"Mira, Mega, you make your own way, you make your own rules. Don't let anyone stufle the power inside you, ¿entiendes?"

Omega Morales and the Legend of the Lechuza by Laeken Zea Kemp was the perfect read to start off of spooky season. Omega, Carlitos and Clau won my heart. They made a perfect team because they were patient, loving, kind and understanding with each other. Their bond was unbreakable and heartwarming. They each struggled with loneliness, sadness and depression but they never gave up on each other and their abilities. I really related to Omega because I also feel people's emotions and energies on a deep level and get overwhelmed with anxiety because of it.

I loved the storyline and enjoyed learning about empaths aka witches, the legend of the lechuza and other aspects of Mexican folklore. This one was oozing with Mexican culture and pride. It reinforced the belief that stories are truths and the importance of embracing life and not letting anxieties and fears stop you. Trusting your own instincts is a prevalent theme throughout the story and plays a role in the growth in several of the characters. I say this all the time but middle grade books are magic and Omega Morales proves my point. I highly recommend this one if you're looking for a spooky, magical read that deals with mental health, culture, identity and family. Thanks to @littlebrown for the gifted copy.

Read this one if you love:
🦉Casper the ghost and witchy vibes
🦉 Mexican folklore & magic
🦉 Dispelling the culture of fear & scapegoating
🦉 Mental health representation
🦉 Monsters: real vs. supernatural
🦉 Identity stories & trusting your instincts
🦉 Harnessing your own magic & growing your gifts
🦉 Ghost friends & animals, the healing power of crystals & communicating with the supernatural world ( )

Exciting and pulse-pounding, this spooky tale set in a loving and lively Hispanic family setting would be a fun choice for those that enjoyed Encanto.

Omega Morales and the Legend of La Lechuza is a middle-grade novel that will stir the imagination of young readers, get their pulses racing, and entertain even more mature readers. There are a lot of Spanish words and phrases sprinkled throughout the story, the meaning of which can usually be determined by context. The story is an updated version of the Mexican folktale of La Lechuza, an old woman who could shapeshift into the form of a giant owl to take revenge on those who wronged her during her lifetime. This rendition makes La Lechuza very personal to the Morales family.

Omega and her cousin, Carlitos, are constant companions; their mothers are sisters. But as members of the same magical family, they understand the struggles that each one is going through dealing with their unique gifts. Carlitos gained his abilities before Omega and is a great support to her in dealing with understanding and controlling hers. The two are fun characters with an innocent mischievousness that boys and girls will love.

Omega and her former best friend, Abby, had a falling out the previous year, soon after the death of Abby’s mother. Abby now leads her new squad of mean girl pals in making life miserable for Omega. Middle-grade students will easily relate to this change in loyalty and alliances. Abby’s grief over the loss of her mother manifests itself in her bullying and hatred, and students should be able to see this cause and effect. In fact, grief and how different people handle it is the root cause of much of what is happening in the story.

There are genuine moments of horror in the story. Mainly this occurs as the appearance of spooky things outside windows or in the night sky. But inanimate objects also talk to Omega and her family, which lightens up the creepiness. While La Lechuza is a thing of nightmares, the story builds up to a hopeful ending.

I recommend OMEGA MORALES AND THE LEGEND OF LA LECHUZA to readers of middle-grade fiction who like spooky tales, stories set in a loving and lively Hispanic family setting, or enjoyed Encanto. This book would make an excellent choice for reading aloud.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author or publisher through NetGalley and TBR and Beyond Book Tours. ( )