This is a heart-warming story about a boy living in the remote mountains of Mexico, and his faithful companions. Eleven-year-old Teo lives on a place called the Hill of Dust. It's no wonder why it's called that, for nothing exciting ever happens. That is, until the Queen of Lightning arrives. One day, a Gypsy girl named Esma, who likes to call herself the Gypsy Queen of Lightning, arrives with her caravan, and brings life and color to the place. They introduce things that nobody on the Hill of Dust has ever seen before, such as movies, fortune-telling, and many other wonders. When Teo decides to get his fortune told, he is told that he is destined to become friends for life with Esma, and so, they eventually become friends. Teo and Esma are placed on an emotional roller coaster, maintaining their friendship despite all the people that disapprove of it, and all the obstacles that get in the way. Are they really destined to be friends for life?
The Lightning Queen
By Laura Resau
| Interest Level | Reading Level | Reading A-Z | ATOS | Word Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 4 - 8 | Grades 3 - 6 | n/a | 5.2 | 62605 |
Nothing exciting happens on the Hill of Dust, in the remote mountains of Mexico in the 1950s. There's no electricity, no plumbing, no cars, just day after day of pasturing goats. And now, without his sister and mother, eleven-year-old Teo's life feels even more barren. And then one day, the mysterious young Esma, who calls herself the Gypsy Queen of Lightning, rolls into town like a fresh burst of color. Against all odds, her caravan's Mistress of Destiny predicts that Teo and Esma will be longtime friends. Suddenly, life brims with possibility. With the help of a rescued duck, a three-legged skunk, a blind goat, and other allies, Teo and Esma must overcome obstacles-even death-to fulfill their impossible destiny. Inspired by true stories derived from rural Mexico, The Lightning Queen offers a glimpse of the encounter between two fascinating but marginalized cultures--the Rom and the Mixtec Indians--while telling the heart-warming story of an unlikely friendship that spans generations.
Publisher: Scholastic Press
ISBN-13: 9780545800853
ISBN-10: 0545800854
Published on 12/27/2016
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 336
Book Reviews (4)
This book is about Teo and Esma. Teo finds all these animals, a blind goat, a rescued duck, and a 3 legged skunk. They all help Esma and Teo overcome friendship obstacles. It says even with death to fulfill their impossible destiny. And I'm at the part where Teo almost dies but Esma saves him. Now the doctor came to see if he was okay. While Teo is recovering Esma is staying in Teo's grandpa's room.
This is a very good book about Teo whose sister died and he saves animals unexpectedly while becoming friends with the Gypsy Queen of Lightning. They grow up and become separated and come together unexpectedly.
A fascinating and one-of-a-kind read. Also, a great boy/girl friendship story.