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Every morning, 12 year-old Lucía scales the massive Sombra Trees that shroud Coquí Island in darkness in search of their rare medicinal fruit. Her secret advantage is a parrot named Malo with a sharp sense of smell and a sharper tongue. But when her grandmother’s health deteriorates and the fruit grows scarce, Lucía ventures into a foggy labyrinth where even the most nimble climbers vanish. When shady characters follow her and seize Malo, Lucía must use her wits to pull off her riskiest venture yet: escaping with her life.​

Release Date: Summer 2027​​

Art by Molly Clasen

Pagán Photo Credit to Justin McRobert.jpg

​Photo by Justin McRobert

BIO

Unlike her fictional characters, Darlene has never had a talking parrot or a ghost as a friend. But she did have horses, dogs, and cats that she talked to plenty growing up and she did live in a haunted house. An award-winning writer whose publications include poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, Darlene teaches literature and writing at Pacific University in Oregon and has taught a variety of subjects to children of all ages. She lives in the Willamette Valley with her family and four cats and spends as much time as she can in the woods.

 

​FAVORITES

 

Favorite Colors: Blue and Purple

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Favorite Planet: Neptune

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Favorite Constellation: Orion’s Belt

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Favorite Forest: El Yunque Rainforest, Puerto Rico

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Favorite Animal: Coquí

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Favorite Fruit: Blueberries and Mango

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Favorite Food: Vegetarian Pho

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Favorite Puerto Rican Food: Pasteles

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Favorite Dessert: Tembleque (coconut pudding)

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Favorite Candy: Chocolate

 

Favorite Place: Forests

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Favorite Weather: Rain

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Favorite Middle Grade Novels:

  • The Girl and The Ghost, Hannah Alkaf

  • A Wish in the Dark, Christine Soontornvat

  • Skullduggery Pleasant Series, Derek Landy

  • The Thing About Jellyfish, Ali Benjamin

  • The Girl Who Drank the Moon, Kelly Barnhill

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Favorite YA Novels:

  • The Marrow Thieves, Cherie Dimaline

  • The Bear and the Nightingale, Katherine Arden

  • They Both Die at the End, Adam Silvera

  • Winterwood, Shea Ernshaw

  • Anything by Laura Ruby

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Favorite Adult Books:

  • The House of the Spirits, Isabel Allende (novel)

  • The Rock Eaters, Brenda Peynado (short stories)

  • The Soul of an Octopus, Sy Montgomery (nonfiction)

  • There, There, Tommy Orange (novel)

  • The Overstory, Richard Powers (novel)

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