Alebrijes by Donna Barba Higuera

What worked:

The author skillfully takes the time to describe the oppressive, despondent dystopian setting in the early parts of the book. Leandro and his little sister Gabi harvest potatoes all day in the hot sun only to be paid with a couple of potatoes for themselves. They share a tent-like hut with a frail, old woman but she takes most of their payment for herself and threatens them into submission. Anyone caught stealing or not obeying the rules of Pocatel is taken into custody by the Patrol and banished into the barren Outlands. The wyrms and spores that become active at night almost guarantee the exiles won’t live to see the sunrise. Leo is determined to escape with Gabi and find a safer place to live.

The Old-World refers to Earth as it used to be. Leo and Gabi wonder if the unbelievable tales of abundant wildlife and plants are actually true and they dream of someday living in a place like that. Readers will try to make mental connections between the world we know and the general descriptions of a world long gone. Some familiar technology and building structures are mentioned along with geographical locations and occupations. The term alebrije refers to mythical creatures but in this book, they’re simply animals the characters haven’t seen before. Leo speaks Spanish at times and I confess that I don’t know exactly what he’s saying. Readers can get the gist of the meanings for these phrases and the language enhances the cultural aspect of the story.

The essence of the conflict is based on the governing structure of Pocatel. The Pocatelans lived independently and took care of their own until the Cascabels arrived years ago. The Cascabels are used to ensure the survival of Pocatel but it’s clear the city’s citizens are more valued than the immigrants. The Cascabels living in the Pox are afraid of banishment and probable death so they don’t complain and silently perform the harsh tasks assigned to them. However, the story later reveals there’s more going on behind the scenes than anyone knows. The Directors are planning to take drastic, heartless actions that go well beyond anything done before. The real problem is the Imperator leading all of Pocatel. The repressive, cruel atmosphere has conditioned most of the citizens to have the same attitudes since speaking out against the leaders can lead to Pocatelans being banished too.

What didn’t work as well:

The book’s synopsis tells readers where the plot is headed but it takes a while to get there. There’s a great deal of description. However, the story takes a drastic turn about a fourth of the way into the book when Leo goes through an extreme transformation, and his consciousness is joined with a hummingbird drone.

The Final Verdict:

The book shares an innovative view of a dystopian culture living under a repressive, strict government. The interest level kicks up once Leo is banished as the plot opens up to a new setting, new characters, and significant revelations. Overall, this is a highly entertaining book and I highly recommend you give it a shot.