The Last Cuentista

Bookseller recommendation

“Twelve year old Petra Peña has always dreamed of becoming a Cuentista (a storyteller). When she wakes up from 500 years in cryosleep to a community of brainwashed people, Petra is different; she still has her memories from Earth, and she is full of stories from the past...The Last Cuentista demonstrates the importance of learning from ancestors' stories to shape the future, illustrating the dangers of homogeneity and the beautiful imperfection of being human.”

— Emma • Content

Bookseller recommendation

“It’s 2061. Because of their scientific expertise, Petra’s parents have been chosen to accompany a trio of spaceships to colonize a new planet, leaving behind their home—and Petra’s beloved abuelita—in New Mexico just before a comet hits Earth. But even before their ship lifts off, things aren’t going according to plan. Amid the worrying events on the ship, Petra tells cuentos to bring comfort to those around her, to help her remember, to keep her culture alive; she longs to one day be a great storyteller like Lita. In an environment where diversity is eliminated, whatever the cost, Petra harnesses the power of stories and becomes a hero. This Newbery Award-winning, mystifying sci-fi adventure will empower children for years to come.”

— Mary • Raven Book Store