Alebrijes
By Michael Berry,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Clever, hopeful sci-fi adventure explores future dystopia.
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What's the Story?
As ALEBRIJES opens, 13-year-old Leandro and his nine-year-old sister Gabi, members of the Cascabel underclass, are about to be exiled from Pocatel for stealing a piece of fruit. No one ever returns from the Outlands, presumably killed by wyrms, ghosts, and other monsters. But Leandro discovers more than he expected on the other side of the wall, including a new kind of magic that offers hope for the Cascabeles. Outfitted as a drone, he's able to see what has been hidden for centuries, and begins to build a life for himslef, his sister, and his community.
Is It Any Good?
Rigid social codes can make for good drama, and this thoughtful sci-fi adventure generates real suspense. In Alebrijes, award-winning author Donna Barra Higuera looks to the future and sees a stratified society, where only a few elites will enjoy comfort or luxury. Sound familiar? Don't worry; Higuera brings a deeply human touch and something wholly original to the set up and resolution. Leandro's transformation into a mechanical hummingbird leads to an adventure that reveals far more than he expected from his exile. The story is really an exploration of what it takes to build a better future from the rubble of a failing, oppressive society. It won't be hard for young readers to draw connections to real-world examples of injustices, and also real-world examples of social change.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the information the government hides from its citizens in Alejibres. Why do you think the people in power don't want citizens to know what they know? What might change if everyone knew the same things as the government?
How does it help Leandro to have his consciousness in the alebrije drone? What do you think it might be like to put your consciousness into another body or piece of technology? What might that allow you to do that you can't do now?
Talk about Leandro's character strangths. How does he demonstrate courage, compassion, and curiosity? How do these qualities help him seek the truth and help others?
Book Details
- Author: Donna Barba Higuera
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Adventures , Great Boy Role Models , Robots , Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Arthur A. Levine
- Publication date: October 3, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 14
- Number of pages: 416
- Available on: Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: October 25, 2023
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