The Last Cuentista

336 pages

English language

Published May 19, 2021 by Levine Querido.

ISBN:
978-1-64614-089-3
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4 stars (5 reviews)

There lived a girl named Petra Peña, who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller, like her abuelita.

But Petra's world is ending. Earth has been destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children – among them Petra and her family – have been chosen to journey to a new planet. They are the ones who must carry on the human race.

2 editions

Review of 'The Last Cuentista' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Assorted thoughts:
-In a world in which it takes me months to get through a single book, I blew through this one in under a week. Some of that was the time pressure of book club, but some of it was the fast pace and general readability of the book; many other books I would have abandoned rather than plowing through for book club.
-The ending felt abrupt and several loose ends were not tied up, which was annoying.
-It was refreshing to read a science fiction book where not only was the main character not white/an alien, but also their specific culture was so central to the narrative. I loved the incorporation of both folklore and Spanish.
-The exploration of grief really got to me.
-As far as originality of a science fiction novel, it's probably more of a three-star read, but I have to bump it up because …

Review of 'The Last Cuentista' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Un poquito heavyhanded... maybe more than un poquito. Required Golden-Gate-level suspension of disbelief on the science, the character motivations, the sleep deprivation, the health issues that magically just go away when convenient, and, sigh, the sloppy editing.

But those are just the mutterings of a grouchy old man who enjoyed the book regardless. The story is fresh, the protagonist unique, the tension high. (Narration is first-person, so you’d think that would give me a clue about the ending... but okay, smartypants, you read it and tell me you weren’t ever on edge.)

Not quite four stars, but am giving them anyway for its sweetness and charm.

avatar for _astronoMay

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Wyatt

rated it

4 stars

Subjects

  • Children's fiction