The Last Cuentista
- Downloads：1408
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-01-26 04:21:44
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Donna Barba Higuera
- ISBN：1646140893
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
There lived a girl named Petra Peña， who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller， like her abuelita。
But Petra's world is ending。 Earth has been destroyed by a comet， and only a few hundred scientists and their children – among them Petra and her family – 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 – or purged them altogether。
Petra alone now carries the stories of our past， and with them， any hope for our future。 Can she make them live again？
But Petra's world is ending。 Earth has been destroyed by a comet， and only a few hundred scientists and their children – among them Petra and her family – 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 – or purged them altogether。
Petra alone now carries the stories of our past， and with them， any hope for our future。 Can she make them live again？
Reviews
Elna
，
Petra and her family are one of the lucky few given a berth of a spaceship that will take them to a new planet， since earth will be destroyed by an impact with Halley's comet。 Heartbroken at leaving her beloved grandmother behind， Petra finds comfort in the fact that she'll be earning stories and myths during her 300 year long cryosleep。 But when she wakes， everything is wrong。 Her stories aren't there， neither are her parents or her brother， and the ship is now under the control of the Collecti Petra and her family are one of the lucky few given a berth of a spaceship that will take them to a new planet， since earth will be destroyed by an impact with Halley's comet。 Heartbroken at leaving her beloved grandmother behind， Petra finds comfort in the fact that she'll be earning stories and myths during her 300 year long cryosleep。 But when she wakes， everything is wrong。 Her stories aren't there， neither are her parents or her brother， and the ship is now under the control of the Collective， who believe that in difference lies dissent， and in sameness lies safety。 While everyone else is brainwashed， Petra manages to keep her mind， and realizes how important it is to celebrate stories and differences。 4。5 stars， rounded down。 A really engaging sci-fi tale about the power of stories， the importance of history， and a celebration of diversity。 I loved the mostly untranslated Spanish。 And while there is the potential for a sequel， it stands alone and doesn't need one。（view spoiler）[I'm left with so many questions: is Voxy just going to have to live in a vac suit forever？ And the Chancellor is just OK leaving him there （what was their relation anyway？ She was already breaking rules， did she make a son）？ Are they going to be able to fend off the Collective when they eventually return？ And Petra's failing eyes barely even mattered to the plot， which it felt like it was going to since so much was made of it。 （hide spoiler）] 。。。more
Ginger
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Literary， lyrical and lovely。 I couldn’t put this book down， and can’t wait to share it。 Packed with folktales and futuristic visions of what could be， it’s definitely worth a read whether you are a kid or not。
Whittney
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Stunning dystopian novel。 Let’s update all our shelves with this book and let The Giver be second place。 Loved the story and strong female character。 So good！ Great for ages 10 and up。
Great Books
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#8
Ann
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Newbery Winner 2022
Paper Clippers
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2022 John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature2022 Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award winner 2022 John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature2022 Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award winner 。。。more
Christine Turner
，
Había una vez 。 。 。There lived a girl named Petra Peña， who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller， like her abuelita。But Petra's world is ending。 Earth has been destroyed by a comet， and only a few hundred scientists and their children - among them Petra and her family - 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。 Había una vez 。 。 。There lived a girl named Petra Peña， who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller， like her abuelita。But Petra's world is ending。 Earth has been destroyed by a comet， and only a few hundred scientists and their children - among them Petra and her family - 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 - or purged them altogether。Petra alone now carries the stories of our past， and with them， any hope for our future。 Can she make them live again？ 。。。more
Mary Thomas
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Going onto my list of all time greats。 What a book 🤯
Carrie
，
