Lobizona: A Novel | 
These two quotes from the beginning and the end of the story were powerful. The progression from labels and words "pelting" and "eviscerating" Manu to "why let language ensnare you" felt very indicative of her character development and the realization that she doesn't need to adhere to the systems that she believed she needed to fit into. I think these are great messages for younger readers to see and understand.
I really enjoyed the combination of fantasy and folklore with realistic, tough topics. I think it's a great way to have younger audiences consume issues like immigration without it feeling too heavy, especially if it's something that hits too close to home for someone. I also liked the use of both English and Spanish. It reminded me of Solito in a lot of ways.
“...and you could wind up before the tribunal. I‘ve been studying their decisions, and they tend to be led by their pragmatism. Our world is gray, and rapidly gray-ing, and the tribunal navigates it by sticking to a determinedly black-and-white approach. They rule by the book and can‘t be swayed by emotion. If you don‘t fit the exact letter of the law, they see you as going against it.“
“Why settle for being a son of the system, when you can mother a movement?”
This quote was so powerful! I loved the play on words. I also appreciated how familial relationships are tied into the quote given Manu's sometimes complicated relationship with her own family. This book does not shy away from questioning systems in place that are not productive.
I liked how this book had numerous discussions about the term “illegal.“ I have always detested the use of this word and I am glad that the concept was discussed throughout Manu's journey. The discussion of immigration throughout the book reminded me a bit of “Solito,“ with a magical twist, of course. I liked the portrayal of Manu trying to direct her newfound identity and figuring out where she fits in.
I really enjoyed how this book incorporated parts of Argentinian folklore and culture. It is so interesting to compare American and Argentinian folklore. The author did an amazing job of incorporating the aspects of the folklore into the story. This was a very unique read and I enjoyed reading something beyond my typical scope!
I had a really hard time getting on board with this book. I really tried to like it because of the representation within the book and it has an interesting plot, but I just didn‘t like it very much. I can see the value in it and would definitely have it in my classroom, but it's not for me. With that being said, I really am not a fantasy person which I‘m sure plays a role.
pickI still have mixed feelings about this book just because of the pacing of it and the fantasy element wasn‘t keeping me in the entire time. However, I still think the themes discussed in it are so important to consider and is something rare to see! I would definitely recommend it to younger readers but I may also revisit it in the future for another go.
I‘ve liked the book the farther along I‘ve gotten into and mostly because of the direct conversation about the societal issues that Manu faces. It isn‘t a hidden or background mention of her issues with gender roles and immigration. I appreciate how open it is about it and it allows for younger readers who are being introduced to it, to know that it‘s allowed to be talked about.
pickI ended up liking this book a lot more than I expected to! I appreciate that Garber didn‘t sugarcoat the struggles that characters faced in the story, such as immigration, gender roles, sexuality, etc.; their struggles were very real, even in a fantastical setting. I would recommend this novel to young readers, because while Manu‘s struggles may not be relatable to every reader, I still think there are insightful lessons to learn from her story.
After spending all of her life with just her mother and Perla for a family, I‘m glad that Manu was able to find a home within her friends. Her “otherness” still prevents her from being truly accepted in either the human society or the Septimus society, but being surrounded by those who love her may be just what she needs during this time of big changes in her life.
I absolutely love the cover of this book. I think it is by far my favorite out of all the books we have read thus far. The cover captured my attention and made me want to read the book. I also liked how her eyes are so distinct on the cover because it is obviously such a big part of the book.
I loved reading this book! It was a really slow start, but I got sucked in once Manu reached the school. I really liked how Manu turned “undocumented” into a superpower. (Saysa had some really awesome lines, too!) I would love to read the others in the series!
The displacement Manu feels in her life is really sad. She never felt like she and her mom belonged in Miami because they were undocumented immigrants forced to hide; she never felt like she belonged in normal society because her eyes made her look “abnormal“; and even at the magical academy, she knew she didn't fit in because she was not a bruja like the rest of the girls. She truly had no place to call her own and find solace in.
