Never Look Back

 

By Lilliam Rivera

 

Publisher : Bloomsbury YA

Language : English

Hardcover : 320 pages

ISBN-10 : 1547603739

ISBN-13 : 978-1547603732

 

 

Acclaimed author Lilliam Rivera blends a touch of magical realism into a timely story about cultural identity, overcoming trauma, and the power of first love.

 

Eury comes to the Bronx as a girl haunted. Haunted by losing everything in Hurricane Maria--and by an evil spirit, Ato. She fully expects the tragedy that befell her and her family in Puerto Rico to catch up with her in New York. Yet, for a time, she can almost set this fear aside, because there’s this boy . . .

 

Pheus is a golden-voiced, bachata-singing charmer, ready to spend the summer on the beach with his friends, serenading his on-again, off-again flame. That changes when he meets Eury. All he wants is to put a smile on her face and fight off her demons. But some dangers are too powerful for even the strongest love, and as the world threatens to tear them apart, Eury and Pheus must fight for each other and their lives.

 

Featuring contemporary Afro-Latinx characters, this retelling of the Greek myth Orpheus and Eurydice is perfect for fans of Ibi Zoboi's Pride and Daniel José Older's Shadowshaper.

 

A Pura Belpré Honor winner!

 

 

Review

 

 

"Seamlessly blends Caribbean and Greek myth into a contemporary teen novel, exploring realistic aspects of identity, stereotypes, trauma, and romance." - School Library Journal, starred review

 

"Honors the Afro Latinx music, language, heritage and history of its characters. . . . Defying expectation and categorization, Never Look Back is a book not to be read with the mind but to be experienced with the soul. It is a revelation." - BookPage, starred review

 

 

"This fresh reworking of a Greek myth will resonate." - Kirkus Reviews

 

 

Lilliam Rivera is an award-winning writer and the author of children’s books Goldie Vance: The Hotel Whodunit, Dealing in Dreams, The Education of Margot Sanchez, and Never Look Back. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, New York Times, and Elle, to name a few. A Bronx, New York native, Lilliam currently lives in Los Angeles.