We are half way through our Newbery prediction countdown! Can you even believe it?
Newbery Prediction #5: Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Please note that each title is appearing in no specific order other than publication date and that it is physically impossible for us to choose just ONE title to receive the Newbery medal, therefore we have narrowed it down to our top 10!

Publication Date: 03/03/2020

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Find it on our website HERE.

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Summary from the Publisher:

Maximiliano Córdoba loves stories, especially the legend Buelo tells him about a mythical gatekeeper who can guide brave travelers on a journey into tomorrow.

If Max could see tomorrow, he would know if he’d make Santa Maria’s celebrated fútbol team and whether he’d ever meet his mother, who disappeared when he was a baby. He longs to know more about her, but Papá won’t talk. So when Max uncovers a buried family secret–involving an underground network of guardians who lead people fleeing a neighboring country to safety–he decides to seek answers on his own.

With a treasured compass, a mysterious stone rubbing, and Buelo’s legend as his only guides, he sets out on a perilous quest to discover if he is true of heart and what the future holds.

This timeless tale of struggle, hope, and the search for tomorrow has much to offer today about compassion and our shared humanity.

Why have we chosen this title?

First off, this title is an AWESOME audiobook. Perfect for your adventure, fantasy and mystery fans, it is an incredible story with some twists, turns and characters you root for. Set in a realistic world like our own but with magical components and storytelling, it is a wonderful quick-paced story that masterfully weaves in parallels of our current immigration and refugee crisis.

Local folklore tells the story of refugees escaping to the neighboring country and seeking shelter in La Reina Gigante, an off-limits tower in Max’s hometown. The entire story revolves around Max’s identity, who his mother was and why she did what she did, what his past really consists of and ultimately the well-protected family secret. This is truly an incredible read that parallels our world in profound ways.