Customer Reviews

Earrings of Ixtumea

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A very fun book with a spunky main character, Lupe.

I enjoyed the way this author takes us to another world, and the great imagery she uses.

I especially liked Lupe, whose teenage voice is perfect for this YA fantasy. At no inclination of her own, Lupe is swept from modern-day life into that of her heritage. The world of Ixtumea is filled with intrigue, danger, and it is where Lupe learns of her destiniy.

Kudos to this author for a fun, imaginative book with a rich setting and an interesting plot.

Earrings of Ixtumea by Kim Baccellia, was a found diamond in a field of young teenage novels. As a editor I often review young adult manuscripts for publication. Earrings of Ixtumea was recommended to me by a friend to read, as a refreshing change from the pack of average novels.

Earrings of Ixtumea, stands out by well written prose, fantastic character development and a great plot. Add them all together and Kim Baccellia, weaves a story taking place in the modern day world, and a second dimension. Her movement from one to the other is not only believable but well written and a masterful change of venue for young Lupe.

Lupe is not interested in the stories of her Grandmother about tales of the old days in a mystical land. But try as she might she listens to her Grandmother even if she didn't want mean to. Lupe finds herself as the only chance of saving a land that is both foreign to her as it is familiar. Lupe with the help of a hansom warrior and spirits wins against evil.

This book should be in every young adult woman's stocking this holiday season. A must read. Brava Kim, Well done.

Jake George
Sage Words Services,
Senior editor, Virtual Tales Publications

A beautifully written book with adventure on every page. Lupe is an incredibly strong young girl with insecurities. But she's got a awesome family backing her up. I love the web and the Spider Goddess. There are so many uniques aspects -- and surprises -- about this book. You'll have to read it to see for yourself.

Lupe, the protagonist of EARRINGS OF IXTUMEA, is a smart and sassy fourteen year old living in two worlds, that of her mystical grandmother whose stories are rooted in pre-Columbian folklore and in modern day Anglocized America. The earrings her grandmother gives her, ones she does not want to take, send her on a dangerous journey to the land of Ixtumea where she must learn to accept her role as an orucula to save this world, and ours, from destruction. The story is fast paced, with wonderfully drawn characters, a book that could be a gateway for teenagers to read more fantasy.

In "Earrings of Ixtumea," by Kim Baccellia, a young, modern teenager, Lupe, thinks her grandmother is loopy for believing in an alternate mesoamerican world.

Soon enough she finds herself pulled right in the middle of that world, wearing the very things that will protect her and this ancient way of life; earrings that have saving powers.

Can she really be the latina heroin that the prophecy touts she will be? She's not so sure.

I enjoyed this book. I especially liked how Lupe switched back and forth from thoughts of a very modern setting including Burger King and her ipod, to ancient mexican culture in a humid south american country. I liked the progress of how she finds herself, comes to understand her heritage, and understands how her mom (she was raised by her abuela) fits into the picture.

I also love how the author used a lot of spanish in a way that the sentence before or after would explain the spanish phrases(for those who don't speak spanish). But for me, who speaks spanish, it really connected me to the story and made it seem all that more personal and real. I love how she calls her mom "Mami."

I think in the end Baccellia shows what power there is in family love and family bonds, and helps Lupe learn this the hard way.

Plus, I liked the ending! You'll have to read it to find out what happens!

Earrings of Ixtumea is a fantastic book, it brings you into an amazing imaginary world. You travel through this magical world of both fantasy and mythologies from the Ancient Mesoamerican culture. I hardly read fiction books, but this one is totally worth reading, you never lose interest and it is really hard to put this book down. I hope they make this book into a movie because I would love to see it animated and at the theaters.

Fourteen-year-old Lupe's abuela (grandmother) tells tales of a teenage Latina girl, from the mystical land of Ixtumea, who battles evil forces in a parallel world. Prophecy says that a savior/redeemer will come to "vanquish the great deceiver." A spiderweb between the two worlds grows weaker. What does the Prophecy of Ixtumea have to do with Lupe? What power does the pair of red earrings from Lupe's grandmother have?

On the way to school one morning, Lupe has a vision. Then a barechested stranger wearing weird leather underwear and knowing her name appears, and she's suddenly transported to another world, a world where her abuela's tales start to make sense.

"Earrings" is a fascinating story that will draw you into the land of Ixtumea where Lupe must find the courage and strength to overcome evil. Who will win? I'm not telling.