Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia

 Paola's mother believes in the old Mexican mystical folklore, which is an unending source of embarrassment.  Paola tries to keep a lid on her frustration with her mother because she understands how hard it has been on her mother since her father disappeared.  But that does not keep Paola from defying her mother's injunction not to go near the Gila river because it is source of "evil magic".  Then one day Paola's friend, Emma, disappears by the river, and Paola and her best friend, Dante goes to look for her.  Strange things start to happen and Paola realizes there is more to her mother's superstitions than she suspected. 

This is another in the "Rick Riordan Presents" imprint, this one focusing on the legend of La Llorona. I have enjoyed the books about Aru Shah and Tristan Strong that are also "Rick Riordan Presents" books, but I didn't like this one as well as those others.  There were a couple of things that didn't work as well for me.  I didn't like that Pao and Dante were sometimes pretty mean to each other.  I know their squabbles were supposted to be caused by adolescent hormons, but it didn't work for me. I also didn't feel like the story gave me any new insights into Mexican culture. I thought they took the Llorona legend and stretched it all out of proportion.  I did like the little cupacabra puppy though.  Maybe if I were more familiar with the mythology I would have enjoyed it more.   (2020, 350 p)