Mañanaland

Max Cordoba has grown up hearing the legends his grandfather has shared, stories of a mysterious gatekeeper who leads travelers to a safe haven, a place called Mañanaland, tomorrow land.

Then Max gets the opportunity to help a traveler in need of rescue. Can he do it, even though it is against his family's wishes.

It took me fifty pages to get into this story, but, once I did, I couldn't stop reading.

Mañanaland is an enchanting middle grade novel about how both closure and courage come in many forms.

Max lives with his Papá and Buelo in a small village presided over by stone tower called La Reina Gigante. Max wants three things for his twelfth birthday: to make the village fútbol team, to find his mother, and for his dad to trust him enough to let him do things on his own.

The cover is incredible. I would frame a poster of it in my home. But it's also just a beautifully written book. I love nothing more than finding books and television and movies written for a young audience whose creators think highly enough of children to make something so carefully crafted.

The writing is flowery without being tedious. The messages about taking risks for the greater good don't feel too trite because Muñoz Ryan discusses how sometimes people who do the right thing are maligned. Sometimes, and maybe even often, doing what's right is sacrificial and painful. Instead of wrapping everything up in a bow, Mañanaland encourages its readers to learn to make peace with what might remain unraveled indefinitely, without giving up hope.

I knocked off one star only because I felt certain reveals were predictable and rushed, largely because of the pacing. I wish Max had started his journey with Isadora earlier so the end could wind down a bit slower. But it is a moving, pretty, cultural story that stands out for several reasons. In this instance, feel free to judge a book by its (gorgeous) cover.