LEYENDAS IMPACTANTESuna colección de leyendas

(Intermediate Version)

Written by

Kristy Placido

Cover and Chapter Art by

Rozlin Opolka

Edited by

Carol Gaab

Copyright © 2018 Fluency MattersAll rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-945956-69-0

Fluency Matters, P.O. Box 11624, Chandler, AZ 85248

info@FluencyMatters.com • FluencyMatters.com

Índice

La muchacha y el viento . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

La india Mariana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

El origen del maíz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

La leyenda del coquí . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

El Sombrerón . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

El Silbón . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Glosario. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

La muchacha y el vientoNáhuatl - México

Había una muchacha azteca muy bella llama-da Mayáhuel. Ella vivía con sus padres en una casamuy elegante. Mayáhuel tenía dieciséis años y supadre era el cacique, o líder, de su tribu. ComoMayáhuel era muy bella, el cacique quería prote-gerla, por eso, la pobre muchacha no podía salirde su casa sola.

1

La india MarianaArgentina

En Argentina, en la provincia de San Juan alsur de la nación, había un pueblo que se llamabaPocito. Una vieja mujer indígena, llamadaMariana, se quedaba en el pueblo de Pocito todoslos veranos. Nadie sabía de dónde era ni dónde

14

25

El origen del maízBolivia

Hace muchos años, existían dos tribus incasque eran enemigas. Una tribu se llamaba Charcasy la otra se llamaba Chayantas. Las tribus eranmuy competitivas y siempre buscaban la oportuni-dad de estar en guerra1 con su rival.

1guerra - war

35

La leyenda del coquíPuerto Rico

Hace muchos años la isla de Puerto Rico fuehabitada por los taínos. Llamaban a la isla«Boriquén», o la isla de los valientes.

El SombrerónGuatemala

En Antigua, Guatemala, hay una zona que sellama ‘La Recolección’. En esta área hoy en día1,se pueden ver las ruinas del monasterio y de laiglesia que fueron destruidos en el año 1717 por

44

1hoy en día - nowadays

53

El SilbónVenezuela

Una noche, un hombre que se llamaba Carlosy su hijo Andrés iban a caballo por los llanos1 deVenezuela. Eran llaneros2 y tenían que buscar un

1llanos - tropical grassland plains east of the Andes mountains

2llaneros - cattle herders

65

Aa - to abandonaron - they aban-

doned abrió - s/he opened abuelo - grandfather aceptado - accepted aceptar - to accept aceptará - will accept aceptaron - they accepted acepto - I accept aceptó - s/he accepted acercarme - to approach acercó - s/he approached acompañarme - to accom-

pany me; to go withme

acompañó - s/he accompa-nied

actividad - activity además - besides; in addi-

tion admiraba - s/he admired admiraban - they admired admirador(es) - admirer(s) admirándola - admiring her adulto(s) - adult(s) agua - water

ahora - now aire - air al - to the algo - something algunas - some; a few allí - there alma - soul amiga - friend amigo - friend amigos - friends amor - love anciana - old; ancient animales - animals anochecer - nightfall antes - before antigua - old; ancientAntigua - a city in

Guatemala año(s) - year(s) aparecer - to appear aparecían - they appeared apareció - appeared árbol - tree área - area areítos - a type of ceremo-

nial song and danceperformed by the Taínopeople to honor theirgods.

Glosario

armas - weapons; arms así - so ataca - attacks atacaba - attacked atacado - attacked atacando - attacking atacó - attacked ataquen - attack atentamente - attentively;

with attention aterrorizados - terrified atormentaban - they tor-

mented atormentar - to torment aunque - although ayudaba - s/he helped ayudaban - they helped ayúdame - help me ayúdanos - help us ayudar - to help ayudarla - to help her azteca - Aztec

