Take your protein pills and put your helmet on
(Ten) Ground Control (Nine) To Major Tom
(Eight, seven, six) Commencing countdown
(Five) Engines on (Four, three, two)
Check ignition (One) And may God’s love
(Lift-off) Be with you
David Bowie – Space Oddity Lyrics | AZLyrics.com
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I found another one my Latinx brothers and sisters. Another beautifully told story that embraces the Latin culture with current societal events. Folklore storytelling, sci-fi, family, math, of course coming of age, and political allegory. Yes, my friends, I’m talking about The Last Cuentista. Just like Lobizona, this YA book was masterfully created to be enjoyed from gen-z to millennials and beyond.
This remarkable story was full of transcending quotes, and I am so excited to share them with you.
Quote 1: Chapter 9
“Her constant efforts to keep me safe is like being vacuum sealed. But here with Dad, I feel like someone tore open a tiny corner of the bag”.
This one hit me personally because of my own relationship with my parents. I couldn’t have put the feeling of being restricted more beautifully.
Quote 2: Chapter 19
“People do the most terrible things when they live in fear … but others are at their best”.
If this ain’t the damn truth! There’s two kinds of people in this world, the haves and the have nots … but, it’s always up to you, a switch in mindset, that can change everything.
Quote 3: Chapter 20
“Without the Collective, there would only be war and famine. Our unity and agreement on all things ensures we will never return to the ways of conflict … We will never starve, because the Collective has eliminated diversity and demand for more choices … Just because someone says something over and over doesn’t make it true.
And suddenly, after all this time, I truly understand what the word dogma means”.
Ooooh we’re getting into the meatier quotes.
If you ever wondered what dogma meant, there you go! Dogma, a belief or ideology, one could easily state is the very meaning of our existence. Everyone’s dogma is driven by something, what is yours? I mean this quote really makes you think.
Quote 4: Chapter 21
“That is not danger. That is life … a journey. You will only know if you follow”.
A lot of us really struggle with this, especially if you suffer from anxiety like I do. Things we might see as dangerous, are just parts of life. As scary as it may feel, you won’t know what lies beyond, unless you push yourself. Like they saying goes, half the battle is getting started. Take that journey, guys!
Quote 5: Chapter 25
“I realize how different and creepy a lot of Mexican folklore is. Love, humor, pain, magic, lost souls-all woven to create stories most cultures might sugarcoat”.
This one, ya’ll! I loooooove Mexican folklore. This book is about so many things but my takeaway, is that The Last Cuentista is literally about carrying on our culture through our ancestor’s unique stories. Stories that cannot be irradicated.
It’s an added bonus that the protagonist, Petra, is very knowledgeable at a young age when it comes to the sciences. Bottom line, it just goes to show how great this book truly is, highlighting Latina’s in both an intellectual and cultural light.
Quote 6: Chapter 25
“Dreamers … One day we bundled gifts in our backpack and crossed a bridge outstretched like the universe. And we made it to the other side, thirsty, in awe … when they enter the new land, the things they did not understand, the fear, the mistakes. Searching, like we are, for a place to belong and feel safe, until they found a new and magical home”.
I love the use of the word dreamers here.
Unfortunately, dreamers in this context made me think of the DACA program and the struggles of the American born Latinos, born to the undocumented. Their families brought them to the Estados Unidos for a better life, to make a new, safe home.
But the term dreamers is not just in reference to DACA, is it? And with all the negative publicity in more recent years, I too am guilty of automatically associating it with DACA. Dreamers are everyone. The creators in the world. Who were probably told some really great stories in their families.
Quote 7: Chapter 25
“Books became our language. Books became our home. Books became our lives”.
Knowledge really is power y’all. And no one can take that away from you.
Quote 8: Chapter 25
“You’ve been given an opportunity others would trade anything for … You have a responsibility to represent our family. To be kind. To work hard. Don’t fight … Everything we do from this moment on will bring great pride or great sadness to our ancestors”.
Being considered a representation of our family is a characteristic deep rooted in the history of the Latin culture. When we’re encouraged to assimilate, we are encouraged to identify as individuals and not as a whole. Can we become true to ourselves and maintain the values we were raised with? Yes!
And Petra is prime example of this.
Quote 9: Chapter 26
“by honoring the past, our ancestors, our cultures-and remembering our mistakes-we become better.”
For those sitting in the back, this one’s for you … 📢 DIVERSITY DOESN’T NEED TO BE EXTERMINATED FOR A COMMUNITY TO THRIVE. We are not like cucarachas after all. Or are we? Cucarachas are indestructible. Just. Like. Us. Let’s change the narrative. ✊🏼
@gembug19110 black kid's and White kid's can be Best friend's
♬ original sound – Gembug1911
Quote 10: Chapter 27
“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself”.
How beautiful is this quote? And how many of you needed to hear this, because damn. Something to chew on.
These quotes are amazing standalone quotes. But in context with the story, it just makes them all the better. It will feel like reading these quotes for the first time. It might even change the meaning for you. We are just so fortunate as readers, to find so much meaning in the words of The Last Cuentista.
Have you read this wonderful book yet? Let me know your favorite quote in the comments below.