The Last Cuentista
Sale price
$1797
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2021 · Est. 8 hour read

The Last Cuentista

By Donna Barba Higuera

Part of the Cuentista series

A girl awakens on a new planet, the sole keeper of Earth's forgotten stories. Can she revive humanity's past?

4.0/5 Goodreads · 29,853 ratings
320 pages· 71,822 words· Est. 8 hour read
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Bookroo's summary

Petra Peña dreams of being a storyteller, but a comet destroys Earth, forcing her family onto a spaceship to a new world. Centuries later, Petra awakens to find a Collective has erased everyone's memories, except hers. As the last link to Earth's stories, Petra must fight to preserve humanity's past and future. Can she outwit the sinister forces and make the stories live again?

From the publisher

From Pura Belpré Honor-winner Donna Barba Higuera–a brilliant journey through the stars, to the very heart of what makes us human. Gripping in its twists and turns, and moving in its themes - truly a beautiful cuento.–New York Times Clever and compelling . wonderfully subversive.–The Wall Street Journal ★ This tale packs a wallop. Exquisite.–Kirkus Reviews (starred) ★ Gripping, euphonious, and full of storytelling magic.–Publishers Weekly (starred) ★ A strong, heroic character, fighting incredible odds to survive and protect others.–School Library Journal (starred) Había una vez . . . 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. Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to this new planet - and the discovery that she is the only person who remembers Earth. A sinister Collective has taken over the ship during its journey, bent on erasing the sins of humanity’s past. They have systematically purged the memories of all aboard - or purged them altogether. Petra alone now carries the stories of our past, and with them, any hope for our future. Can she make them live again?

Awards

Newbery Medal (2022)Americas Honor (2022)
At a glance
Format
Pages
320
Words
71,822
Reading age
10–14
Audience
Middle Grade
Themes & topics
Books about historyBooks about outer spaceBooks about girlsBooks about exploration and discoveryBooks about memory
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The fine print

Book details

Publication
Published
October 12, 2021
Edition
Language
English
Type
Chapter Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9781646140893

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