Mañanaland - by Pam Muñoz Ryan

About the Book

Twelve-year-old Max, who loves the legend Buelo tells him about a mythical gatekeeper who can guide brave travelers on a journey into tomorrow, sets out on a dangerous quest to discover if he is true of heart and what the future holds, armed with a treasured compass, a mysterious stone rubbing, and Buelo's legend as his only guides.

Book Synopsis

Children's Literature Legacy Award Winner

This timeless tale of struggle, hope, and the search for tomorrow has much to offer today about compassion and our shared humanity. Perfect for fans of Amal Unbound, The Bridge Home, and Beyond the Bright Sea.

"Uniquely magical...Timely and timeless." -- New York Times

Maximiliano Cordoba loves stories, especially the legend Buelo tells him about a mythical gatekeeper who can guide brave travelers on a journey into tomorrow.

If Max could see tomorrow, he would know if he'd make Santa Maria's celebrated futbol team and whether he'd ever meet his mother, who disappeared when he was a baby. He longs to know more about her, but Papa won't talk. So when Max uncovers a buried family secret--involving an underground network of guardians who lead people fleeing a neighboring country to safety--he decides to seek answers on his own.

With a treasured compass, a mysterious stone rubbing, and Buelo's legend as his only guides, he sets out on a perilous quest to discover if he is true of heart and what the future holds.

Review Quotes

Praise for Mananaland: "Ryan has created a world of enchantment that is both innately familiar and uniquely magical... Readers will be led into every rocky corner and wondrous ledge of Ryan's world through her vivid use of imagery, which keeps readers present on every page. She weaves so much relevant lyricism into this small, meaningful volume... 'Mananaland manages to be both timely and timeless." -- New York Times* "Ryan beautifully layers thought-provoking topics onto her narrative while keeping readers immersed in the story's world. Although set in the fictional country of Santa Maria, "somewhere in the Americas," the struggles of refugee immigrants and the compassion of those who protect the travelers feel very relevant. This tightly packed, powerful fantasy contains resonant truths." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review* "Evocative and dreamlike writing...authentic characters...impeccable pacing....This story, infused with magic, reminds children that humanity thrives when people embrace differences and construct bridges instead of borders. Another unforgettable work from a master storyteller." -- Booklist, starred review* "This richly tiered novel is, at its core, wrenchingly real... Newbery Honoree Ryan (Echo) infuses the soccer-loving boy's story with mystery based on local myth, closely guarded secrets, and a missing birth certificate. Lyrical allusions to the heartbreaking reality of life under repressive regimes and Max's belief in the promise of tomorrow fuse the title and plot of this compelling novel." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review* "A richly satisfying novel that is both contemporary and timeless... The author seamlessly weaves into Max's journey important themes about asylum seekers and the people who help them." -- Shelf Awareness, starred review"As always, Ryan's strength is in her visually expressive language... Poignant, memorable moments are created with just a few sentences... A gem of a story with timely messages... a required purchase." -- School Library Journal"The fictional...setting and the promise of...Mananaland make for an easier lens with which to view the refugee crisis for young readers, who may gain a greater understanding of real problems happening across the world through Max's tale." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Book"Mananaland now, more than ever, in this riveting testament to heroism and compassion as only master storyteller Pam Munoz Ryan can divine and deliver. "A luminous embodiment of hope." -- Rita Williams-Garcia, Newbery Honor-winning author of One Crazy Summer and Clayton Byrd Goes Underground"Mananaland is that rare gift of a book. It blends dream and truth into an enthralling fantasy that quietly shows us what it is like to be unwanted, searching for a place to belong. It is a story about choosing the very difficult path of kindness and courage, and about the faith of knowing with all our hearts that this is the path we all must take." -- Francisco X. Stork, award-winning author of Disappeared"On the edge of fantasy and reality, Pam Munoz Ryan weaves an encouraging tale for those who seek refuge and the promise of a bright tomorrow... This would be an inspiring title for elementary and even middle school library to have in their collections to appeal to those readers who, like Max, are embarking on their own path to self-discovery." -- School Library Connection, Recommended"Ryan skillfully balances Max's day-to-day concerns with his longing for his mother and his growing awareness of a moral responsibility to help others... rich and relevant." -- The Horn Book

About the Author

Pam Munoz Ryan is the recipient the NEA's Human and Civil Rights Award, the PEN Center USA Award, and the 2024 Children's Literature Legacy Award for her body of work. She was the 2018 US nominee for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award. She received a Newbery Honor Medal and the Kirkus Prize for her New York Times bestselling novel, Echo. Her other celebrated novels, Esperanza Rising, The Dreamer, Riding Freedom, Becoming Naomi Leon, Paint the Wind, and Mananaland, have received countless accolades, among them the Pura Belpre Award, the Jane Addams Children's Book Award, and the Americas Award. Her acclaimed picture books include Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride and the Sibert Honor book When Marian Sang, both illustrated by Brian Selznick, Mice and Beans illustrated by Joe Cepeda, and Tony Baloney illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham, as well as a beginning reader series featuring Tony Baloney. Ryan lives near San Diego, California, with her family.