I'm surprised this book didn't get more buzz this year。 It's a beautifully written science fiction work about the power of storytelling， especially when facing the unknown。10:15a。m。 edit: I guess the ALA Committees were paying attention because this book just won the Newbery Award and the Pura Belpre Award。 So much for my complaint that it didn't get enough buzz！ I'm surprised this book didn't get more buzz this year。 It's a beautifully written science fiction work about the power of storytelling， especially when facing the unknown。10:15a。m。 edit: I guess the ALA Committees were paying attention because this book just won the Newbery Award and the Pura Belpre Award。 So much for my complaint that it didn't get enough buzz！ 。。。more
Dan
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By my count， it's been twenty years since a dystopian novel was recognized by the Newbery Committee。 The Last Cuentista is my top pick this year。 By my count， it's been twenty years since a dystopian novel was recognized by the Newbery Committee。 The Last Cuentista is my top pick this year。 。。。more
Steph
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Such a beautiful， beautiful middle grade story。 Incredible audiobook， too。
Janet
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Middle grade Sci-fi， well done。
Jennifer Hill
，
Would have never picked this book up based on the cover or title and I would have missed out。 Science fiction with a great warm character in Petra。 Love， love， love！
Kristen Jordan
，
There are very， very few books that I finish and then think， “I can’t wait to read this again。” But this one is now the top of the very short list！ It is so beautifully written， and so meaningful。 The nuggets if wisdom embedded though out the story are like gems set into a beautiful， strong golden crown of a story， strong and beautiful enough to stand on its own but made even more amazing with those little gems。This one will love on my shelf forever。
Melanna
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I had no idea this was a middle-grade reader when I put it on my list。 But if you hadn’t told me that， besides the fact that the main character is young， I actually wouldn’t have really noticed。 It’s a great dystopian adventure with enough heart to pull you in。 I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to my 11 year old。
Shannon （That's So Poe）
，
I don't see too much middle grade science fiction， so I loved getting the chance to read this。 It's an excellent generational spaceship story that explores the importance of history and storytelling in defining who we are as people even as we move to new planets and leave our earth behind。 The main character， Petra， is resilient and caring and does whatever she can to protect the people around her。 I especially loved that she is dealing with a sight disability which is very much a part of her li I don't see too much middle grade science fiction， so I loved getting the chance to read this。 It's an excellent generational spaceship story that explores the importance of history and storytelling in defining who we are as people even as we move to new planets and leave our earth behind。 The main character， Petra， is resilient and caring and does whatever she can to protect the people around her。 I especially loved that she is dealing with a sight disability which is very much a part of her life and affects how she interacts with the world around her， but doesn't define her role in the book。 The story at times felt a little clunky and there were a few instances where it was hard to suspend disbelief， but the lovely themes and messages and great sci-fi elements made it such a worthwhile read。 I'm very much looking forward to seeing what Higuera writes next！Content Warnings:extremism， death of a family member， genocide， injury 。。。more
RuthAnn
，
I did not know what I was getting into with this book， and it was really fun to be surprised all the way through。 I love it when an author takes hold of an idea and carries it through， and this is a bonkers idea that totally works。 If there are other stories in this world， I would definitely be interested in。
Katyak79
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One of the best mid grade science fiction books that I have read to date。 First off the cover is just gorgeous！ Then the story itself。 Pretty amazing for a YA book。 I love how Mexican myth is woven into the story and how Petra uses it to relate to her world。 And speaking of worlds， what happens to earth in this novel is pretty heart wrenching when you think about what it would feel like to leave loved ones behind to face what is sure to be an apocalyptic event。 Petra's relationship with her gran One of the best mid grade science fiction books that I have read to date。 First off the cover is just gorgeous！ Then the story itself。 Pretty amazing for a YA book。 I love how Mexican myth is woven into the story and how Petra uses it to relate to her world。 And speaking of worlds， what happens to earth in this novel is pretty heart wrenching when you think about what it would feel like to leave loved ones behind to face what is sure to be an apocalyptic event。 Petra's relationship with her grandma was very sweet and it made me feel that much more invested in the story。 This really does belong in school curriculum right next to The Giver and others like it， and I think that both Science fiction and YA fans will really love this book。 。。。more
