The Moonlit Vine

By: Elizabeth Santiago, McKenzie Mayle, Cecilia Molinari

Narrated by: Almarie Guerra

Despite her name, Taína Perez doesn’t know anything about her Taíno heritage, nor has she ever tried to learn. After all, how would ancient Puerto Rican history help with everything going on? There’s constant trouble at school and in her neighborhood, her older brother was kicked out of the house, and with her mom at work, she’s left alone to care for her little brother and aging grandmother. It’s a lot for a fourteen-year-old to manage.

But life takes a wild turn when her abuela tells her she is a direct descendant of Anacaona, the beloved Taíno leader, warrior, and poet, who was murdered by the Spanish in 1503. Abuela also gives her an amulet and a zemi and says that it’s time for her to step into her power like the women who came before her. But is that even possible? People like her hardly make it out of their circumstances, and the problems in her home and community are way bigger than Taína can manage. Or are they?

A modern tale with interstitial historical chapters, The Moonlit Vine brings listeners a powerful story of the collective struggle, hope, and liberation of Puerto Rican and Taíno peoples.

©2023 Elizabeth Santiago (P)2023 Recorded Books

Healing Journey

I loved this book for so many reasons. This book was chosen for our House of Puerto Rico San Diego book club. I am on a Healing Journey and this book fit right in. I was blessed to spend most of Feb in PR 🇵🇷 with many of my family. We also traveled much of the island focused on my Taino heritage. This trip was an amazing spiritual adventure and was a large part of my Healing Journey. I was in search of my ancestors and was able to hold a family gathering in front of my ancestral house on ancestral land. How many people can say that? I am humbled and so blessed. I will be sending this transformative book to many of my family. They need to know their history and this will hopefully light a spark. ¡WEPA!