This book has a great female lead with a folktale twist. Pao and her two friends embody the experiences of preteens, Friendship is paramount and parents (and generally all adults) are too much! When Emma disappears, Pao and Dante have an adventure that’s based in ghost stories and folktales from Mexico. Supernatural threats add just the right amount of tension for this middle grades book.

Unlike other books that are based on mythology or stories from a particular culture, this one just didn’t catch my attention. It seemed like new things were popping up, & they weren’t characters or situations I could easily picture or imagine. It was a decent read but not for me. Full review on Goodreads.

This book is a complete delight. I love all the Rick Riordan Presents books, but a few of them have felt a touch derivative of Percy Jackson. This one is completely unique, with a wonderfully flawed main character who readers will identify with. Wonderful supporting cast, exciting plot, really looking forward to the next one!

I loved this book! What a great middle grade adventure! Not only was the plot compelling, but the characters all went through pretty amazing arcs. Almost every one of them had a satisfying and serious arc that made them better people in the end. Paola is a really great protagonist. She fights with emotions that all people, regardless of age, but especially at 12, deal with. She faces jealousy, anger, sadness, and pride, and comes out at the end stronger and better than before. The sidekicks were great, and all read like their ages, even though they were put into insane situations. The book focuses on serious topics like racism, deportation, illegal immigrants, legal immigrants, and abandonment with grace and tact, and I think it can be really beneficial to anyone who has faced these issues in their real lives. Overall, a great book, and although I don't know where it would go from here, I'm excited for the next one to come out.

I received an electronic ARC from Disney Book Group through NetGalley.
Mejia created a flawed and likable main character, Paola. She lives in real life poverty and sees the current reality - ICE raids, etc. and has unexplained dreams and nightmares that spring from Central American mythology. Her mom believes in superstitions and reads tarot cards for life information. Pao believes firmly in science so struggles with her mom's philosophy of life. One of her best friend's disappears after Pao dreamed about it. She and her other best friend, Dante, set off to find and save Emma. They get help from an unexpected person, Dante's grandmother, who sends them off with mystical weapons and opens a magic doorway to start them on the journey.
Typical middle grade interactions and relationships interweave with creatures from myth to keep the story moving forward. In the end, Paola defeats La Llorona and rescues her friends. She has to face herself and decide whether she will connect with the part of herself that desires power and acceptance or choose to come back to her own life. Readers take this journey with her and will identify with how many of the characters feel.
Looking forward to Book 2 next summer.

School is out, and Paola Santiago, an analytic and science-loving mind, is excited to spend more time with her best friends, Emma and Dante. Their first get together involves trying out a new telescope on the banks of the infamous Gila River. But all three must keep their plans from their parents, especially Pao. Pao’s mother lives in a world where ghosts, myths, and legends are very much real. To the fact-based, logical Pao, her mother’s “nonsense” has created a very wide and very real chasm between them. Despite recent abductions in the area and Pao’s mother’s warnings about the evil river, Pao and Dante go to meet Emma. However, Emma is a no-show. When Pao and Dante begin searching for their friend, they are thrust into an alternate reality where the ghosts, myths, and legends Pao’s Mother always believed in are indeed alive and well. As a result, Pao must fight demons, both inside and out, to save her friendships, save her relationship with her mother, and save the world. Hopefully, Pao can do it all before it’s too late.

Paola Santiago and the River of Tears is an action-packed adventure that will appeal to those that love mythology fantasies. Similar to other Rick Riordan Presents others publications, Tehlor Kay Mejia’s novel incorporates all the classic, familiar elements of a hero’s journey. These elements, along with excellent character development and the inclusion of Mexican culture and folklore, create an engaging, fun quest that young readers will devour. Unfortunately, readers may experience mythology/fantasy/quest fatigue depending on the number of Rick Riordan Presents books they have read. While Tehlor Kay Mejia writes a unique story, its similarity to other series in plot structure and even writing style prevent it from standing apart from other offerings. This is no fault of the author. La Llorona’s story is captivating and the focus on Mexican folklore is another strength of the novel. This could still yet separate it from other tales with similar arcs; those plotlines have appeal for a reason. Paola Santiago and the River of Tears is a gripping tale that demonstrates why all over again.