However, I have really been loving the themes that the book has discussed especially when it comes to immigration and the deep rooted issues that those affected face. Manu's own existence as an immigrant to the United States and subsequent discovery of her heritage, both magical and not, give a glimpse into the “otherness“ faced by many immigrants. This being put in a magical setting allows for an easier, more symbolic grasp of these issues.
So this novel has been a little harder to get through then the previous ones we've read just because the pacing is a little too slow for my liking. I appreciate the world building as it's so easy to get lost in fantasy novels, but I feel like it bores the reader a bit. I'd say it would be hard to introduce to a younger reader and especially a whole class/small group because it doesn't draw you in enough.
I think this would be a good book for someone into fantasy and wants a good message to go along with it. Themes of identity, gender roles, immigration and family are really relatable and important to a diverse audience, and I think this book would be perfect for that, while also having an interesting spin on it.
I like the message that this book presents regarding immigration and emphasizes importance of changing modern immigration policies by exploiting some of the horrors of it. That being said, I do not love the fantasy aspect. I am not a fantasy gal and I know a lot of English Ed. people are but I just cannot get into it. I respect the art that Garner created but the werewolves and witches thing did not appeal to me. I want to read twilight too but
Sorry I took this photo of my iPad because I don‘t have Litsy on it—- but I felt this last quote from Saysa was pretty powerful. I think this goes to show how leadership and taking action takes one person to stand up to create a movement.
The beginning of this book felt very slow. Compared to a lot of the books we‘ve read, this has been a very unenthusiastic and difficult start to me. It may be because the chapters are on the shorter side, but this is just something I don‘t like. I like books that have an intense beginning to draw me in, but this just felt drug out a little bit.
Something I really like about this book is how periods are so plainly discussed. In other books I read, I wonder about how periods would affect a female character‘s life in the plot — the one that comes to mind is “The Hunger Games”. In this book, Manu‘s menstrual cycle is not only considered, but it is also essential to the plot.
I honestly was not expecting Manu to tell her new acquaintances about her father. At first, this book reminded me of another book series, in which the protagonist holds onto her secret until the very end. I thought that‘s where this book was going to go. It was a pleasant surprise, though!
I typically don't read many magical realism/fantasy novels so seeing another in the reading list was really good to explore more YA novels in this genre. I've also never read a fantasy novel from a Latina author so this was especially cool to see! The beginning is a lot of world building and explaining more of the real-world aspects of Manuela's life so I'm excited to see the magical elements play into it.
Though the start of this novel is a little bit slower than I would prefer, I am intrigued how the author is setting up the story; world-building for stories of magical realism shouldn‘t be rushed, in my opinion, so I‘m optimistic about the rest of this book. I‘m excited to learn more about the importance of the Citadel and about the significance of Manu‘s interest in “Other Manu”.
pickI thought this was a really fun book! I really like how this book merges real world struggles, like immigration and deportation, in a magical setting! I feel like many students will be able to relate to the protagonists struggles while also being immersed into her magical school. I would absolutely recommend to this!
I was really surprised to find out that this book centers around a magical school. The plot and setting of this book reminds me a lot of Harry Potter. That being said, I think lots of students would enjoy this book due to how similar it is to other major works!
pickI would definitely teach this novel in the classroom! It hits so many excellent talking points (immigration, culture, language) and it‘s intriguing to boot! I feel like students would gravitate to this novel because of the magic and then stay for the amazing story line. I didn‘t realize this book was part of a series and I‘m so tempted to read the next one!
I love the integration of Spanish in this novel! Obviously, it‘s written by a Latina author, and I think she does a fantastic job of demonstrating what it‘s like to be bilingual and also to be immersed in a primary English setting while speaking another language. I feel that some students could identify with the main character in this way, and others who don‘t can be shown how much determination students like that must have!
As a former (honestly still current) Harry Potter enthusiast, I love a book with fantastic magical realism! Lobizona really plays well into this category and I could feel like the author was heavily influenced by Harry Potter as well. I mean come on, a magical boarding school, with its own magical sport…SIGN ME UP!
From the cover alone, I was very intrigued by this book. Cover art is such an overlooked aspect that can really draw students in or push them away! I know we‘re all taught to literally never judge a book by its cover, but this one is just ethereal and really emphasizes the magic that you see, so I can‘t help but have high expectations!
