From the Publisher
* "Vibrant and vital, this collection is an essential addition to library collections." — Jessica Agudelo, School Library Journal, starred review
* "Mexican-American Pura Belpré honoree David Bowles brings his passion and expertise to this new compilation of mythological tales from Mexico … Despite the darkness that pervades most of the tales, Bowles' dense yet lyrical prose raises the narrative to a level suited to high mythological tradition and illuminates the foundations on which contemporary Mexican culture is laid." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"A masterful storyteller, Bowles packs the richness of the Mesoamerican cosmos into every sentence, bringing to vivid life ancient characters who are by turns funny, heartbreaking, lovable, grotesque, and venerable. … Bowles's Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky will be crucial to Mesoamerican literary and cultural studies as well as important to Mexican and Mexican American rediscoveries of effaced pasts for many years to come. Scholars and readers of mythology and folklore: add this to the classics. —Sean Guynes-Vishniac" — World Literature Today
"David Bowles' Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico deserves to be a best-seller for all the right reasons: accessible, informative, essential. It's destined to be the cultural anthropology equivalent to Occupied America for C/S majors." — La Bloga
"Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky was a spectacular collection of myths, written in an easy to follow way, arranged chronologically, and truly epic enough to just read them casually, without the aim of education or research. —Evelina Avalinah" — Avalinah's Books
"A fully absorbing and inherently fascinating read throughout, Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico is an impressive work of simply outstanding scholarship that is enhanced with the inclusion of a two-page Pronunciation Guide, an eight-page Glossary, a four-page listing of Source Notes, and a two-page Bibliography." — Midwest Book Review
"An important, well-written, and compelling text that teaches us about a lost history and the rich and too often forgotten magic of various groups like the Aztec, Maya, and Toltecs. —J.C. Cervantes, author of The Storm Runner" — Barnes & Noble Kids Blog
"While certainly a treasure trove for storytellers, this is also highly valuable as a classroom resource for units on Mesoamerican history or examinations of how a place's myths are inherently linked to its history. —Kate Quealy-Gainer" — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"An excellent resource for those interested in exploring epic tales, world mythologies, history and culture of Mexico. Highly recommended for students, teachers, historians and storytellers."—Barbara Moon — Reading Style
Best YA Books of 2018 that Feed Imaginations, Kirkus Reviews
Best Young Adult Book Award, Texas Institute of Letters
School Library Journal
★ 07/01/2018
Gr 7 Up—A collection of Mesoamerican mythology chronologically recounts the origins of the world up to the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in Mexico. Each chapter of Bowles's electrifying text begins with a convocation, in which the author explains the sources for his reworked tales, including the Popol Vuh, Florentine Codex, and the Codex Chimalpopoca, among others, coalesced to celebrate the connections in Mesoamerican history and storytelling traditions. Bowles adopts a narrative voice biblical in tone and scope but vibrant and lucid enough to appeal to an adolescent audience. The tales, filled with beautiful imagery and stark depictions of violence, feature a wealth of themes, including dualities in nature (all mankind arose from the "dual god"), rebirth, and the roles of women, making this title ripe for analysis and group discussions or self-exploration, as the reteller implores in his introduction. Also included in each chapter are codex-inspired illustrations that honor such artistry and align this collection along the same record keeping tradition. In addition to the back matter, there is also a pronunciation guide. VERDICT Vibrant and vital, this collection is an essential addition to library collections.—Jessica Agudelo, New York Public Library
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2018-04-03
Mexican-American Pura Belpré honoree Bowles (Chupacabra Vengeance, 2017, etc.) brings his passion and expertise to this new compilation of mythological tales from Mexico.Beginning as so many mythologies do, before the foundation of the world, Bowles weaves a chronological tale of creation and destruction, death and resurrection drawn from Mesoamerican sources. Early tales explore the failed attempts of humanity under the blazing sun or in terrifying darkness. Though human beings tenaciously gain a lasting foothold in a sea-ringed world, conflict and toil persist. The narrative continues through early pre-Columbian history and on through the Mayan and finally the Aztec empires as Bowles adds threads from Mayan, Toltec, Mixtec, and other Indigenous folklore traditions. From deep cenotes to frost-covered mountains, there are few hopeful or happy endings to be found. Rather, the specters of death, violence, vengeance, and blood sacrifice are ever present, which may turn away readers with less stomach for gore, though the mayhem is rarely gratuitous. Despite the darkness that pervades most of the tales, Bowles' dense yet lyrical prose raises the narrative to a level suited to high mythological tradition and illuminates the foundations on which contemporary Mexican culture is laid. Though an index is sorely needed, students of folklore will find a rich trove to mine here.A needed and worthy addition to any folklore collection. (pronunciation guide, glossary, source notes, bibliography) (Mythology. 14-adult)
