On the Wings of la Noche
Written by Vanessa L. Torres
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Death waits for Estrella (Noche) Villanueva. In her human form, she is a lonely science girl grieving the tragic accidental drowning of her girlfriend, Dante Fuentes. At night, she is a Lechuza who visits her dead girlfriend at the lake, desperate for more time with her. The longer Dante’s soul roams the earth, the more likely it is that she will fade into the unknown, lost forever, but Noche cannot let go . . .
That’s when a new kid comes to town, Jax, another science nerd like Noche. They connect in a way she can’t ignore, seemingly pulled together by an invisible thread. For the first time, Noche begins to imagine a life without Dante. As Noche’s heart begins to beat for two people, her guilt flares. Then, she finds herself at risk of losing both Jax and Dante, and Noche is forced to question her purpose as a lechuza and everything she has ever believed in.
Primary ISBN: 9780593426173
Publication Date: January 2025
Available As: Hardcover, Audiobook, eBook
Young Adult, Age 12 or older
Community Represented: Mexican/Mexican American
Themes: Accolades & Awards, Accolades & Awards: Starred Review, Accolades & Awards: Youth Media Awards, Cross-Group Dating, Cross-Group Friendship, Cultural Empowerment, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Family, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Identity, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Storytelling, Format: Audiobook, Generation: 2nd, Genre: Fantasy & Folklore, Genre: Paranormal, Genre: Romance, Identity: Multilingual, LGBTQIA+, Mental Health, Multilingual: Spanish Featured Words, Trauma & Healing, Trauma & Healing: Death of Family or Friend
Setting: United States (Minnesota)
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 2nd Generation
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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