Mañanaland

In Pam Muñoz Ryan's "Mañanaland," ten-year-old Maximiliano Córdoba is captivated by his grandfather's legend of a gatekeeper who can reveal tomorrow. Max yearns to understand why his mother disappeared when he was a baby, a topic his father refuses to discuss. His curiosity intensifies when he unearths a hidden family legacy: an underground network that aids people escaping a troubled neighboring country. Driven by a desire for truth and self-discovery, Max embarks on a dangerous quest, using a treasured compass, a mysterious stone rubbing, and Buelo's tales as his only guides. This middle grade novel, ideal for ages 10-14, explores themes of family secrets, courage, empathy, and the search for identity, all woven into a timely narrative about compassion and shared humanity.

This timeless tale of struggle, hope, and the search for tomorrow has much to offer today about compassion and our shared humanity. Perfect for fans of Amal Unbound, The Bridge Home, and Beyond the Bright Sea. "Uniquely magical...Timely and timeless." -- New York Times 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.