Bbar - bar batalla - battle batey - a ball game played

by the Taíno people beber - to drink bella - beautiful bello - beautiful

blanca - white blancos - white bloqueó - blocked boda - wedding bohio - a Taíno word for

house bonita - pretty bonitas - pretty bonito - pretty Boriquén - the Taíno name

for the island of PuertoRico

bosque - forest brazo - arm brillaban - shone; they were

bright brisa - breeze bruja - witch buen - good buena - good buenas - good buenos - good busca - s/he looks for buscaba - s/he looked for buscaban - they looked for buscamos - we look for buscar - to look for buscará - s/he will look for buscarla - to look for her/it buscaron - they looked for buscarte - to look for you

Glosario

66

busco - I look for buscó - s/he looked for

Ccaballo(s) - horse(s) cabello - hair cacique - leader of a tribe café - coffee camina - s/he walks caminaba - s/he was walk-

ing caminando - walking caminaron - they walked caminó - s/he walked canción(es) - song(s) cantaba - s/he sang cantaban - they sang capturar - to capture cara - face casa - house casado - married casara - marry casarme - to get (myself)

married casarnos - to get (ourselves)

married (se) casaron - they got mar-

ried casarse - to marry casarte - to marry cásate - marry

(se) case - marry (se) casó - s/he married causa - causes causar - to cause causó - caused caza - hunt celebraban - they celebrated celoso - jealous cementerio - cemetery cerca - close ceremonias - ceremonies charcas - name of a tribe chayantas - name of a tribe cigarros - cigars círculos - circles color(es) - color(s) come - s/he eats comer - to eat comía - s/he ate comida - food comieron - they ate como - like; as cómo - how competitivas - competitive completamente - com-

pletely compraba - s/he bought con - with conexiones - connections confiaba - s/he trusted confundidos - confused

Glosario

67

(se) confundieron - they gotconfused

conmigo - with me conmoción - commotion (nos) conocemos - we know

each other (se) conocen - they know

each other conocía - s/he knew conocidas - known conoció - s/he met considerado - considered contaba - s/he told contaban - they told contar - to tell contarle - to tell him/her contarles - to tell them contaron - they told contenta - happy; content contigo - with you continuar - to continue contó - s/he told convento - convent; a com-

munity of nuns conversación - conversation convertirse - to convert; to

turn into convirtió - s/he converted;

turned into coquí - a type of tree frog in

Puerto Rico

corazón(es) - heart(s) correr - to run corría - s/he ran corrían - they ran corriendo - running corrieron - they ran cortarle - to cut cosa(s) - thing(s) creación - creation creer - to believe creían - they believed creo - I believe creó - s/he created creyeron - they believed crueldad - cruelty cuando - when cueva(s) - cave(s) cultivó - s/he cultivated;

grew (a plant) cura - priest curiosidad - curiosity

Ddaba - s/he gave de - of; from debajo - under; below débiles - weak; debilitated decidieron - they decided decidió - s/he decided declararle - to declare to

him/her

Glosario

68

declararon - they declared del - of the; from the delicada - delicate delicados - delicate deliciosa - delicious delicioso - delicious demoniaco - demonic demonio - demon de repente - suddenlydesafortunadamente - un-

fortunately desaparecían - they disap-

peared desaparecido - disappeared desaparecieron - they disap-

peared desapareció - s/he disap-

peared desconsoladamente - incon-

solably desde - since; from desesperada - deperate despertarla - to wake her up despertarme - to wake me

up despertó - s/he woke up después - after destrozada - destroyed; dev-

astated destrozado - destroyed; dev-

astated

destrucción - destruction destruida - destroyed destruidos - destroyed destruyendo - destroying devastador - devastating día(s) - day(s) diabólica - diabolic; evil diamantes - diamonds dice - s/he says (le había) dicho - (s/he had)

said (to him/her) dieciséis - sixteen dientes - teeth diferente - different diferentes - different difícil - difficult dijeron - they said dijo - s/he said dinero - money dio - s/he gave dios - god diosa - goddess dioses - gods and goddesses direcciones - directions disgusto - disgust distancia - distance dónde - where donde - where dormía - s/he slept dormido - slept dormir - to sleep

