( A little introduction for some context. ) I was so happy when I found La panza del Tepozteco (The Tepozteco's Belly) by José Agustín, which is about a group of kids who get lost inside a mountain and meet Aztec gods. This is rare. Since not much people know about them, even less people write about them.
Also, I think this kind of modern retellings are a great way to introduce people to mythology and legends and other older works. They may take some liberties here and there, but they don't hurt, and there's always the chance they pique the reader's interest and make them go learn more about the sources.

So, even if I didn't exactly enjoyed the other one book by this author I read (he's written several novels, and I've been told again and again he's really good, so maybe I'm just unlucky), I bought this one. I don't regret it, but I'm throughly disappointed.

( Commentary without spoilers. )

The worst part about this is that I don't think children's/YA's literature must teach something. I don't want it either. Just like literature for adults, its main function should be to entertain. It's just that good literature --the age group it was marketed to is not important here-- always leaves us something, even if it isn't its intention. In my case, mostly when it isn't its intention.

I just want well-researched and well-written fiction about Pre-Hispanic mythologies. It looks like I'm going to have to do it myself. He.
Truly, I just wanted the excuse.


P.S. All of this reminded me of what Sandra Comino references in her book Esto no es para vos (This is not for you), which is about censorship and other issues in children's/YA's literature. She mentions an article about 'serious' writers who write for children thinking it would be easier than writing for adults and actually relaxing. Well, newsflash! It isn't! Children are smart, can be very critic and they usually say upfront when they don't like something. They do deserve our respect as authors.

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x-posted to my journal