“Somehow, the Queen of Lightning put the spark of life back inside you,” Teo’s grandfather marvels, and Teo throws himself into fulfilling a prophecy that predicts he and Esma will be lifelong friends and one day save each other. Esma, an enigmatic and enthusiastic Romani girl who calls herself the Queen of Lightning, shows up when Teo needs her most-he’s grieving the death of his sister. The diverse characters, heartbreaking events, and historical and present-day backdrops are excellently executed.Resau’s (the Indigo Notebook series) story of the adventures and growing friendship between a sensitive Mixteco boy and a daring Romani girl is set amid the harsh discrimination and struggles both their peoples faced in Mexico due to cultural, racial, and language barriers. “If books were written in black and white, The Lightning Queen would be written in color. The Lightning Queen is drawn from Laura’s experience of living in rural Mexico. Laura’s books have gathered many state and library awards, as well as multiple starred reviews. She is also the author of the acclaimed notebook series, which includes: The Indigo Notebook, The Ruby Notebook, and The Jade Notebook. The lush sentences and endearing characters make this audiobook an essential purchase.' - School Library Journal, starred review Laura Resau is the author of several acclaimed novels, including Star in the Forest, The Queen of the Water, Red Glass and What the Moon Saw.

* 'This vibrant, intergenerational tale is nothing short of magical.' - Kirkus Reviews, starred review * 'Powerful and wonderful. Inspired by true stories derived from rural Mexico, The Lightning Queen offers a glimpse of the encounter between two fascinating but marginalized cultures-the Rom and the Mixtec Indians-while telling the heart-warming story of an unlikely friendship that spans generations. With the help of a rescued duck, a three-legged skunk, a blind goat, and other allies, Teo and Esma must overcome obstacles-even death-to fulfill their impossible destiny. Against all odds, her caravan's Mistress of Destiny predicts that Teo and Esma will be longtime friends. And then one day, the mysterious young Esma, who calls herself the Gypsy Queen of Lightning, rolls into town like a fresh burst of color.

And now, without his sister and mother, eleven-year-old Teo's life feels even more barren.

There's no electricity, no plumbing, no cars, just day after day of pasturing goats. Nothing exciting happens on the Hill of Dust, in the remote mountains of Mexico in the 1950s.

The lightning queen by laura resau