school and her friendships. In order to combat El Cocodrilo, Mari needs to come to terms with her cultural identity and her family history. While at the same time fix the tension within her friend group.
At first, I was a bit put off by Mari feeling embarrassed of her cultural traditions, but I also realized that when we are kids, it is so easy for people to make us feel ashamed. Part of maturing means learning how to deal with those who will try to shame us, and that is part of the journey that Mari is on. Ultimately, it is a wonderful story about love, family, and friendship.
Content Warnings: racism, curses, discussions of death, off-the-page family death
I received a free advance reader's copy via NetGalley.
therearenobadbooks's review
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Hay que echar fuera la mala suerte. You have to throw out your bad luck. Wouldn't that be awesome?
I love novels with dialogue in their native language. This Cuban family is surrounded by folklore, and eerie mythology, Fun! Mari is cursed.
Mari starts as someone ashamed of her family, their rituals, and Cuban love, but on her journey, she will learn to respect her ancestors and their learning the good and bad about her family's past. She gets a journal as a gift during one of the many traditional rituals during New Year and discovers that she has inherited a power that has been in the family for generations. This will unlock good and bad things. Because she was ashamed of getting caught in these traditions she failed to keep her bad luck away by burning a doll, now her luck is running out and affects the people she cares for. On top of that, her curse passed to her best friend as well. Will their friendship survive this? Will Mari vanquish the Luck Eater?
A fun read, great for the Spooky season with a lot of folklore, friendship, family, personal growth, and acceptance giving life to the past with memories.
Por si las moscas! Just in case... you don't know what to read next. This is a good one.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the Arc. My opinions are my own and honest.
I love novels with dialogue in their native language. This Cuban family is surrounded by folklore, and eerie mythology, Fun! Mari is cursed.
Mari starts as someone ashamed of her family, their rituals, and Cuban love, but on her journey, she will learn to respect her ancestors and their learning the good and bad about her family's past. She gets a journal as a gift during one of the many traditional rituals during New Year and discovers that she has inherited a power that has been in the family for generations. This will unlock good and bad things. Because she was ashamed of getting caught in these traditions she failed to keep her bad luck away by burning a doll, now her luck is running out and affects the people she cares for. On top of that, her curse passed to her best friend as well. Will their friendship survive this? Will Mari vanquish the Luck Eater?
A fun read, great for the Spooky season with a lot of folklore, friendship, family, personal growth, and acceptance giving life to the past with memories.
Por si las moscas! Just in case... you don't know what to read next. This is a good one.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the Arc. My opinions are my own and honest.
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