
Reach for this book when your teenager is grappling with the complexities of family secrets or feels a deep pull toward discovering their ancestral heritage. Zeeta, a seventeen-year-old girl, travels to the vibrant mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico, hoping to finally uncover the truth about her father's past. As she navigates her nomad-like life with her free-spirited mother, she experiences the rush of first love and the heavy weight of hidden family histories. This story beautifully balances the excitement of a travel adventure with the quiet, internal work of forgiveness and self-discovery. It is an ideal choice for older teens (14+) who appreciate lyrical writing and stories about finding where one truly belongs in a vast world.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewExplores the tension of being an outsider while connecting to heritage.
The book deals with parental abandonment and long-held family lies. The approach is realistic and emotionally resonant rather than metaphorical. While there are elements of local folklore, the resolution is secular and hopeful, focusing on the protagonist's agency in defining her own future.
A high schooler who feels like an outsider or has a 'nomadic' lifestyle and craves a sense of roots. It is perfect for a teen who enjoys journaling and is beginning to see their parents as flawed, complex humans rather than just authority figures.
Read cold. Parents should be aware there are descriptions of romantic longing and kissing, but it remains within the YA 'sweet' to 'moderate' range. A parent might notice their child becoming increasingly private or asking pointed, difficult questions about family members who are no longer in the picture.
Younger teens (12-13) will focus on the travel adventure and the romance. Older teens (16-18) will likely connect more deeply with the themes of breaking family cycles and the search for authentic identity.
Resau’s prose is exceptionally sensory. Unlike many 'search for father' tropes, this book integrates the setting of Oaxaca not just as a backdrop, but as a living character that influences the protagonist's growth.
Zeeta and her mother, Layla, arrive in Mazunte, Oaxaca. While Layla embraces her usual wanderlust, Zeeta is focused on a specific mission: finding information about her mysterious father. Amidst the backdrop of a turtle sanctuary and misty mountains, she reconnects with her boyfriend Wendell and meets individuals who hold the keys to her past. The story concludes a trilogy but stands firmly on its own as a mystery of identity.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.