The Way to Rio Luna

by Zoraida Cordova (Author)

The Way to Rio Luna
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

For fans of The Land of Stories comes an adventure that reveals the secret warnings hidden inside all classic tales -- beware fairyland at all costs.

Eleven-year-old Danny Monteverde believes in magic. He knows that pixie dust is real, that wardrobes act as portals, and that rabbit holes lead to Wonderland. Most of all, he believes that his older sister, Pili, is waiting for him somewhere in Rio Luna, the enchanted land in their favorite book of fairy tales.

Danny doesn't care what the adults say. He knows that Pili isn't another teen runaway. When the siblings were placed in separate foster homes, she promised that she'd come back for him, and they'd build a new life together in Rio Luna.

Yet as the years pass, Danny's faith begins to dim. But just when he thinks it might be time to put foolish fairy tales behind him, he finds a mysterious book in the library. It's a collection of stories that contain hints about how to reach another world. A map to Rio Luna . . . and to Pili.

As his adventure takes him from New York to Ecuador to Brazil, Danny learns that meeting your favorite characters isn't always a dream come true. But nothing will stop him from finding his sister . . . even if it means standing up to the greatest threat the magical realm has ever known.

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Kirkus Reviews

Funny and exciting, Córdova’s story primes readers for a light, amusing series to come. An entertaining series opener.

Publishers Weekly

Two years prior to the start of Córdova's (Incendiary) middle grade debut, 11-year-old Danny and older sister Pili cycle through group and foster homes until being separated. Before Pili disappears entirely--a runaway, Danny's told--she leaves him with her favorite book, fairy tale volume The Way to Rio Luna. He carries it everywhere, thoroughly annoying his cruel foster siblings and impatient foster parents on Staten Island until the book is taken away. A school trip to the New York Public Library ("the big one with the lions out front") introduces Danny to Glory Papillon, a girl about his age, and reaffirms his belief in magic--especially when he encounters the original copy of Rio Luna. With Glory's help, Danny sets out to find his sister, perhaps in Rio Luna. In this fantasy with a classic feel, characters of various skin tones and circumstances prove relatable, catching readers up in their triumphs and tribulations. Ages 8-up. Agent: Adrienne Rosado, Stonesong. (June)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

Gr 3-6—Danny Monteverde has survived the foster care system because of his brave older sister, Pili; their mysterious book of fairy tales, The Way to Rio Luna; and his unshakable belief in magic. But when Pili disappears from her group home and is presumed a runaway, and his foster father throws away his beloved book, Danny's world begins to crumble. This is a classic portal fantasy, a portrait of childhood resilience, and an ode to kids who "have hearts that love and souls that are kind and minds that believe." Córdova infuses Danny's quest and the magical world of Rio Luna with friendship, whimsy, and boundless creativity, from the shrewd Moon Witch and dramatic Jackalope Prince to an adventure that spans New York City, Ecuador, Brazil, and Northern Ireland. Original fairy tales feel ancient alongside references to Neverland and Narnia; the result is a revised canon of children's fantasy literature to center a global mythology, heralded by children of color. Although the plot rushes toward an abrupt ending, readers will eagerly await the next installment. VERDICT With its diverse, fully-realized cast of characters and inventive world-building, this complex adventure quest is a rare treat for fantasy lovers and those who believe in magic.—Molly Saunders, Manatee County P.L., Bradenton, FL

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Zoraida Cordova
Zoraida Córdova is the award-winning author of the Brooklyn Brujas series, The Vicious Deep trilogy, and Star Wars: A Crash of Fate. She has contributed stories to the New York Times bestselling anthology Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View, and Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women and Witchcraft. Zoraida was born in Ecuador and raised in Queens, New York.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781338239546
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Scholastic Inc.
Publication date
June 20, 2020
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV012030 - Juvenile Fiction | Fairy Tales & Folklore | General
JUV013050 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Orphans & Foster Homes
JUV013070 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Siblings
JUV011030 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - Hispanic & Latino
Library of Congress categories
Brothers and sisters
Adventure and adventurers
Magic
Adventure stories
Orphans
Fairy tales
Fantasy
Fantasy fiction
Imaginary places
Hispanic Americans
Foster children
Action and adventure fiction
Books

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