Lola

Starred review from August 1, 2024
Seeing both her beloved brother and a special tree succumbing to a mysterious disease, a child in Mexico City sets out to find a cure. Ever since what 10-year-old Lola will only call "The Thing That Happened," she's been helping Alex, her 14-year-old brother who's struggling with "the Darkness." But her concern takes on real urgency when she spots gray spots on his skin that grow along with his increasing exhaustion and withdrawal. At the same time, plants in their garden and the Tree around which their house is built develop crusty spots and gray leaves, despite the care of the chaneques (nature spirits invisible to all but Lola). And when, in hopes of finding help for the Tree, she travels to its progenitor, the mighty Tree of Sources in the magical realm of Floresta, she discovers that the malady has been caused by a new young queen whose struggles offer a clue to the cause of Alex's affliction. Frequent glimpses of wondrous sights and folkloric creatures give the tale a flavor of magical realism, and on the way to a transformative closing twist, Valenti's characters reflect on the importance of letting some things go in order to allow others to grow, offering much food for thought for readers who are similarly stuck. Final art not seen. A quest undertaken for love and healing, replete alike with astonishing marvels and provocative themes. (author's note, notes on terms and concepts, reader's guide)(Fiction. 9-13)

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Starred review from November 2, 2024

Gr 4-7-In this wonderfully woven tale, a sister's love is all that stands between the "Stillness" and her brother. Lola and Alex have grown up in a house with a magical tree at its center. With the magical tree comes things that cannot be explained, like flowers that bloom only at certain times of the year and Lola's ability to see the creatures who tend to the tree. One day, Lola and Alex notice a gray patch spreading on the tree and the plants around it. Then the worst happens when Lola sees the same gray patch on Alex. Lola and Cualli, one of the magical creatures called the chaneques, are told they must travel to Floresta, where the magical tree came from, and heal it from there. But with a queen who cannot let go, this is not as easy as it seems. Will Lola be able to save the tree and her brother? With the story set in Mexico City, readers can feel the vibrance of Mexican culture coming off the pages. Between the descriptions of the magical world, as well as the artwork throughout, readers will be taken on the adventure right alongside Lola. Each character is complex and adds their own light to the story. Readers will be lining up to get this book. VERDICT A must-read for all upper elementary and middle school fantasy fans.-Heather Lassley

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 1, 2024
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* Lola loves her magical house in Mexico City, home to her close-knit family, piles of plants, otherworldly inhabitants (visible only to her), and a fantastical tree that blooms with improbable flowers. But something is amiss in her beautiful abode: deathly splotches have appeared on the foliage, and a similar ashy smudge is spreading on her brother's neck. It seems something is sapping the life out of the tree and her sibling, and she wonders if it all springs from ""The Thing That Happened"" not long ago. Her brother was haunted by despair then, but with Lola's help, Alex seemed to be getting better. Why the sudden shift? With the help of sympathetic chaneques who watch over the property, Lola finds herself in the in the magical realm of Floresta, the source of the tree's vitality, and she has to quickly solve the mystery of the spreading darkness if there's any hope of saving Floresta, her beloved brother, and their magnificent home. The terrifically transporting tale is brimming with lush descriptions, intriguing Mexican folklore, creative world building, and compassionate characters. Thoughtful discussions of depression, grief, and the inevitability of change are particularly appreciated, and the tender sibling relationship grounds the fantastical proceedings beautifully. A risky last-minute reveal pays off and adds additional depth to an already stellar story. A truly enchanting adventure that both enthralls and entertains.

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January 1, 2025
Lola, ten, lives in Mexico City in a house built around the Tree. The Tree is full of life, and spirit-like beings called chaneques protect it. One day, Lola notices gray splotches on the Tree and in the garden. The spots spread to Lola's brother Alex, covering him in gray patches and making him ill. With the help of the chaneques, Lola sets out to save the Tree and Alex. Through a panel in her closet, she enters the kingdom of Floresta, now afflicted with the Stillness, where "the cycle of life and death simply stops." Lola needs to find the newly appointed young queen, who is grieving the recent death of her mother, and persuade her to reverse the Stillness -- to convince her that "change is everything." In the process, Lola discovers something unexpected about herself. Valenti (Loteria, rev. 11/21) skillfully incorporates magical realism into this captivating tale, taking the reader on a memorable journey through a different world. She addresses the weighty topic of death in a hopeful manner, encouraging readers to view death as a new phase, a transformation, rather than an end. The strong bonds between siblings are central to this heartwarming story, and love perseveres. Occasional black-and-white illustrations contribute to the mystical atmosphere (some final art unseen). An appended author's note and a glossary enrich the material. Yesica Hurd

(Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)