Glosario

69

dormitorio - bedroom dos - two dramáticamente - dramati-

cally durante - during durmieron - they slept durmió - s/he slept

Eejemplo - example el - the él - he elegante - elegant eliminado - eliminated ella - she ellos - they empezaron - they began empezó - s/he began en - in; on (se) enamoró - s/he fell in

love encantaba - enchanted,

loved encantaban - enchanted;

loved encontraba - s/he found encontrado - found encontrar - to find encontrara - find enemiga - enemy enemigas - enemies

(se) enojaba - s/he was get-ting angry

enojado - angry enorme - enormous enterrada - buried enterraron - they buried enterró - s/he buried entonces - then entraba - s/he entered entrando - entering entrar - to enter entraron - they entered entre - between; among entró - s/he entered era - was eran - they were eres - you are es - is esa - that esas - those escaparse - to escape escapó - s/he escaped escondite - hiding spot escuchaban - they listened escuchado - listened escuchando - listening escuchar - to listen escucharla - to listen to

her/it escucharon - they listened escuche - listen

Glosario

70

escuchó - s/he listened ese - that eso - that españoles - Spaniards especialmente - especially esperando - waiting; hoping esperó - waited; hoped espiar - to spy espiaron - they spied esposa - wife esposo - husband ésta - this (one) esta - this está - is estaba - was estaban - they were están - they are estar - to be estas - these estás - you are estatura - stature; height este - this esto - this estos - these estuviera - were estuvieran - they were estuvieron - they were estuvo - s/he was eternamente - eternally exactitud - exactitude; pre-

cision

excéntrica - eccentric excepto - except existe - exists existía - existed existían - they existed experiencia - experience experto - expert explico - explained extendió - extended extrañaba - missed

Ffamilia - family fascinados - fascinated favorita - favorite fea - ugly felices - happy feliz - happy felizmente - happily fiesta - party; celebration fin - end fina - fine al final - in the end; at last finalmente - finally flaco - skinny flecha(s) - arrows flores - flowers fogata - campfire forma - form; shape formar - to form fortuna - fortune

Glosario

71

frágil - fragile frase - phrase frente - front fría - cold fríos - cold fue - was; went fuego - fire fuera - were; went fueran - they were; they

went fueron - they were; they

went fuerte - storng fuerza - strength; force fumaba - s/he smoked furioso - furious futuro - future

Ggobernaban - they governed gracias - thanks gran - great grande - large grandes - large granos - grains gritaba - s/he shouted gritaron - they shouted gritó - s/he shouted grupo - group guapo - good-looking guerra - war

guerrero(s) - warrior(s) guitarra - guitar gustaba - liked; was pleas-

ing gustaría - would like

Hha - has haber - to have había - there was; had habían - there were; they

had habitada - inhabited; lived

in habitantes - inhabitants hablaba - s/he talked hablaban - they talked hablando - talking hablar - to talk hablo - I talk habló - s/he talked habría - hadhace ___ años - ___ years

ago hacemos - we do hacer - to make; to do hacia - toward haciéndose - making hambre - hunger han - they have has - you have

Glosario

72

Glosario

73

hasta - until hay - there is; there are hija - daughter hijo - son hipnótico - hypnotic hipnotiza - hypnotize hipnotizada - hypnotized hipnotizadora - hypnotizing historia - story historias - stories hola - hello hombre - man hombres - men hondas - slingshots honor - honor hora(s) - hour(s) horrorizadas - horrified horrorizados - horrified hoy en día - nowadays hubiera - had hubo - there was hueso(s) - bone(s) humana - human humano(s) - human(s) huracán - hurricane

Iiba - s/he was going iban - they were going idea - idea ideal - ideal

había ido - s/he had gone iglesia - church ignoró - s/he ignored impaciente - impatient importaba - was important importante - important importantes - important importó - was important incas - Incas (ancient civi-

lization of Peru) increíble - incredible increíblemente - incredibly indígena - indigenous indígenas - indigenous inmediatamente - immedi-

ately inmediato - immediate insistido - insisted interés - interest interrumpió - s/he inter-

rupted invadir - to invade ir - to go irse - to go away; to leave isla - island

Jjuegos - games jugaba - s/he played jugaban - they played

Lla - the; it; her lado - side lanzar flechas - to shoot ar-

rows lanzaron flechas - they shot

arrows largo - long las - the le - him/her les - them levantó - lifted; picked upse levantó - stood up leyenda(s) - legend(s) líder - leader llama - s/he calls llamaba - s/he called llamaban - they called llamada - call llamaron - they called llamó - s/he called llaneros - cattle herders in

