Rick Riordan Presents: Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares-A Paola Santiago Novel Book 2 - by Tehlor Kay Mejia

About the Book

Months after confronting the legendary La Llorona, Paola starts dreaming again, this time about fantasmas that are stalking her and someone who might be even more dangerous--her estranged father.

Book Synopsis

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents the sequel to Tehlor Kay Mejia's critically acclaimed own-voices novel about science-obsessed Paola Santiago.

"Paola is a brilliant, furious girl who often trusts her brain but trips over her heart."--Sarah Gailey, Hugo and Locus award-winning author of River of Teeth

Six months after Paola Santiago confronted the legendary La Llorona, life is nothing like she'd expected it to be. She is barely speaking to her best friends, Dante and Emma, and what's worse, her mom has a totally annoying boyfriend. Even with her chupacabra puppy, Bruto, around, Pao can't escape the feeling that she's all alone in the world.

Pao has no one to tell that she's having nightmares again, this time set in a terrifying forest. Even more troubling? At their center is her estranged father, an enigma of a man she barely remembers. And when Dante's abuela falls mysteriously ill, it seems that the dad Pao never knew just might be the key to healing the eccentric old woman.

Pao's search for her father will send her far from home, where she will encounter new monsters and ghosts, a devastating betrayal, and finally, the forest of her nightmares. Will the truths her father has been hiding save the people Pao loves, or destroy them?

Once again Tehlor Kay Mejia draws on her Mexican heritage to tell a wild and wondrous story that combines creatures from folklore with modern-day challenges. Endorsed by Rick Riordan, author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, soon to be a series on Disney+.

Complete your middle grade collection with these best-selling fan favorites:

• Rick Riordan Presents Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
• Rick Riordan Presents Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
• Rick Riordan Presents Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
• The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
• The Trials of Apollo series by Rick Riordan

Review Quotes

PRAISE FOR PAOLA SANTIAGO AND THE RIVER OF TEARS

*"A warm, thrilling Mexican American adventure. An essential purchase."--School Library Journal (starred review)

About the Author

Tehlor Kay Mejia is an Oregon native in love with the alpine meadows and evergreen forests of their home state, where they live with their daughter. When Tehlor's not writing, you can find them plucking the guitar, stealing rosemary sprigs from overgrown gardens, or trying to make the perfect vegan tamale. Tehlor is the author of Paola Santiago and the River of Tears and the YA fantasy novels We Set the Dark on Fire and We Unleash the Merciless Storm. Tehlor's Instagram handle is @tehlorkay.