Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Spine-tingling excitement in folktale-inspired fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
PAOLA SANTIAGO AND THE RIVER OF TEARS is the story of Paola and her two best friends, who are going to be in seventh grade this fall. When Paola's friend Emma goes missing, Paola and Dante are determined to keep looking until they find her. Along the way they'll have to face chupacabras, disembodied hands that want to drag them into the river, ghosts, and even La Llorona (the Weeping Woman) herself. Paola will also have to learn when to rely on facts and science, when to trust the folk wisdom passed along through generations, and when the best solutions rely on both science and folklore.
Is It Any Good?
This exciting fantasy series kickoff brings the chills and thrills you'd expect from a story based on the legend of La Llorona, and it has a refreshing Latina smart girl as a main character. Paola's not perfect, and she's got a lot to learn, but that's what makes her easy for young readers to relate to. The action, spooky atmospheres, and spine-tingling fantasy-folklore creatures keep the pages turning. Author Tehlor Kay Mejia also thoroughly grounds the story in the present by bringing up important issues without getting preachy or bogging the story down.
Sometimes it gets a little frustrating when the characters take too long to reach the obvious solution, but it's a minor flaw and one that readers on the younger side probably won't notice. Nightmarish fantasy creatures and themes of being separated from parents make it best for big kids and up.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the scary monsters in Paola Santiago and the River of Tears. Why do we sometimes have fun being scared? What do you do to feel better when things get too scary?
Are Paola and Dante positive role models? What do you like, or not like, about them? Which character do you think is most like you?
Why is it important to read books, watch movies, or play games with diverse characters? How do you feel when you see people like you in stories you read or watch? What do you learn from characters who aren't like you?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Disney-Hyperion
- Publication date : August 4, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 368
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
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