South America llanos - tropical grassland

plains east of the Andesmountains

llega - s/he arrives llegaba - s/he was arriving llegaron - they arrived llegó - s/he arrived

lleno - full llevaba puesto - was wear-

ingllevaba puesta - was wear-

ing llevaron - they took llevarse - to take away llevarte - to take you away llevé - I took away llévense - take her llevó - s/he took lloraba - s/he was crying llorado - cried llorando - crying lloró - s/he cried lluvia(s) - rain(s) lo - him/it loca - crazy localizaba - was located loco - crazy locos - crazy los - the; them luna - moon

Mmadre - mother madrina - bridesmaid magia - magic mágicas - magic magníficas - magnificent maíz - corn

Glosario

74

mal - bad maldito - cursed mamá - mom mañana - morning manera - manner; way mano(s) - hand(s) mantener - to maintain más - more matrimonio - marriage me - me mencionaban - they men-

tioned mencionara - mention mencionó - s/he mentioned mercado - market mí - me mi - my miedo - fear mientras - while mija - my daughter mijo - my son mina - mine minutos - minutes mira - s/he looks miraba - s/he was looking mirando - looking miraron - they looked miró - s/he looked mis - my miserable - miserable misión - mission

misteriosamente - mysteri-ously

misterioso - mysterious momento - moment monasterio - monastery (a

community of monks) monstruo - monster mortal - mortal movió - s/he moved mucha - much muchacha - girl muchachas - girls muchacho - boy muchachos - boys muchas - many mucho - much muchos - many mueren - they die muerta - dead muerte - death mujer - woman murió - s/he died murmurando - murmuring;

mumbling música - music muy - very

Nnación - nationnada - nothing nadie - no one

Glosario

75

necesito - I need negra - black negro - black negros - black nerviosas - nervous nervioso - nervous ni - neither; nor ninguna - none ninguno - none niños - children ni siquiera - not evenno - no noche(s) - nights nombres - names normal - normal normales - normal normalmente - normally nos - us nosotros - we nuestra - our nuestros - our nueva - new nuevas - new nuevo - new nunca - never

Oo - or observaba - s/he observed observando - observing observaron - they observed

observó - s/he observed obsesionada - obsessed obsesionado - obsessed ocasiones - occasions oí - I heard oír - to hear oíste - you heard ojos - eyes oportunidad - opportunity optimista - optimist orden - order organizadas - organized oro - gold otra - other; another otras - others otra vez - again otro - other; another otros - others oye - hey oyendo - hearing oyeron - they heard oyes - you hear oyó - s/he heard

Ppadre - father padres - parents pagaba - s/he paid paloma - dove papá - dad para - for; in order to; stop

Glosario

76

parece - seems parecía - seemed parecían - they seemed parte - part pasaba - was passing; was

happening pasaban - were passing;

were happening pasado - past; passed; hap-

pened pasar - to pass; to happen pasara - pass; happen pasaron - passed; happened pase - pass pasó - passed; happened paz - peace peces - fish peligro - danger peligrosa - dangerous peligroso - dangerous peligrosos - dangerous pelo - hair pensaba - s/he thought pensaban - they thought pensamientos - thoughts pensando - thinking pensaron - they thought pensó - s/he thought pepita(s) de oro - gold

nugget(s) pequeña - small

pequeño - small pequeños - small perdóname - forgive me perdone - pardon perfecta - perfect perfecto - perfect perfectos - perfect perforó - perforated; punc-

tured permitió - s/he permitted pero - but perro(s) - dog(s) persona - person personales - personal personas - people pescaba - s/he was fishing plan - plan planta(s) - plant(s) pobre(s) - poor poca - a small amount poco - a small amount, a bit podemos - we can podía - s/he could podían - they could podría - s/he could poner - to put ponerme - to put on myself ponían - they put por - for porque - because poseerla - to posess her

