Los Monstruos: Felice and the Wailing Woman

By: Diana López

Narrated by: Elena Rey

The twelve-year-old daughter of La Llorona vows to free her mother and reverse the curses that have plagued the magical town of Tres Leches in this delightfully sweet and spellbinding adventure by beloved author Diana López.

When Felice learns that she’s the daughter of La Llorona, she catches a ride to the magical town of Tres Leches, where her mother is said to be haunting the river. Growing up with her uncle Clem in Corpus Christi, Felice knew that she had been rescued from drowning—it’s where her intense fear of water comes from—but she had no idea her mother remained trapped between worlds, looking for her. Guided by the magical town’s eccentric mayor, Felice vows to help her mother make peace with the events that turned her into the most famous monstruo of US–Mexico border lore. Along the way, she meets the children of other monstruos, like La Lechuza and the Dancing Devil, and together they free Tres Leches from magical and metaphorical curses that have haunted its people for generations.

Diana López’s electric return to middle grade—the first in a series—brims with magic, adventure, and Mexican folklore, and is perfect for fans of Ghost Squad by Claribel Ortega and the Jumbies series by Tracey Baptiste.

Critic reviews

Praise for Felice and the Wailing Woman by Diana López:

A 2024 Texas Institute of Letters Deirdre Siobhan FlynnBass Award for Best Middle Grade Book
A 2024 Texas Lone Star Reading List
A 2026 Spirit of Texas (SPOT) Reading List


“A bewitching adventure.”
—Booklist

“A fresh, feminist take on Mexican folktales rooted in family, belonging, and acceptance.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“The novel presents a great lesson on love, acceptance, and overcoming fears. Recommended for readers who enjoy a fast-paced fantasy with folkloric roots.”
—School Library Journal

“A story as sweet and layered as the perfect tres leches cake.”
—Celia C. Pérez, award-winning author of The First Rule of Punk

A new perspective of La Llorona

I can't wait to read this to my class and discuss how folklore is passed down whether it is true or not.