[Review] Alebrijes by Donna Barba Higuera

Amazing. Powerful. Socially aware and vitally important. This book is a must read.

First the story: Excellent writing and storytelling. This dystopian world is vividly detailed—you can feel the desolation and despair that surrounds the society. The characters were beautifully polished. And towards the end of the book I was crying—not just once, but again and again. And the ending... I never saw it coming!

Then the subtext: Beyond the actual story, there is so much to unpack in this book. It is a social commentary on racism, a reminder to question everything (especially the propaganda of those in power), and a warning about the corruption of social infrastructure (those with the most power/money/influence protecting and promoting themselves while actively trying to subvert everyone else). I can see this becoming a classic in the same veins as Orwell's 1984 and Huxley's Brave New World.

This book is next level.

Note: I received this book as an ARC. It is scheduled to be released 10/3/23.