Young readers will surely love Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, especially those that cannot get enough of the Rick Riordan-esque novels. If considering classroom applications, it would be a perfect addition to literature circles that use 5-6 mythology fantasy novels.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher, Rick Riordan Presents, for an eARC of this book!

I read this book outloud to my entire family (husband and 6 and 2 year old). Everyone was equally captivated and drawn into the story. I actually grew up in Arionza close to where this story took place and was just drawn in from the beginning. The author does an amazing job of setting the scene and drawing in all readers.

While this is aimed towards middle school children it can easily be loved and appreciated by the whole family. There are spooky bits, and humor, and tenderness. It is just very wholesome and down to earth. There is more than enough to suspend reality and make for a great fiction read but a great balance of honesty and real people to keep you rooting for everyone until the end.


I do want to add that while it is mostly about la llorona type legends, family, and growing up. It also deals with some really heavy topics like racism, ICE, and stereotypes. Everything is done in an age appropriate way that leaves a lot of room for discussion. And I really appreciate that the author went there and was honest and didnt sugar coat things.

I had the opportunity to read a NetGalley digital ARC of this exciting middle grade novel. Young readers will definitely have a hard time putting this tense, thriller down. Ghost stories have always been popular with my students, and this one is one that kids in this age group will be able to relate to. The voices seem authentic and the storyline is engaging. I also think it's great that the story shows that girls can be brave heroines and embrace science as a way of working through problems.

The eponymous Paola believes in science — and nothing else except unfettered loyalty to her friends Dante Mata and Emma Lockwood, all aged 12. Paola especially doesn’t believe in the witchy old wives’ tales so dear to her desperate Mexican-American single mom. La Llorona, los ahogados, el Chupacabra, spirits from beyond and all the spooky rest of it — including the velas (candles) lit around the house — simply reflect ignorant, backward-looking minds.

But when Emma vanishes, leaving nothing but her expensive ring behind, Paola discovers that there’s way more to life — and death — than science. And in this new supernatural realm, what can she trust? And other Dante, whom?

Author Tehlor Kay Mejia has crafted a wonderful middle-grade novel that provides plenty of suspense and thrills; she also includes plenty of Mexican-American folklore and a nuanced reminder of how different life can be in this world when you’re brown and poor. Latinx kids will love it, of course; so will everyone else, regardless of ethnicity or age. Highly recommended.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from Disney Book Group and Rick Riordan Presents in exchange for an honest review.

Pao's mom is a devotee of the supernatural, frequently warning Pao about possible dangers especially in regard to going near the Gil's River. Pro scoffs st the supernatural and puts her faith in facts and science. The open space around the Gila River is the perfect spot for best friends Pao, Dante, and Emma to observe the stars through Emma's telescope. The night that Emma fails to show up begins this epic adventure that draws on Latinx folktales, ghost stories, and legends - particularly La Llorona. As Pao struggles to come to terms with everything she denied as true, she also struggles to understand her changing feelings for Dante. The racism and classism that Pao and Dante face when dealing with the police add present day relevance to this highly entertaining read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoy the Rick Riordan Presents imprint.

I love all of the Rick Riordan Presents books and this is no exception. I loved the female protagonist and the moving action of the book. I only gave this 4 out of 5 stars on goodreads because as much as I enjoyed the story, I felt the characters were a little too mature at times. For example, Pao knows so much about a culture she claims she doesn't pay attention to as she is growing up. However, at times, she is clueless. I also thought the villain was a little predictable. I still give it high marks because the plot kept me interested. I'm curious to see what the next book in the series will be about. I can't wait to recommend this to my students especially Rick Riordan fans. I know they will love the different cultural aspects of this book because it will hit closer to home with many of my students.

This book is spooky, and exciting, with an underlying theme of redemption and second chances, of trying to do-over past mistakes. I anticipate that it’ll really appeal to fans of the supernatural.

