Latina in Wonderland

Praise from readers...

"Jennifer Prado's, Latina in Wonderland, is rich with unforgettable images: a child whose presence is known to her parents before she is conceived, a passion fruit orchard steeped in magic, a young girl who smells of honey and has a hummingbird living in her ear, a mother who grows nearly bald with worry for her child.

But even magical worlds carry problems like our own, where loving parents wonder if it's best to warn their daughter of the world's dangers—its child-eater, its nearby city where people are trapped in cubicles, staring into screens—or to shield her from such concerns.

When the outside world encroaches, this bold young girl journeys deep into a hole in the ground to defend the strange but simple life she loves. Latina in Wonderland gives us faith that wrongs can be righted, that "bad" people can become "good," that the true magic of Wonderland is something we all have at our fingertips."

--Susan Henderson, Editor/Producer of LitPark.com and author of the forthcoming novel: Tap Root (St. Martin’s, 2008.)

"Jennifer Prado spins words into magic in this original and enchanting take on the Lewis Carroll classic. Her vibrant characters swept me along on their fantastical journey, leading me up from birth, down through an armadillo hole and back to Wonderland, with lessons on love for each other and respect for nature along the way."

--Ellen Meister, author of Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA, (William Morrow, 2006)

"Latina in Wonderland is wildly imaginative, magical and mystical. Full of haunting imagery and graced with memorable characters that are both fanciful and believable, it stands head and shoulders above the usual Young Adult fare. Jennifer Prado has created a marvelous world of possibilities and perils, skillfully drawing us into its mysteries and imparting gentle wisdom as we follow Honey on her odyssey. This is a book for readers of all ages, transcending the limits of its genre and becoming a parable rich with insight and timeless truth."

--Phoebe Kate Foster, Assistant Editor of The Dead Mule.com and former Editor of PopMatters.com.

"Latina in Wonderland is a sensual retelling of the myth of Persephone and Demeter set in South America amid environmental destruction. Like Persephone, the protagonist, Honey, disappears beneath the ground while her mother mourns her disappearance in the world above. While underground, Honey is accompanied by John Firestarter who yearns to be good and to love Honey. Together, with the help of a hummingbird and other animal guides, they embark on a quest, which holds the key to her parents’ livelihood and saving the world of Wonderland.”

--Stephanie Anagnoson, Producer of the Blog: Surviving the Workday: How to Use Spirituality to Thrive at Work