Glosario

77

posible - possible posiblemente - possibly practicaba - s/he practiced preciosa - precious precisión - precision preferidas - preferred; fa-

vorite preguntarle - to ask him/her preguntaron - they asked preguntó - s/he asked preocupaban - they worried preocupados - worried preparar - to prepare prepararla - to prepare it prepare - prepare probablemente - probably problemas - problems protección - protection proteger - to protect protegerla - to protect her protegerlo - to protect him protegerse - to protect one-

self protegerte - to protect you protegieran - they protect provincia - province pudieron - they could pudo - s/he could pueblo - town pueda - can puede - s/he can

pueden - they can puede - you can puedo - I can puerta - door puso - s/he put

Qque - that qué - what quedaba - remained; stayed quedaron - they remained;

they stayed quedarse - to remain; to stay quédate - stay quedó - s/he remained;

stayed queremos - we want quería - s/he wanted querían - they wanted quién - who quiere - s/he wants quieres - you want quiero - I want quisiera - want quiso - s/he wanted quitado - taken

Rrana - frog rápidamente - quickly realidad - reality

Glosario

78

realmente - really recibía - s/he received reconstruyeron - they re-

built recuperar - to recover relaciones - relationships de repente - suddenly replicó - s/he replied responder - to respond respondió - s/he responded resto - rest resultó - it turned out; it re-

sulted rica - rich rico - rich ricos - rich río - river risa - laughter rival(es) - rival(s) roba - s/he steals robarle - to steal from

him/her robe - steal rojos - red ropa - clothing rosbif - roast beef ruinas - ruins rumores - rumors

Ssaber - to know

sabes - you know sabía - s/he knew sabían - they knew saco - sack sal - leave sale - s/he leaves salgan - they leave salía - s/he was leaving salida - exit saliera - leave salieran - they leave salieron - they left salió - s/he left salir - to leave sé - I know seas - you be secreto(s) - secret(s) según - according to señora - woman, lady sentaba - s/he sat sentaron - they sat sentían - they felt sentir - to feel sentó - s/he sat ser - to be shock - shock si - if sí - yes siempre - always significa - it means silbaba - s/he whistled

Glosario

79

silbando - whistling silbido - whistle silbón - whistler silencio - silence simple - simple simplemente - simply sino - but rather sintieron - they felt sintió - s/he felt sirvió - s/he served sitio - site; place sobre - about sol - sun sola - only; alone solo - only; alone sombrero - hat sonido - sound sonrió - s/he smiled sopa - soup sorprendido - surprised soy - I am su - his; her; their suave - soft sufría - s/he suffered sufrieran - they suffer supo - s/he found out sur - south sus - his; her; their

Ttaínos - indiginous people

that inhabited theCaribbean

talentos - talents talentoso - talented también - also tan - so tarde - afternoon; late te - you temblor(es) - earthquake(s) tendrá - s/he will have tendrás - you will have tendría - s/he would have tener - to have tenga - have tengas - you have tengo - I have tenía - s/he had tenían - they had terminó - ended; finished terrible(s) - terrible tiempo - time tiene - s/he has tienes - you have tímido - shy; timid típico - typical tipo - type tocaba - s/he played (music) tocando - playing (music)

Glosario

80

toda - all; everything todas - all; everything todo - all; everything todos - all; everything tomados - taken tomar - to take tomó - s/he took tormenta - storm tornado - tornado torrenciales - torrential trabajaba - s/he worked trabajar - to work trabajo - I work trance - trance transformar - to transform transformó - s/he trans-

formed traumatizados - traumatized trenzaba - s/he braided trenzado - braided trenzarle - to braid trenzas - braids trepidación - trepidation;

hesitation tres - three tribu(s) - tribes triste - sad tristeza - sadness truco - trick tu - your tú - you

tuviera - have tuvieron - they had tuvo - s/he had

Uun - a, one una - a. one unas - some único - only uno - one unos - some usaban - they used usar - to use usted - you ustedes - you

