A valuable peacock ring.
A mysterious brother-sister duo. Paloma Marquez is traveling to Mexico City, birthplace of her deceased father, for the very first time. She’s hoping that spending time in Mexico will help her unlock memories of the too-brief time they spent together.While in Mexico, Paloma meets Lizzie and Gael, who present her with an irresistible challenge: The siblings want her to help them find a valuable ring that once belonged to beloved Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Finding the ring means a big reward — and the thanks of all Mexico. What better way to honor her father than returning a priceless piece of jewelry that once belonged to his favorite artist!But the brother and sister have a secret. Do they really want to return the ring, or are they after something else entirely?
Reviews
“A perfect introduction to the mystery genre, with Cervantes deftly fitting pieces of the puzzle together to move the story along without divulging too much.”
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“A well-paced mystery plot and a rich exploration of the art of Frida Kahlo.”
—School Library Journal
“A fun read for any sleuths-in-training.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Cervantes parallels Paloma’s cultural development with the mystery plot, fittingly, since her own identity requires piecing together memories her mother shares of her father, and jotting them down on notecards. It is through Frida, though, that Paloma begins to explore her Mexican side independently. She connects with the icon’s life and art, including her mixed heritage and penchant for self-portraits (likened to selfies in the text). Her exposure to Mexico also serves as exposure for some readers, who may have little to no familiarity with the nation.”
—Latinx in KidLit
Awards List
Arizona’s Grand Canyon Reader Award; 2022
Texas Bluebonnet Master List; 2019-2020
Missouri Mark Twain Readers Award List; 2020-2021
Tennessee Volunteer Book Award List; 2020-2021
Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Master List; 2020-2021
Nevada Young Reader’s Award List; 2022
Watch now!
Angela Cervantes answers questions about her mystery novel:
