Audiobooks by Karla Arenas Valenti

Lola

"A simmering tale of magic, adventure, and the extraordinary bond between a brother and sister who'd journey to the ends of the Earth to save each other. From the acclaimed author of Lotería comes a heartfelt story rooted in Mexican magical realism. A PURA BELPRÉ AUTHOR WINNER • A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Ten-year-old Lola has always been touched by magic. In her Mexico City home, built around a towering tree, she is accustomed to enchanted blooms that change with the seasons, a sandbox that spits out mysterious treasures, and mischievous chaneques that scuttle about unseen by all but her. Magic has always been a part of her life, but now she must embrace the extraordinary as never before. Ever since The Thing That Happened, Lola's brother Alex has been sick. As his condition worsens, something begins eating away at the tree, causing its leaves and blossoms to crumble like ash. The two are related, Lola is sure of it, but how? Seeking a cure, she visits a grocery store oracle who bids her to follow the chaneques down one of their secret passages... into a hidden world. Here in Floresta, a land of myths and monsters and marvels untold, lies the key to healing her brother. But the kingdom's young queen stands in the way. Lola must use her wits and face her deepest fears if there's any hope of saving Alex in time."

Karla Arenas Valenti (Author), Daisy Guevara (Narrator)

Audiobook

[Spanish] - Lotería

"El giro de una carta puede cambiar tu destino en esta aventura para lectores de grado medio, basada en el juego de cartas Lotería y perfecta para los fanáticos de la película Coco. Mientras busca a su primo que ha desaparecido, una joven es transportada a un reino mítico donde se enreda en un peligroso juego de azar. "Un cuento mágico y filosófico arraigado en la tradición mexicana". -School Library Journal, reseña destacada   A la hora más calurosa del día más caluroso del año, un fatídico viento sopla sobre la ciudad de Oaxaca. Silba mientras recorre las calles empedradas y susurra los árboles de jacaranda antes de deslizarse por la ventana de una niña de once años llamada Clara. Sin que ella lo sepa, Clara ha sido marcada para la Lotería.   La Vida y la Muerte se reparten los naipes de la Lotería una vez al año, y lo que está en juego es algo muy grande. Cada carta revela un nuevo giro en el destino de Clara: un escorpión, una flecha, una rosa tan roja como la sangre. Si la Vida gana, Clara vivirá hasta una edad avanzada. Si la Muerte prevalece, ella se apagará como se apaga una vela.   Pero Clara desconoce todo esto. Lo único que ella sabe es que su primo Esteban ha desaparecido, y hará lo que sea por salvarlo, hasta viajar al mítico Reino de Las Pozas, donde cada acción tiene un precio, y cada decisión tiene consecuencias. Y aunque parezca que su destino está sellado, Clara podría tener lo necesario para romper el juego y elegir un nuevo camino.   Karla Arenas Valenti teje una aventura llena de magia y mitología, donde explora la noción de libre albedrío en un mundo donde el destino es dueño de todas las cartas.    ENGLISH DESCRIPTION The turn of a card could change your destiny in this captivating middle grade adventure based on the Lotería card game and perfect for fans of Coco. While searching for her missing cousin, a young girl is transported to a mythical kingdom, becoming entangled in a perilous game of chance. "A magical, philosophical tale rooted in Mexican lore." -School Library Journal, starred review In the hottest hour of the hottest day of the year, a fateful wind blows into Oaxaca City. It whistles down cobbled streets and rustles the jacaranda trees before slipping into the window of an eleven-year-old girl named Clara. Unbeknownst to her, Clara has been marked for la Lotería. Life and Death deal the Lotería cards but once a year, and the stakes could not be higher. Every card reveals a new twist in Clara's fate-a scorpion, an arrow, a blood-red rose. If Life wins, Clara will live to a ripe old age. If Death prevails, she'll flicker out like a candle.   But Clara knows none of this. All she knows is that her young cousin Esteban has vanished, and she'll do whatever it takes to save him, traveling to the mythical Kingdom of las Pozas, where every action has a price, and every choice has consequences. And though it seems her fate is sealed, Clara just might have what it takes to shatter the game and choose a new path. Karla Arenas Valenti weaves an adventure steeped in magic and mythology exploring the notion of free will in a world where fate holds all the cards."

Karla Arenas Valenti (Author), Yunuenn Hidalgo (Narrator)

Audiobook

Lotería

"The turn of a card could change your destiny in this captivating middle grade adventure based on the Lotería card game and perfect for fans of Coco. While searching for her missing cousin, a young girl is transported to a mythical kingdom, becoming entangled in a perilous game of chance. "A magical, philosophical tale rooted in Mexican lore." -School Library Journal, starred review In the hottest hour of the hottest day of the year, a fateful wind blows into Oaxaca City. It whistles down cobbled streets and rustles the jacaranda trees before slipping into the window of an eleven-year-old girl named Clara. Unbeknownst to her, Clara has been marked for la Lotería.   Life and Death deal the Lotería cards but once a year, and the stakes could not be higher. Every card reveals a new twist in Clara's fate-a scorpion, an arrow, a blood-red rose. If Life wins, Clara will live to a ripe old age. If Death prevails, she'll flicker out like a candle.    But Clara knows none of this. All she knows is that her young cousin Esteban has vanished, and she'll do whatever it takes to save him, traveling to the mythical Kingdom of Las Pozas, where every action has a price, and every choice has consequences. And though it seems her fate is sealed, Clara just might have what it takes to shatter the game and choose a new path.   Karla Arenas Valenti weaves an adventure steeped in magic and mythology, exploring the notion of free will in a world where fate holds all the cards."

Karla Arenas Valenti (Author), Frankie Corzo (Narrator)

Audiobook