Starred Review ALA Booklist (Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2020)

Starred Review In a small town located "somewhere in the Américas," eleven-year-old Max has been raised by his no-nonsense father and head-in-the-clouds grandfather, ever since his mother disappeared when he was a baby. Longing to find her, the fútbol-loving protagonist uncovers secrets about his family's past and embarks on a dangerous mission to help a refugee from a dictator-led neighboring country find her way to Mañanaland. The two traverse rocky terrain, hide from those looking to collect a reward for the missing refugee, and follow the map that Max learned through his grandfather's nightly bedtime story. In her first book since the Newbery Honor winning Echo (2015), Muñoz Ryan crafts a lyrical, fablelike tale of love, loss, community, and standing up for what is right. The novel is told with evocative and dreamlike writing and features authentic characters who tug at the heartstrings. As the impeccable pacing keeps readers guessing, the timely story line will resonate, especially bringing to mind the plight of young people who have to travel long distances in unfamiliar lands to find safety. This story, infused with magic, reminds children that humanity thrives when people embrace differences and construct bridges instead of borders. Another unforgettable work from a master storyteller.

Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2020)

Growing up in Santa Maria, a (fictional) country "somewhere in the Americas," Maximiliano Cordoba is familiar with the legends of the Guardians and the Hidden Ones they led to safety--he's heard them from his grandfather all his life. It's his mother's story that remains a mystery. When she disappeared, she took almost everything with her, including proof of Max's birth. Now Max dreams of making the village futbol team, but without a birth certificate, he won't even be able to try out. As Papa sets out to get him one, Max discovers a secret about his family--the original Guardians--and the circumstances surrounding his mother's disappearance. Legends and the realities of life come together (and the pace picks up) when Max must rely on his Buelo's stories to help him escort a refugee child safely through Santa Maria, if not all the way to Mananaland, a place whose true nature eludes him. Ryan skillfully balances Max's day-to-day concerns (friendships, futbol) with his longing for his mother and his growing awareness of a moral responsibility to help others, even in a world where compassion is criminalized. The novel is rich and relevant, hero Max "true of heart and proud of the legacy into which he'd been born," and a good futbol player, too.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Set in the fictional Latin country of Santa Maria, this richly tiered novel is, at its core, wrenchingly real. Maximiliano Córdoba, almost 12, often wonders -about big and bewildering things,- principally why his mother disappeared when he was a baby, but Max-s somber Papá refuses to answer any questions. Newbery Honoree Ryan (Echo) infuses the soccer-loving boy-s story with mystery based on local myth, closely guarded secrets, and a missing birth certificate. As the boy walks with his solitary Papá, ironically a builder of bridges in their small town, a peregrine falcon appears; legend has it that the falcon annually brings -the ghosts of the hidden ones--refugees who fled a neighboring country-s cruelties with the help of -guardians- who shepherded them to safety through local ruins. The author interlaces this lore with the intricate story of how Max-s family played a key role in the real-life drama, and how the boy bravely steps in to carry on that legacy. Lyrical allusions to the heartbreaking reality of life under repressive regimes and Max-s belief in the promise of tomorrow fuse the title and plot of this compelling novel, which ends on a reassuring note. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)

School Library Journal (Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2020)

Gr 3-6 Eleven-year-old Maximiliano Córdoba lives in Santa Maria village with his father's extended family of stone masons. On the mundane level, he wants to join a fútbol clinic with his friend Chuy, but an abandoned stone towerLa Reina Gigantemakes him wonder about hidden refugees fleeing the neighboring country of Abismo. While Max's father is away, Max encounters a refugee, Isadora, and learns his family are secretly guardians who help people flee to safety. In his father's absence, Max determines to guide Isadora to the next stop with all the dangers that entails, partly to discover information about his long-absent mother. As always, Ryan's strength is in her visually expressive language. Readers can picture the village, the personified tower, and Max's journey through rough country. Poignant, memorable moments are created with just a few sentences. On the other hand, the novel is slow to start. Additionally, the imaginary country construct vies with specific details found in real life such as Catholic churches, fútbol, and a Portuguese water dog. The first half of the novel is an uneasy detente of this paradox. However, as Max and Isadora set out, the imminent danger and their growing friendship will pull readers fully into this world and make Ryan's story feel solid. VERDICT A gem of a story with timely messages whose main audience is educators and contemplative children. Nevertheless, a required purchase. Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Library Association, CT