Review: The Last Cuentista

The Last Cuentista, by Donna Barba Higuera (Levine Querido 2021)

First line: “Lita tosses another piñon log onto the fire.”

I was happily surprised when I heard the announcement of this year’s Newbery Award going to The Last Cuentista, which additionally won the Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award on the same day. Happily surprised, because Higuera’s gorgeous sci-fi novel continues the 8 book streak of the highest award in children’s literature going to an author of color. I had seen this book floating around social media last year and was of course drawn to the intricately designed cover, but it wasn’t until the Youth Media Awards this past January that it officially caught my interest.

I went into this book mostly blind, which I think is the way to do it, so I’ll keep my plot summary to a minimum. The story begins with almost-13-year-old Petra hurrying with her family through the woods toward a massive space ship, which the best scientists in the country (Petra’s parents being two of them) are boarding to leave Earth forever. A devastating comet is hurtling toward the planet, and all estimates show that upon its impact, life will be unsustainable. Another planet hundreds of years away has been deemed their best option for continuing human life, so Petra and her family (and the others on the ship) will be in suspended animation, cared for by generations of “monitors” until their arrival. But of course, the best laid plans will invariably go array, and when Petra is awakened, things are not at all like she expected.

Higuera gives us a truly compelling middle grade sci-fi/dystopian novel that rivals the classics in the genre such as The Giver or Hunger Games. There is so much to discuss in this story, from conformity vs. individuality and the essential aspects of humanity, to what makes good leadership and the power of storytelling and community. Higuera infuses the story with Mexican folklore and legend, showing how these cultural touchstones become life-giving to Petra and her companions, and I found this to be a huge part of what makes this book stand out from others in the genre. I also found Petra to be a wonderful main character. You feel her fear and vulnerability with her, and yet you see her take on way more responsibility than she should have to and never give up in the face of incredible odds. I’ll be thinking about her for many days to come.