The Spanish edition of Daylan and the River of Secrets. Review is of the English edition.
In this novel in verse, 12-year-old Daylan used to love swimming, until his encounter with a mysterious creature he calls Cihuamichin, a legendary water woman with the power to destroy the Mexican town where he lives. Daylan is bullied at school for his fear of the water and his general social anxiety; he faces additional stress from his parents’ divorce.
He starts up a friendship with new student Eliam, however, and finds that it might even be deepening to a crush. Eliam then starts hanging around Daylan’s bullies, who start to break Cihuamichin’s rules for protecting the river. Daylan and his friend Brissia must find a way to stop them and save Eliam and the town—but that will require Daylan to confront his fears not only of Cihuamichin and the water, but also of who he is.
Author Edd Tello weaves a captivating story that blends Mexican folklore, magical realism, environmentalism and a thoughtful look at coming of age into a short but recommended tale.
