"Gripping in its twists and turns, and moving in its themes — truly a beautiful cuento."
—The New York Times
Habia una vez . . .
There lived a girl named Petra Pena, 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?
Pura Belpre Honor-winning author Donna Barba Higuera presents us with a brilliant journey through the stars, to the very heart of what makes us human.
"Gripping in its twists and turns, and moving in its themes — truly a beautiful cuento."
—The New York Times
"Clever and compelling … wonderfully subversive."
—The Wall Street Journal
★ "This tale packs a wallop. Exquisite."
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "Gripping, euphonious, and full of storytelling magic."
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ "A strong, heroic character, fighting incredible odds to survive and protect others."
—School Library Journal, starred review