Los Monstruos: Ava and the Owl-Witch

By: Diana López

Narrated by: Victoria Villarreal

The thrilling conclusion to the Los Monstruos trilogy by Diana López that explores the Texas-Mexico border myth of La Lechuza.

The magical town of Tres Leches is home to the most feared and revered monstruos of Tejas. It’s where La Llorona haunted the river until her daughter set her free, where the Dancing Diablo hypnotized the town’s children until his grandson broke the spell, and it’s where La Lechuza—a shape-shifting owl witch—surveys the night skies, plucking troublemakers from the street and dropping them into a mud pit where they can remain stuck forever. Needless to say, La Lechuza’s daughter, Ava, is not the most popular girl in town. Her whole life, she’s been ostracized because of her mother’s vigilantism, which started when La Lechuza’s sister was killed in an accident. As Ava seeks to understand her mother and learn more about the tragic night her aunt died, she uncovers a family secret, revealing her place in a larger nocturnal legacy that’s been waiting for her to take flight.

The Los Monstruos trilogy, which includes Felice and the Wailing Woman and Rooster and the Dancing Diablo, brims with magic, adventure, and Mexican folklore, and is perfect for fans of fantasy adventure series like Paola Santiago by Tehlor Kay Mejia and the Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste.

Critic reviews

Praise for Los Monstruos: Ava and the Owl-Witch by Diana López:

“The strong pacing brings readers along on an exploration of Mexican American folklore told through a fresh lens that highlights sisterhood, justice, and the complexities of legacy. . . A thoughtful yet propulsive finale that finds strength in family and truth.”
—Kirkus Reviews