A'Llyn Ettien
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I liked the idea of storytelling as a key skill in a new world。 Interesting sci-fi story with traditional legends。
Allison Gray
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This was a good middle-grades read about the power of story， culture， and diversity over against the cost of sameness and "a fresh start。" This was a good middle-grades read about the power of story， culture， and diversity over against the cost of sameness and "a fresh start。" 。。。more
SonarBR
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The book’s pace was just too slow and it was very boring。
Andrea Arango
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"。。。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。"This book was SO good， y'all。 So so good。 I'm not a huge fan of sci-fi， but I'm really glad I picked it up， because Donna Barba Higuera took me for a ride！ THE LAST CUENTISTA had elements that reminded me of a Latinx middle grade version of An U "。。。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。"This book was SO good， y'all。 So so good。 I'm not a huge fan of sci-fi， but I'm really glad I picked it up， because Donna Barba Higuera took me for a ride！ THE LAST CUENTISTA had elements that reminded me of a Latinx middle grade version of An Unkindness of Ghosts mixed with Station Eleven mixed with The Ones We're Meant to Find， and I think it will really appeal to kids and teens who value the power of stories and the unique differences that make us humankind。Check this one out if you want:🌙 a dystopian story set in space🌙 control via mind programming🌙 villains with good intentions🌙 cult vibes🌙 Mexican folklore🌙 girls in STEM🌙 loads of killing？ （😂）🌙 human survival against all odds 。。。more
Alex Clough
，
Enchanting， delightful， and completely powerful。 This is a story that I’ll never forget。 P。S Voxy is so precious omg
Nancy Groves
，
Although almost all of this book takes place on a spaceship or during preliminary exploration of a new planet reached after a journey of several hundred years， it's not a traditional sci-fi novel。 It's more about what makes us human， and the perils of losing it。 In the near future， a few hundred scientists and their families have been selected for the mission to start a new civilization， since earth is soon to be obliterated by a comet。 When 13-year-old Petra is awakened from the sleep state tha Although almost all of this book takes place on a spaceship or during preliminary exploration of a new planet reached after a journey of several hundred years， it's not a traditional sci-fi novel。 It's more about what makes us human， and the perils of losing it。 In the near future， a few hundred scientists and their families have been selected for the mission to start a new civilization， since earth is soon to be obliterated by a comet。 When 13-year-old Petra is awakened from the sleep state that all passengers had been placed in for the journey， she realizes that something has gone wrong。 The ship has been taken over by The Collective， a group of people on board the ship who through genetic modification created a highly homogenous population and eradicated all memories of Earth from the sleeping passengers， the better to have them subservient in creating what The Collective believes will be a utopian new world。 Through her grandmother， who wasn't aboard the ship， Petra has inherited a love of storytelling， and by telling "cuentos，" versions of the stories she learned growing up in New Mexico， to a handful of others her age， she hopes she can motivate them to break free of The Collective and create a better future on the new planet。 The odds are against them， and time is short。 Are hope and stories any match for the technology and weapons The Collective will use against them？ Anything is possible。 。。。more
Megan
，
This was such a chore to finish。 I appreciated the themes of identity and diversity， but the pace was so slow for a YA。
Kevin Luna
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Unfortunately I found this book a bit boring but it’s not complete trash。 Three stars will do。 It was just “meh”。
Tamsyn
，
Enjoyable story， in part about the importance of stories。
Chelsea Counsell
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First book finished in 2022！ Happy new year！ This book was an easy read （I am 30yo） and will help me build confidence for my reading journey in 2022。 The story was well paced with likable characters and a couple twists I did not see coming。 It was darker than I expected。 I would describe it as “The Giver in space with Mexican set dressing。” Solid read。 Do recommend。
Cmeiss330
，
Absolutely love it！ Such a unique story。 And that cover = heart eyes forever。
Hannah
，
So creative and a wonderful combination of storytelling and folktales with Science fiction！
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Last Cuentista
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Last Cuentista&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Last Cuentista&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0