Alebrijes - Flight to a New Haven

Donna Barba Higuera, a Carnegie Medal nominee, delivers a thought-provoking middle-grade novel set 400 years in a post-apocalyptic future. Thirteen-year-old Leandro, a 'Cascabel' descendant, is banished from the oppressive city of Pocatel after taking the fall for his sister. His exile is unique: his consciousness is transferred into an ancient drone, an 'alebrije.' This leads him on a perilous journey through a wasteland teeming with mutant creatures and pirates, as he seeks a hidden oasis and the truth about his world. The book explores themes of survival, social injustice, identity, and hope, offering a mirror to contemporary issues while providing an exciting adventure. Ideal for ages 10-14, it's a rich read for independent readers and sparks discussions on courage and discrimination.

NOMINATED FOR THE YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL 2025. This is the story as it was told to me by Leandro the Mighty. For 400 years, Earth has been a barren wasteland. The few humans that survive scrape together an existence in the cruel city of Pocatel - or go it alone in the wilderness beyond, filled with wandering spirits and wyrms. They don't last long. Thirteen-year-old pickpocket Leandro and his sister Gabi do what they can to forge a life in Pocatel. The city does not take kindly to Cascabel like them - the descendants of those who worked the San Joaquin Valley for generations. When Gabi is caught stealing precious fruit from the Pocatelan elite, Leandro takes the fall. But his exile proves more than he ever could have imagined - far from a simple banishment, his consciousness is placed inside an ancient drone and left to fend on its own. But beyond the walls of Pocatel lie other alebrijes like Leandro who seek for a better world - as well as mutant monsters, wasteland pirates, a hidden oasis, and the truth. A thought-provoking and beautifully written novel, creating a whole new imaginative world that holds a mirror to our own. Praise for The Last Storyteller: 'Truly a beautiful cuento' New York Times