Children's Books
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This book will surely grab a lot of interest due to its timely topic about the Mayan calendar that ends in 2012. Many people think it signals the end of the world. The book centers around a nine-year-old Mayan girl named Rosalba, and her new friend from Mexico City named Alicia. Alicia is in a rural part of Mexico where the Mayans have a village, along with her father and his team of scientists who are studying frogs. Rosalba is told not to trust the "ladinos", but she disobeys her father and secretly meets with Alicia in the forest. It is from Alicia that Rosalba hears the myth about the Mayan calendar, but she has never heard it before. Since she weaves the traditional stories onto blouses to sell in the market, she should know it. When she asks her mother and other villagers about the story, they are not familiar with it either. If their ancestors told this story, then it has somehow been lost over the ages. When bulldozers start tearing down everything in their path to build a road, the scientists discover that frogs are dying. The Mayans have mixed opinions about the building of the road and Alicia challenges Rosalba to do something to stop the destruction. The story alternates with another storyline involving a young shaman from 600 A.D. His eyes were bound at birth so he could not see. A man provides mushrooms and other hallucinagins to help him see visions and predict the future. In one vision, the shaman and Rosalba meet, which helps lead to her decision that goes against the traditional Mayan ways. This is an environmental story appropriate for readers in grades 4-6. Those who enjoyed the book "Hoot" would find this has a similar message. It will also appeal to those who enjoy multicultural stories since the reader is given a glimpse into the traditional Mayan culture. I found it thought-provoking and especially liked Alicia's explanation about a sun burst that happens on a regular basis as the Earth approaches the center of the universe. When this happens, all life on the planet is killed and begins again. Rosalba recognizes this as the Noah story. It seemed a plausible explanation as to how the Mayans might have calculated the next time this would happen to upset life on Earth. This is excellent to listen to on audio as well since the accents of the two girls are depicted and difficult Spanish words are pronounced. 
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