Since I am as unfamiliar with Mayan mythology as the typical 9-year-old, I found this all to be very educational. Especially helpful was the “Established myth/fact/fiction” chart that detailed where certain parts of this retelling came from. I loved the accessible notes that served as a non-intimidating entry into Mayan mythology for kids who were exposed to it for the first time. This book may have fallen into two-star territory if not for the impressive backmatter. Still, once I was able to get past the tonal issues, I appreciated this book’s age-appropriate handling of a possessive/abusive marital relationship and Ixchel’s strength in overcoming it. Even if one buys into the idea that goddesses are immortal regardless of whether people continue to believe in them, it’s jarring to hear one refer to herself as a “rockstar” in the first-person or to compare the size of an ancient ball court to a modern basketball court. At first, the book’s tone was really off-putting, trying too hard to be conversational and “modern” in a way that didn’t jibe with the ancient Mayan setting. This book ended up being better than I expected it to be. Call Me Ixchel: Mayan Goddess of the Moon by Janie Havemeyer
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