Paola is a young girl who’s scientific mind doesn’t believe in her mother’s superstitions. But when her friend Emma disappears, her and Dante travel through the curtain into a dark world to save her. There they meet warriors and fight monsters with magical tools they didn’t know they had. The ending was a little drawn out and I had trouble following it as they battled the one in charge. But overall I connected with the characters and really enjoyed the story. I believe that my middle grade students will like it as well. Looking forward to the sequel to see what happens to this trio of friends next!

Paola Santiago is a scientist and logical thinker, she believes all the old stories her mom told her are just that stories so scare Pao into not doing things. Pao, Dante, and Emma are the inseparable trio they are always together and have all been told to stay away from the Gila river, and even more so when a classmate drown there a year ago. But the Gila is the best place to watch the stars from Emma's telescope. Pao and Dante must fess up that that is where they where going the night Emma disappears. Is it the kidnapper from 4 towns away, or is it one of the bad ghosts from Pao's mom stories.

You will need to read this awesome book filled with Hispanic lore, action everywhere, and suspense big enough to fill Emma's house to find out. This is a fun book especially if you want to be scared but alas it does not take place on Dia de Muertos. But the characters are fun and true to themselves, their friends, and their families. This is such a wonderfully diverse book that our shelves so desperately need these days and I can't wait to see what Pao and her friends are up to next.

This review will appear on my blog on Aug 4th.

A solid addition to the Rick Riordan presents titles, but doesn't stand out from that company. I like how the main character recognizes that she has both good and not-so-good within her, and yet is still able to forgive herself and accept that about herself. The other characters are pretty flat. Good descriptions of settings and characters -- I was able to easily picture them in my mind's eye. Good for fans of the others in this category.

Through Paola’s adventures we get a glimpse into Latin America mythology. I enjoyed the story and the pace but I found Paola’s character annoying. There were to many tween/teen cliche’s where she is whiny, knows way more than everyone else, and everyone doesn’t understand that I was just annoyed with many of those parts of the story. The other characters, and the mythology were great though.

I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rick Riordan Presents for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Paola Santiago lives with her mother in a small apartment not far from the Gila river in Arizona. Pao is very smart and obsessed with science in contrast to her mother who warns her to stay away from the river out of fear of the ghost La Llorona. Along with her two best friends, Dante and Emma, the trio frequently go down to the river to hang out or just stargaze. That is, until Emma goes missing like several other children in that area. Pao and Dante are determined to do whatever they can to help. Pao’s nightmares have returned along with other odd occurrences, including one very odd event with Dante’s abuela which starts them on their journey. But, time is limited as they must find Emma before the summer solstice in a few days.
This is another great addition to middle grade folklore/fantasy. It is realistic in its telling, especially as scientific Pao tries to rationalize what is happening. It also addresses the prejudice many Latinx face, particularly when dealing with the authorities. It is fairly quick-paced, slowing down a bit before the climax, before picking up again. I would definitely recommend this for readers in grades 4 and up.
#PaolaSantiagoAndTheRiverOfTears #NetGalley

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC of this delightful story.

I'm not a normal reader of fantasy. I try, but I lose interest quite quickly. I'm a middle school librarian and this was my first "Rick Riordan Presents" story. (An embarrassment, I know.) However, my middle grade students LOVE everything Rick Riordan and this book will knock their socks off - especially because of our large Latinx population.

The story of La Llorona has always fascinated me, and that was my draw to this book. Mejia is a great writer - not too simple but still perfect for the 8-12 age range. Paola, Dante, and Emma are BFFs who love to hang at the Gila River - even though Paola's mom has forbidden her to go there. One night as Pao and Dante go to meet Emma, she doesn't show up. When the police don't look serious about looking for her, Pao and Dante go on their own. What follows is adventure, mythology, warrior battles, and the supernatural. I can't wait to talk up this book to the kids at school.

Highly recommended for grades 4 and up.

Another excellent mythological adventure in the Rick Riordan Presents series. This one takes place in Arizona and focuses on Mexican and Mexican American mythology like chupacabras, La Llorona, and more. Highly recommended for grades 4 & up.

I love a middle-grade that’s actually spooky, and Mejia delivers on that promise! But there’s also great comic relief, and the kids don’t forget their real-life problems when they’re transported to the magical realm.