Shannon's Library

LET’S GET EXCITED ABOUT THIS BOOK!

Twelve-year-old Petra wants nothing more than to be a storyteller like her grandmother. But Petra’s world is ending. Earth has been destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children 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. Petra alone now carries the stories of our past and with them, any hope for our future. Can she make them live again?

Shannon’s Rating – PG-13

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LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS BOOK!

At one of my book clubs this last month, we had an interesting discussion about Newbery Award winning books. A few of us wondered why many of them were SO sad. Is that a requirement to win a Newbery Medal? To break people’s hearts? (I’m looking at you “The One and Only Ivan” and “Out of the Dust.”) Well, I read “The Last Cuentista,” by Donna Barba Higuera before I knew that it had won the Newbery Medal in 2021. I’m glad I didn’t know beforehand because the last two Newbery books I had read (mentioned above) were absolutely heart wrenching. I don’t think my soul could have taken another book like that. While “The Last Cuentista” wasn’t exactly a “happily ever after” story, it was very beautifully written and full of love, hope and promise. I loved it!

The plot of “The Last Cuentista” is so unique. It deftly combines science fiction with Mexican folklore and the result is something very special. I love stories that take place in space, and I love fairy tales and folklore. So, the chance of me enjoying this book was pretty high!

Storytelling is at the very heart of this novel. Stories are powerful. They help shape both our past and our future. They help us process our feelings and emotions. They aid in the development of empathy. They help us discover who we are and who we want to be.

Just look at this graphic… It’s absolutely amazing what storytelling does for our brains.

In “The Last Cuentista” Petra uses stories to help her fellow shipmates remember who they are.

“Suma’s eyes are still closed, and I can’t tell if she’s trying to forget, or to remember. Maybe stories are there to help us do both. I know stories can’t always have happy endings. But if there are chances for us to do better, we have to say out loud the parts that hurt the most.”

“The Last Cuentista” means “The Last Storyteller.” When Petra realizes she is the last human being that remembers Earth and all of its stories, she’s determined to use these stories to reach those that are lost. She knows that stories can give them the hope they need to be brave. The stories will remind them of who they were – and who they truly are. This beautiful novel reminds us of the power and the magic of stories. And don’t we, as readers, love and cherish stories the very most! Yes, we do!