Omega Morales and the Legend of La Lechuza

August 1, 2022
Deep empathy is a special power but a double-edged sword for a Mexican American girl in this middle-grade debut from Kemp. The town of Noche Buena is precariously divided between families with magic and those without. Omega Morales, whose best friend is a ghost from Venezuela, is a descendant of a long line of magic practitioners who use their abilities to empathize in a variety of ways to assist others, but Omega feels out of place as she struggles with her burgeoning power while it appears to come so easily to others. Amid this internal and external turmoil, an ominous creature of myth has been spotted in the community: La Lechuza. Hoping to mend rifts, Omega sets out to discover the truth of La Lechuza's identity and the meaning behind her appearance. At each turn adults seek to stymie her efforts, yet Omega feels drawn to La Lechuza in an inexplicable way. As her ties to the town's tormentor are revealed, so too are generations of secrecy and trauma alongside the true power--and dangers--of Omega's empathic abilities. Kemp weaves a page-turning plot while executing a satisfyingly slow reveal of the story's core secret and the characters surrounding it. Readers will be eager to discover what Omega does next and to unveil more of the magical world of Noche Buena. A satisfying mystery with depths to plumb. (Paranormal. 9-13)

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September 1, 2022
Grades 4-7 Omega Morales comes from a family of empaths that spans generations, but in the town of Noche Buena, there are those without powers who shun her and her family, causing them to be more reclusive. Omega has powers that she is still developing at what seems like a much slower pace than her cousin Carlitos. When La Lechuza, a witch in Mexican folklore who could transform into an owl, shows up in Noche Buena and begins to cause trouble, Omega notices that her powers begin amplifying. Omega, Carlitos, and Clau, their ghost friend, set out to solve the mystery of La Lechuza and her connection to Omega. With a fun mixture of the supernatural, Mexican folklore, and generational magic, Kemp creates an entertaining story that touches upon family, friendships, and loss. The illustrations and Spanish text sprinkled throughout help to enhance the story and reel in the reader. This title would be a perfect choice for those who enjoyed Loter�a (2021), by Karla Arenas Valenti.

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Starred review from October 17, 2022
Mexican 12-year-old Omega Morales feels like the odd one out in the small town of Noche Buena, and in her tight-knit magical family of empaths. While her cousin Carlitos is a natural at controlling his powers, Omega—who’s half human as opposed to fully magical—can barely keep her abilities from giving her a stomachache. When an ex-friend accuses Omega of being behind the recent disappearances of neighborhood cats, she wonders what could be stirring up trouble. Accompanied by Carlitos and their best friend Clau, a ghost from Venezuela, Omega digs deeper into the terrifying mystery behind folkloric witch La Lechuza, uncovering long-buried secrets about her own family, and her powers, along the way. Kemp (Heartbreak Symphony) skillfully follows even the most antagonistic characters’ interiority throughout, cultivating empathy and understanding around experiences contributing to their behavior. Silver linings balance emotionally fraught moments involving bullying, death and grief, and hate in this well-crafted tale that manages to both deliver scares and elicit laughs. Ages 8–12. Agent: Andrea Morrison, Writers House.

September 1, 2022
Omega Morales comes from a family of empaths, enchanters who can read and influence the emotions of people and objects around them. Omega struggles to control her power, which causes her to feel like an outcast within her family. Her inability to manage her magic also means that she cannot control how much the feelings of others affect her, forcing her to isolate herself from her emotion-filled classmates. When the trees talk of a scary being haunting the city, Omega goes in search of answers and discovers the legend of La Lechuza, a terrifying witch with the power to transform herself into an owl. Could La Lechuza be responsible for the violent occurrences happening throughout the city? Omega, cousin Carlitos, and best friend Clau (a young ghost who has refused to pass on to the afterlife) work to unravel the mystery before it's too late. Kemp's middle-grade debut, with Morales's black-and-white art interspersed, is an entertaining, sometimes frightening, and thought-provoking story that comments on generational trauma, bullying, friendship, and family. Readers will relate to Omega's struggles to trust herself in difficult situations. S. R. Toliver

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from October 28, 2022

Gr 4-7-In the small, south Texas town of Noche Buena, magic folk live alongside non-magic. The Moraleses are empaths, able to feel the emotions of others around them. Unlike her family, Omega has not yet obtained the ability to successfully manipulate those feelings, something that has overwhelmed her and caused her to become ill more than once. After her best friend Abby broke off their friendship, Omega finds comfort and company with her cousin Carlitos and Clau, a ghost who suddenly appeared one day and has been living with them. When cats in the neighborhood start disappearing, Omega, Carlitos, and Clau try to dig deeper into the mystery-one that leads them to suspect that a legendary creature known as La Lechuza has arrived in their town. Omega unearths truths about her family, her abilities, how La Lechuza is connected to her, and who truly is behind the dark happenings. This fast-paced and fantastical middle grade novel will envelop readers in its magical but also familiar world as Omega deals with the complexities of friendship, bullying, and first love-all while trying to control her magical abilities. Along with Omega, tweens will discover the power of memories and love, as well as the reality that not all monsters are supernatural. Full of dark mystery and unique and memorable characters, Kemp's middle grade debut will enchant readers. VERDICT Heartfelt and suspenseful, this title is an excellent choice for middle grade collections.-Selenia Paz

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2022
Omega Morales comes from a family of empaths, enchanters who can read and influence the emotions of people and objects around them. Omega struggles to control her power, which causes her to feel like an outcast within her family. Her inability to manage her magic also means that she cannot control how much the feelings of others affect her, forcing her to isolate herself from her emotion-filled classmates. When the trees talk of a scary being haunting the city, Omega goes in search of answers and discovers the legend of La Lechuza, a terrifying witch with the power to transform herself into an owl. Could La Lechuza be responsible for the violent occurrences happening throughout the city? Omega, cousin Carlitos, and best friend Clau (a young ghost who has refused to pass on to the afterlife) work to unravel the mystery before it's too late. Kemp's middle-grade debut, with Morales's black-and-white art interspersed, is an entertaining, sometimes frightening, and thought-provoking story that comments on generational trauma, bullying, friendship, and family. Readers will relate to Omega's struggles to trust herself in difficult situations.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)