Lobizona: Wolves of No World, Book 1
By Carrie R. Wheadon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Compelling Latina hero, rushed storytelling in deep fantasy.
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What's the Story?
In LOBIZONA, every time Manu has menstrual cramps her mother gives her special pills that knock her out for three days. In that time she dreams of a world of monsters and magic and wakes up feeling different. She's always been different, thanks to having pupils that look like tiny suns, but one month she grew three inches, another her vision became razor-sharp, and this month she woke up hearing even the faintest sound. She also woke up to seeing something strange on her apartment's rooftop: two people talking of hunting and giving off red smoke, one wearing a leather jacket in the Miami heat. She manages not to be seen, and her mother tells her to be careful. Manu and her mother are undocumented and have been in hiding for years after fleeing Argentina when Manu's father disappeared. She doesn't want trouble. But trouble comes when there's an ICE raid at her mother's work and Manu barely escapes. Manu sees the man in the leather jacket again and, on instinct, climbs into the back of his truck in secret. She jumps out of the truck in the Everglades and is soon discovered by a boy her age with the same wild eyes. He offers to take her back to "the group" for orientation and she plays along, wondering if she will finally find out the secrets about who she is.
Is It Any Good?
While the story builds too hastily, it will still draw readers in thanks to Manu, its undocumented and part non-human main character. When we meet Manu she's already got some superpowers -- super smell, super hearing, super-thick hair -- and wild eyes that look like suns, which she needs to hide behind glasses. And every day she's scared of ICE finding her and her mother in Miami. She has to run away from everything to find who she is. The world she discovers is full of witches (brujas) and werewolves (lobizones), and her place in it fascinates.
The world would fascinate more if it had been more carefully drawn for the reader. It's really hard to visualize the academy Manu finds in the Everglades and the parallel realm beyond. The author also takes shortcuts with the building of Manu's new friendships. It's really hard to understand why two girls who barely know her are willing to risk themselves to cover up her secrets. The rules of this secret world are also sparsely laid out, making the stakes for Manu's discovery hard to grasp. Careful plotting and lots more description would go a long way toward making this good fantasy read a spectacular one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Manu's undocumented status in Lobizona. How does her plight relate to the news today? Do you feel more empathy for undocumented people as you think about Manu's daily life and isolation?
Have you ever read a story about someone undocumented? Why are these voices rarely heard?
Will your read more in this series? What do you think is next for Manu and friends?
Book Details
- Author: Romina Garber
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires , Space and Aliens
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Wednesday Books
- Publication date: August 4, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 18
- Number of pages: 400
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: August 16, 2020
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