The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
Narrated by: Frankie Corzo
Imprint/Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Release date: October 12, 2021
ISBN: 9781705044308
Petra Peña wants to be a storyteller like her Abuelita, but first, Petra must get to her new home. Petra and her family are lucky enough to be part of a group chosen to settle on a new planet and carry on the human race. All is planned for safe arrival, except things don’t go as planned. When Petra wakes up, she realizes she is the only one who has any memories of life on Earth. Everyone else has had all their memories erased. Can Petra’s stories save the future?
Frankie Corzo brings Petra to life with spirit and makes you want to lean in to listen to every cuento. It is particularly gratifying to hear these stories told out loud as they are continuing a long oral tradition. Furthermore, this book takes traditional folktales and imbues them with purpose, turning stories that have long been villainized into humanity’s saving grace.
Great for fans of The Giver and Maya and the Rising Dark. The Last Cuentista takes dystopia and brings it to storytelling.
–Josie Snow
The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.
Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.