Colibri

Rating:
Summary: A vivid and mystical adventure.
Review: Tzunun Chumil, a Mayan child in Guatemala, was stolen from her parents on a crowded bus when she was four years old. Since that day, she has traveled with "Uncle," a sinister con artist who involves his unwilling charge in his schemes. Uncle supports "Rosa," as he prefers to call her, because many fortunetellers have predicted that she will find him a great treasure. Readers will identify with Tzunun as she searches her past for her true heritage, escapes her guardian and strikes up a friendship with a Mayan astrologer, and struggles to overcome her own inability to express her feelings, symbolized in the book by a claustrophobic, crushing sensation in her throat. (shy kids can relate). Readers of all ages will love the scary and magical elements of the story and savor the suspense. I especially loved the descriptions of the Guatemalan countryside and the little details which colorfully evoked the characters' way of life and their travels. Cameron has crafted a deliciously vivid depiction of Central America, and a thrilling tale of mystery.