Embedded Files
Winner of the John Newbery Medal 2022
Winner of the Pura Belpré Award 2022
Copyright: October 12th, 2021
Publisher: Levine Querido
Grade level: 5-9
Reading age: 10 and up
Summary
There lived a girl named Petra Peña, who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller, like her abuelita. But Petra’s world is ending. Earth has been destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children – among them Petra and her family – have been chosen to journey to a new planet. They are the ones who must carry on the human race.
Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to this new planet – and the discovery that she is the only person who remembers Earth. A sinister Collective has taken over the ship during its journey, bent on erasing the sins of humanity’s past. They have systematically purged the memories of all aboard – or purged them altogether.
Petra alone now carries the stories of our past, and with them, any hope for our future. Can she make them live again?
Fear of the Unknown Manipulation Space Travel Determination
Sacrifice Love Discovery
ELA Standard: RL.5.3 Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact)
ELA Standard: RL.5.6 Describe how a narrator’s or speaker’s point of view influences how events are described.
Suggested Delivery: Small Group, Read Aloud
Key Vocabulary
Key Vocabulary
Humanity: The quality of being kind, compassionate, and understanding towards others. It's about treating people with respect, empathy, and fairness, and recognizing the inherent value and dignity of every individual.
Planets: Large celestial bodies that orbit around stars like our Sun.
Manipulate: Using skillful or clever techniques to influence or control something or someone in a way that may not be fair or honest.
Ancestors: The people who came before us in our family tree. They are our relatives from the past, like our grandparents, great-grandparents, and beyond.
Cultural Heritage: The unique way that different groups of people express who they are and where they come from.
Habitable: A place or environment that is suitable or comfortable for living or being inhabited.
Key Translations:
Cuento: story
Cuentista: storyteller
Había una vez/Érase una vez: Once upon a time
En los tiempos viejos: in the old times/in the olden days
Abuelita: diminutive for abuela (grandma)
Pobrecito: diminutive for “poor guy”
Panadería: bakery
Subirse el muerto: sleep paralysis
Rubio: blond/redhead
Tristeza: sadness
Y se acabo lo que se daba: That’s all there is to it
Reading Strategies
Reading Strategies
Before Reading:
For this book in particular, there are some steps that should be taken under consideration to ensure students are retaining the information the story is providing. For instance, Donna Barba Higuera uses both the English and Spanish language throughout. Providing students with this translations list will make reading the novel easier.
Another step prior to reading "The Last Cuentista" is taking time to research planets. The Exoplanet Exploration link in the Resources section above is an amazing resource to guide students' knowledge. Ask students to name things that they would miss from Earth.
During Reading:
Semantic story mapping is crucial for comprehending books as it provides a visual representation of the key elements within a story, such as characters, settings, events, and themes. By creating a semantic story map, readers can organize and synthesize the information they encounter while reading, which helps them to better understand the structure and flow of the narrative. This visual aid enhances comprehension by allowing readers to see the relationships between different elements of the story, identify cause-and-effect relationships, and track the development of characters and plotlines over time. They encourage active engagement with the text, as readers must analyze and interpret the information they've gathered in order to create the map.
After Reading:
The purpose of a one pager is giving students the opportunity to show their comprehension of the novel as well as giving them the opportunity to show off their creative side.
Writing Activity
Writing Activity
Lita once said, “You have to make your stories your own” (34). What are some of your favorite stories that you have been told?
“A strong, heroic character, fighting incredible odds to survive and protect others.” — School Library Journal
"Gripping, euphonious, and full of storytelling magic." - Publishers Weekly
“Higuera spins a tale that crosses the depths of space, interweaving Mexican folklore with a mystical strand of science fiction.” — Kirkus
"The brilliance of Higuera’s narrative is that it shows rather than tells us the power of story. As Petra shares her tales and they guide her shipmates out of darkness, readers will find corners of their own hearts illuminated as well. This book is gripping in its twists and turns, and moving in its themes — truly a beautiful cuento.” — New York Times
"Clever and compelling … wonderfully subversive.” – The Wall Street Journal
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