Vva - s/he goes válido - valid valiente(s) - brave vamos - we go varios - various; several vas - you go veía - s/he saw veían - they saw ven - they see venado - deer; venison venados - deer venía de - was coming from ventana - window ver - to see

Glosario

81

verano(s) - summer(s) verdad - true verde(s) - green verla - to see it verse - to see each other verte - to see you vestido - dress otra vez - again vida - life vieja - old viejas - old viejo - old viene de - comes from viento - wind vieron - they saw vio - s/he saw violenta - violent violentamente - violently violento - violent visitar - to visit viste - you saw vivía - s/he lived vivieron - they lived vivir - to live volver - to return volverte a ver - to see you

again volvieron - they returned volvió - s/he returned voy - I go vuelvas - you return

Yy - and ya - now; already yo - I

Zzona - zone; area

Glosario

82

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EsperanzaPresent Tense, 1st person - 200 unique words

This is the true story of a family caught in the middleof political corruption during Guatemala's 36-yearcivil war. Tired of watching city workers endurecountless human rights violations, Alberto organizesa union. When he and his co-workers go on strike,Alberto’s family is added to the government's "exter-

mination" list. The violent situation leaves Alberto separated from hisfamily and forces them all to flee for their lives. Will their will to survivebe enough to help them escape and reunite?

Piratas del Caribe y el mapa secretoPresent Tense - 180 unique wordsThe tumultuous, pirate-infested seas of the 1600'sserve as the historical backdrop for this fictitiousstory of adventure, suspense and deception. Rumorsof a secret map abound in the Caribbean, and HenryMorgan (François Granmont, French version) willstop at nothing to find it. (Also available in French)

Piratas del Caribe y el Triángulo de lasBermudasPast Tense - 280 unique wordsWhen Tito and his father set sail from Florida toMaryland, they have no idea that their decision topass through the Bermuda Triangle could completelychange the course of their voyage, not to mention thecourse of their entire lives!

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Noches misteriosas en GranadaPresent Tense - Fewer than 300 unique wordsKevin leaves for a summer in Spain, and his lifeseems anything but perfect. He escapes into a bookand enters a world of long-ago adventures. As theboundaries between his two worlds begin to blur, hediscovers that nothing is as it appears...especially atnight! (Also available in French)

Noche de oroPast Tense - 290 unique wordsNow a college student, Makenna Parker returns toCosta Rica as a volunteer and finds unexpected ro-mance that lands her in the middle of a perilousscheme. Does Martín really have good intentions, andwhat are he and his stepfather up to? Will Makennadiscover the truth before it’s too late?’

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Kristy Placido

Robo en la noche (Prequel to Noche de Oro)Past & Present Tense - 380 unique wordsFifteen-year-old Makenna Parker had reservationsabout moving to Costa Rica, but didn’t know that miss-ing her home would be the least of her worries. Shefinds herself in the middle of an illegal scheme, andit’s a race against time to save the treasured macaws.(Present tense version available in French)

Problemas en ParaísoPast Tense - 250 unique wordsVictoria Andalucci and her 16-year-old son are enjoy-ing a fun-filled vacation in Mexico. A typicalteenager, Tyler spends his days on the beach with theother teens from Club Chévere, while his mother at-tends a conference and explores Mexico. Her questfor adventure is definitely quenched, as she ventures

out of the resort and finds herself alone and in a perilous fight for her life!Will anyone be able to save her? (Also available in French)

Santana Past tense - 210 unique words

Carlos Santana is a legendary Mexican Americanmusician. He started out as a poor child in a tiny Mex-ican village and transformed himself into an icon ofRock ‘n’ Roll. His story illustrates the ups and downsinherent in any journey of success and the power ofperseverance. Whether or not you are a fan of Santana,

his story will leave you inspired!

Vidas impactantes Past tense - 250 unique wordsExplore the fascinating stories of six influential and in-spirational Spanish-speakers whose lives have beenimpactful. A baseball star who gave his life helpingothers, a Cuban exile turned superstar, a mother whonever gave up the search for her missing son, a para-lyzed soccer star who fought his way to the top in a

new profession, a woman who revealed the secrets of history, and a shiftsupervisor in a mine who didn’t realize his shift would last 70 days! Youmay have heard of these impactful individuals, but after reading their sto-ries you are sure to feel inspired.

