Graciela in the Abyss

Medina delivers a beguiling aquatic adventure in her first fantasy offering, set in a fictional Spanish-inspired landscape. A poetic prologue details how, on her 13th birthday, “wind gusted sharply” and knocked fisherman’s daughter Graciela off a cliff and into the ocean, where “she rested at the bottom of the sea” until awakening as a ghost 100 years later. Now she makes sea glass and helps friend Amina—an ethereal being with kelp-like hair and jellylike limbs—guide spirits into the afterlife. Meanwhile, in the fishing village of Pesca Grotta, blacksmith’s son Jorge finds a hand-forged harpoon. Recalling the weapon’s nefarious origins and connection to his ancestors, Jorge tries to dispose of it. But his efforts go awry, and when the harpoon ends up in the cruel clutches of its intended wielder, and Jorge finds himself in the ocean depths with Graciela, blacksmith and sea ghost must work together to thwart evil entities that threaten the living and the dead. Intricately interwoven timelines and perspectives provide riveting background while maintaining suspense and forward momentum. Fusing elements of magical realism with introspective, high-stakes plotting, the Newbery Medalist tackles subjects such as parental neglect and abuse, jealousy, and greed in this richly imagined tale. Haunting b&w illustrations by the Balbusso twins (Sisters in Science) depict Graciela’s underwater world and indicate narrative shifts. Ages 10–14. Author’s agent: Jennifer Rofé, Andrea Brown Literary. (July)