Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe meets Roswell by way of Laurie Halse Anderson in this astonishing, genre-bending novel about a Mexican American teen who discovers profound connections between immigration, folklore, and alien life.
It’s been three years since ICE raids and phone calls from Mexico and an ill-fated walk across the Sonoran. Three years since Sia Martinez’s mom disappeared. Sia wants to move on, but it’s hard in her tiny Arizona town where people refer to her mom’s deportation as “an unfortunate incident.”
Sia knows that her mom must be dead, but every new moon Sia drives into the desert and lights San Anthony and la Guadalupe candles to guide her mom home.
Then one night, under a million stars, Sia’s life and the world as we know it cracks wide open. Because a blue-lit spacecraft crashes in front of Sia’s car…and it’s carrying her mom, who’s very much alive.
As Sia races to save her mom from armed-quite-possibly-alien soldiers, she uncovers secrets as profound as they are dangerous in this stunning and inventive exploration of first love, family, immigration, and our vast, limitless universe.
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“Sia is a complex and memorable protagonist who draws on all of the best parts of herself and her loved ones to grow, adapt, and overcome her losses.”
— Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)
“This book feels like a kind of magic, celebrating all beliefs, ethnicities, and unknowns.”
— New York Times Book Review“Gilliland weaves sci-fi and magic into a stunning contemporary story.”
— BuzzFeed“Luminous, genre-bending, and out of this world.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Uses lyrical prose to weave…a genre-defying read that is certain to keep readers engaged.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)“This is a highly recommended purchase for most collections.”
— School Library JournalBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Raquel Vasquez Gilliland is a Mexican American poet, novelist, and painter. She is the author of two published books of poetry and two novels for young adults. She received an MFA in poetry from the University of Alaska, Anchorage in 2017.
Bradford Hastings is a voice talent and audiobook narrator.