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Kristy Placido

Los Baker van a Perú375 unique words(Past & Present Tense - 2 versions under one cover!)Are the Baker family’s unfortunate mishaps brought onby bad luck or by the curse of the shrunken head? Jointhe Bakers as they travel through Peru and experiencea host of cultural (mis)adventures that are full of fun,excitement and suspense!

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La maldición de la cabeza reducida375 unique wordsHailey and Jason think they have rid themselves of thecursed shrunken head now that they are back homefrom their family trip to Peru. Their relief quickly givesway to shock, as they realize that their ordeal has onlyjust begun. Returning the head and appeasing the Jí-varo tribe become a matter of life and death! Will Hai-ley and Jason beat the odds?

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La Llorona de MazatlánPast Tense - Fewer than 300 unique wordsLaney Morales’ dream of playing soccer in Mexicosoon turns into a nightmare, as she discovers that thespine-chilling legends of old may actually be modernmysteries. Why does no one else seem to hear or seethe weeping woman in the long white dress? Laneymust stop the dreadful visits, even if it means comingface to face with…La Llorona.

Rebeldes de TejasPast Tense - Fewer than 280 unique wordsWhen Mexican dictator, Santa Anna, discovers thatthousands of U.S. citizens have spilled into the Mex-ican state of Texas and seized the Alamo, he is deter-mined to expel or kill all of them. What will happenwhen Mexican Juan Seguín finds himself fighting forTexas and against his country’s dictator?

Hasta la sepulturaPast tense - Fewer than 400 unique wordsIn 1500, Queen Isabella issued an official decree per-manently closing the secret passageways that lie belowthe city of Salamanca... Nico and Adriana decided to ex-plore them and it will prove more dangerous than eitherimagined. They discover that the legendary evil thatlurks below Salamanca is not so mythical after all…

VectorPast tense - Fewer than 400 unique wordsA vector of venom infects Antonio, a Panamanianteenager, with an illness that has far-reaching conse-quences. He is transported back in time to work on theconstruction of the Panama Canal. Is his eerie displace-ment reversible or will he finish his life working on oneof the most dangerous construction sites in history?

La hija del sastrePast tense - Fewer than 500 unique wordsGrowing up in a Republican family during Franco'sfascist rule of Spain, Emilia Matamoros discovers justhow important keeping a secret can be! After her fa-ther, a former captain in the Republican army, goesinto hiding, Emilia not only must work as a seam-stress to support her family, she must work to guard asecret that will protect her father and save her familyfrom certain death. Will her innocence be lost and will

she succumb to the violent tactics of Franco's fascist regime?

La Guerra SuciaPast tense - Fewer than 600 unique wordsAmerican Journalist and single mother, Leslie Cor-rales travels to Argentina to investigate the suspiciousdisappearance of ‘Raúl,’ the son of Magdalena Casas-novas. When Leslie discovers that Raúl, along with10’s of thousands of other suspected dissidents, hassuffered horrific atrocities at the hands of the Argen-tine government, she finds herself in a life-altering

series of events. Will she escape with her life and with the informationshe needs to help the Argentine people?

La Calaca AlegrePast tense - Fewer than 425 unique wordsDoes Carlos really suffer from post-traumatic stress dis-order, or are his strange sensations and life-like night-mares much more real than anyone, including Carlos,believes? Determined to solve the mystery of hismother’s disappearance, Carlos decides to return toChicago to face his fears and find his mother, even if itmeans living out his nightmares in real life. As he un-

covers the mystery, he discovers the truth is much more complex and evilthan he ever imagined.

Vida y muerte en La Mara SalvatruchaPast tense - Fewer than 400 unique wordsThis compelling drama recounts life (and death) in oneof the most violent and well-known gangs in Los Ange-les, La Mara Salvatrucha 13. This is a gripping story ofone gang member’s struggle to find freedom.