GRACIELA IN THE ABYSS

Elena Rey builds sympathy for two characters with an unlikely alliance in this fantasy. She captures the feelings of Graciela Lima, a 12-year-old who is swept into the sea and awakens as a sea spirit a hundred years later. Rey's narration builds the details of this complex undersea realm--complete with creatures of all kinds and purposes. Rey also portrays the blacksmith's son, Jorge Leon, contrasting his tenderheartedness with his parents' abusiveness. When Jorge discovers an ancient harpoon that was fashioned by his great-grandfather to kill a sea spirit, Graciela and Jorge unite to fight a band of evil sea spirits. The drama is heightened by Rey's portrayal of their cruelty. She balances the story's tension, the characters' high emotions, and the intricate world-building. S.W. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2025]