Salvación

During the day, 17-year-old Lola de La Peña assists her mother as she uses magical sal negra to help ailing travelers desiring miracle cures. At night, she is Salvación, a sword-wielding vigilante who protects her beloved Coloma, Calif., from intruders and recovers stolen sal negra. It’s a dangerous but fulfilling life for Lola, who chafes against her community’s expectations of Mexican women. Things take a frightening turn when a woman arrives seeking the legendary Salvación’s help. She reveals that her town was overrun by militia leader Damien Hernández. He possesses sal roja, a dark and deadly magic—and he’s on his way to Coloma. Now Lola must thwart Hernández’s plans to use an ancient stolen amulet and the upcoming full moon’s power to mine enough sal roja to destroy everything. While slow pacing deflates suspense, things kick into high gear when Lola embarks on her quest. In this swashbuckling, Zorro-inspired historical fantasy set after the signing of the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Proudman (Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories) utilizes a stubborn yet vulnerable heroine and an inventive magic system drawing from the history of Central American salt mines to levy weighty examinations of colonization and tradition. Ages 13–up. Agent: Kate Schafer Testerman, KT Literary. (May)