I really like the author‘s use of imagery throughout this text. Throughout the whole book, Garber describes things in amazing detail, making me feel like I‘ve been transported into the book. I believe that students would love this kind of writing due to it promoting engagement.
One aspect I really like about this book and the protagonist‘s relationship with her mother. In chapter four, Manu and her mother have a deep conversation while playing cards about their home town and identity. I found this moment to be very rich and engaging.
I have seen this mentioned a few times, but I also think it is great to have more representation for Latina authors! Magical realism is not for everyone, but I think that it would be a great idea to offer this book as a choice amongst other books by Latina authors for a book club rotation. This could also be part of a larger unit, but I think it is very important to be intentional about including all kinds of authors!
The complex identity of this character really added a lot to this novel for me. I am not the biggest fan of magical realism, but I think that the additional werewolf element of the story was a great way for the author to prompt readers to think beyond the main characters identity as an Argentinian woman. I like this book for middle school age and I think it could be really intriguing for them.
Something that I really like about this book is the combination of real and magical experiences. While I think Harry Potter is a great jumping point for a lot of young readers, this book does a great job of maintaining those elements of magical realism, while still keeping the story real and relevant to a current issue. I think that the magical realism is very interesting, but not overpowering to a younger audience.
Some of the phrases in this book are written completely in Spanish, and many of those are not translated. At first, I was really annoyed with this; however, if English is not someone‘s first language and they are completely immersed in an English-speaking community, this language confusion is what they go through. It made me feel really convicted, and then made me feel grateful that this author was able to show this to me.
Even though Manu feels her mother betrayed her, the loyalty and love she still has for her is shown as her mother is arrested by ICE. Manu initially refuses to let her mother be arrested without her/is dedicated to staying with her. However, her mother displays her selfless and devoted love by insisting Manu save herself. This reminds me of how even though our loved ones disappoint us at times, true love is selfless and remains loyal.
This book reminds me of how Solito mixes Spanish into the text. I enjoy how the Spanish phrases allow the reader to connect more to the characters‘ culture. I also find Manu‘s Argentinian, female, and werewolf identities as a unique mixture. Though the author is certainly influenced by Harry Potter, she uses these identities to make the main character unique.
Manuela‘s father being the son of a man belonging to a large criminal group made me think of how some people are born into dangerous criminal situations with no choice of their own. Sometimes people born in these situations are even coerced into participating in this activity/their lives and families are threatened if they don‘t comply. It shows the complexity of many people involved with illegal activity.
Manuela‘s strange physical characteristics and Harry Potter‘s unexplained ability to move objects at the beginning of the Harry Potter series mirror each other. Their personal discovery of being superhuman and going to a special school also mirror each other.
I have barely started Lobizona, but something that i really like so far is the use of Spanish and English. We have read a few other novels that used English and a second language interchangeably, but this novel seems to do it much more seamlessly. The dialogue in this book feels very authentic to me, and at times, the main character references the use of Spanish, or “Spanglish“. I like the way that the author balances two languages.
I actually didn't end up liking this book as much as I thought I would; as a kid, I loved magic realism, fantasy, and Harry Potter, so it felt like this book would be a sure match for me. However, I found the world-building both overly simplistic and too complicated, which lent to a novel that felt like it focused on the wrong priorities. The writing style wasn't as good as I hoped it would be either, but I can see what audience it would appeal to
I've been waiting for the novel to address this. From the beginning, I thought that the idea of Lobizona's dual-bruja and lobizón society is very interesting, albeit a bit limiting. I wanted the novel to push back against the society that it created, and I am glad that we're getting an in-universe conversation about that. I think this moment would be great for students who themselves feel like they don't fit into any pre-established space.
I'm halfway through this novel, and I am really interested in the ways in which it handles societal pressure. Manu's characterization is interesting to me (albeit a little bit flat, ngl), and I am excited to see what happens after this turn of events.
I love the interplay between Spanish and English in this novel. As with several novels in this course, there have been interesting and varied ways to incorporate a second language, but I find myself really enjoying the strategy that Lobizona uses. It also helps to build characterization, which is super interesting to me.
