“An exceptionally well-crafted story brimming with mythological creatures, captivating characters, and non-stop adventure.” —Christina Diaz Gonzalez, bestselling author of Invisible Encanto meets The Chronicles of Narnia by way of Colombian folklore in this “fast-paced…thrilling” ( Kirkus Reviews , starred review) middle grade fantasy adventure. To save their father’s life, a brother and sister must journey across a land full of mythical creatures and find the most powerful and dangerous of them all: the madremonte. Twelve-year-old Valentina wants to focus on drawing the real world around her and hopefully get into art school in Bogotá one day, but Papi has spent his life studying Colombia’s legendary creatures and searching for proof of their existence. So when Papi hears that a patasola—a vampire woman with one leg—has been sighted in the Andes, Valentina and her younger brother Julián get dragged along on another magical creature hunt. While they’re in the Andes, a powerful earthquake hits. Valentina and Julián fall through the earth…and find an alternate Colombia where, to Valentina’s shock, all the legends are real. To get home, Valentina and Julián must make a treacherous journey to reach this land’s ruler: the madremonte, mother and protector of the earth. She controls the only portal back to the human world—but she absolutely hates humans, and she’ll do anything to defend her land. * Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2023* * "With the action beginning on the first page, this fast-paced adventure set in a well-realized world will keep readers on their toes. Modern kids meet traditional tales with thrilling results." ― Kirkus Reviews , starred review "An exceptionally well-crafted story brimming with mythological creatures, captivating characters, and non-stop adventure. A wonderful book to be read by all!" -- Christina Diaz Gonzalez, bestselling author of Invisible * "Breathtaking. . . An homage both to [Colombia's] beauty and its legends, with a fantastical adventure that will leave readers wishing for more." ― School Library Journal, starred review "Beautiful prose combines with gripping adventure in this magical ode to Colombia and its legends. Fans of Roseanne Brown’s Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting (2022) and Zoraida Córdova’s Valentina Salazar Is Not a Monster Hunter (2022) will adore this book, for both its mythic monsters and its plucky heroine." ― Booklist "Alessandri expertly weaves an immersive tale bursting at the seams with folklore, enchantments, and spirit." ― Publishers Weekly " The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejía is a fast-paced, epic adventure in a vivid, magical world. Readers will love rooting for Valentina to overcome her obstacles as they devour this enchanting tale." -- Joy McCullough, award-winning author of Code Red and Not Starring Zadie Louise “An absolute gem of a book that kept me on the edge of my seat. Readers will cheer this plucky Colombian girl as she navigates dangers, learns how the magical world connects to our own, and chooses kindness even at personal risk. The ending made my heart soar! Truly enchanting!” -- Rebecca Balcárcel, author of Pura Belpré Honor Book The Other Half of Happy and Shine On, Luz Véliz! "This non-stop adventure filled with mythological creatures and magical lands will excite readers and keep them turning the page." -- Adrianna Cuevas, author of Pura Belpré Honor Book The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez and Cuba in My Pocket "Alessandri embeds Colombian folklore into a thrilling tale that centers sibling relationships, eco-justice, border crossing, and intergenerational family wounds. Readers who love mythology, adventure, and suspense will root for Valentina as she embarks on her hero’s journey." ― Horn Book Alexandra Alessandri is the award-winning author of The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejía ; Grow Up, Luchy Zapata ; Isabel and Her Colores Go to School ; and Feliz New Year, Ava Gabriela! . The daughter of Colombian immigrants, she is also a former associate professor of English, a writer for Curriculum Associates, and a poet. Alexandra lives in Florida with her husband and son. Chapter One ONE Three hours into their trek through the Andes, Valentina heard it. At first, she was sure it was another coati. The whining of the raccoonlike animal had been following them for a few miles. But now she thought she heard the distinct sound of heavy breathing. The skin on her arms erupted in goose bumps. “¿Escuchaste?” Papi whispered. “Maybe,” Valentina said, a little too loudly. “It’s probably the wind.” Papi brought a finger to his lips. “You’re going to scare it away.” Her brother, Julián, bounced on his heels, his eyes almost black beneath the shade of tall ferns and even taller trees, which blocked out most of the light in this patch of the jungle. They were far from their farm and the slopes cultivated with coffee beans. Valentina blew out a breath. She loved her da