 | Fire among clouds (Codex Black) Author: Moncada Lozano, Camilo | |
| Price: $13.93 | ||
Summary:
Donaji is a fearless Zapotec girl who, even though she's only fifteen, is heralded as a hero by her village. Donaji sets out on an adventure--accompanied by the god that lives inside of her poncho--to find her missing father. Along the way, she meets a 17-year-old winged Mexica warrior named Itzcacalotl, and over time their temporary partnership blooms into an incredible friendship. The search brings the young pair closer to danger and deeper into mystery. In graphic novel format.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (05/01/23)
School Library Journal (05/26/23)
Booklist (+) (03/15/23)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 03/15/2023 *Starred Review* Zapotec teen Donaji departs her village on a quest to find her long-lost father. Brimming with confidence, she loses her way, stumbling upon Itzcacalotl, a Mexica boy separated from his own party of warriors, members of the enemy Triple Alliance. Despite differing allegiances, they band together on Donaji’s quest, pitting her fearlessness, her god-inhabited poncho, and his burgeoning crow-themed superpowers against the supercompetent thief Citlalmina, as well as various supernatural creatures, including the ghastly, terrifying Yohualtepuztli, the Night Axe. As this summary attests, here is a historical epic that fully immerses readers in Mesoamerican culture, religion, politics, language, and aesthetics. However, a visual language that is pure manga, vibrant colors, and burnished lighting combine to make it feel absolutely immediate and tonally modern. Indeed, the fully fleshed-out cultures soar to heights of such marvelous fancy, the setting could easily be taken for wholly invented high fantasy, making this a great way to sneak some history to your fantasy-minded readers. The characters and emotions, though, are highly relatable, the climax turning not on battle but on Donaji’s ability to confront her own shortcomings. Both a thrilling epic and a setup for forthcoming volumes—not to mention a rollicking action-adventure featuring well-crafted characters—this gets the highest recommendation, right down to its very helpful back matter, addressing language, beliefs, and historical context. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 05/26/2023 Gr 6 Up—Inside a hollow mountain, a masked group gathers, and a forbidden ritual is completed. Darkness enters the world, as readers learn the Triple Alliance of the Nahua cities of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan aims to conquer the known world. A young Mexica warrior, Itzcacalotl, goes off on his own to explore, leaving a marching army behind, and falls into a trap. In the small village of Quie Yelaag, Zapotec teen Donají celebrates her 15th birthday by heading out into the world to find her missing father. Accompanying her will be a god named Chicahualizteotl, who inhabits her poncho and grants her tremendous strength. These two adventurers are bound to cross paths, and when they do, their adventure will be legendary, and world-changing, even pitting them against gods themselves. Set in 15th-century Mesoamerica, this graphic novel was originally a webcomic hosted on Tapas. The author/illustrator, who is based in Mexico City, is also the creator of the 2017 animated short film Donají & the Magical Poncho, which serves as a prequel to this story. The art style is vibrant and colorful, capturing the imagination and serving the story well. VERDICT With roots in Mesoamerican mythology, this fantastic tale will charm any reader. Its connection to history and tradition makes it wonderful for teaching while being entertaining with its adventure.—Adam Fisher - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
