Cecilia’s Magical Mission

Gr 6-9–Cecilia’s confirmation is fast approaching, but she has yet to choose a patron saint or discover what her don, or special gift or ability, is. After Cecilia’s mother has a stillbirth, the community raises money to send Cecilia’s family to Mexico for the burial, setting off a chain of events that lead to Cecilia’s search for a patron saint and don, and leave Cecilia more lost than ever. Though Cecilia feels that her classmates will bully her if they learn of her family’s beliefs, her good friends Julie and Lebna love Cecilia’s culture and wish to make it a part of their science project. Just when things become more difficult, Cecilia is chosen as an apprentice to Doña Faustina, who reveals the return of Satan and his demons and says that it will take a miracle for someone to receive the gift to be able to defeat them. Providing insight into Mexican Catholic culture, beliefs, and traditions, this title also delves into the difficulties faced when juggling two different cultures, as well as the importance of keeping traditions alive. Cecilia and her friends consider good and evil on their journey, and discover that the spiritual world—and their own world—is much more complex than they could have imagined.