Cousins In The Time Of Magic by Emma Otheguy

with delightful illustrations by Poly Bernatene.

Bear with me while I tell you an anecdote here. I used to work in some decently nice restaurants, and at one of them had a manager of Mexican descent who loathed Cinco de Mayo. According to him, it’s a holiday made up by American beer companies that no one in Mexico actually celebrates. And don’t even get him started on the conflation with Mexican Independence, lol.

So I admittedly came into this book — and what reads like the start of a fresh new middle grade series — with a bit of a weather eye for tone given that the original Cinco de Mayo plays a pivotal role in the plot. It was thus immensely gratifying to read Emma Otheguy’s note towards the end that this occasion has primarily been celebrated by Latines in the United States to commemorate the Mexican victory against the French. Why? Because it ensured that the Confederacy would not gain a crucial ally on its southern border during the American Civil War. There’s a whole bunch of other stuff involving the Monroe Doctrine, but the defeat of the French imperial forces at Pueblo ensured that democracy and liberty would continue to have a fighting chance in the Western Hemisphere.

Is that something I knew before reading this book? Heck no! Is it a darn good reason to celebrate? Absolutely! Does it one hundred percent explain the disparity in opinions regarding the day? Yes, and I’m super grateful that Ms Otheguy has gone to the trouble of explaining it all in a super accessible manner in this new portal fantasy novel for kids.

The story itself revolves around three cousins: wannabe influencer Siggy, quiet and caring Camilla, and daredevil Jorge. On Mondays, they hang out with their Tia Xia after school, as she has the day off from work at the museum. One afternoon, Jorge accidentally witnesses her come into possession of a jeweled sword. He’s intrigued by the fact that she chooses to hide it in the oversized tinajon in the backyard. When he goes to investigate, Camilla and Siggy follow, launching them all on an adventure of a lifetime, as they find themselves somehow transported back to 1862.

There’s a lot of really interesting historical adventure in these pages, as the kids discover the involvement and importance of Latine influence during the American Civil War. Each of the kids also goes through some significant personal growth as they experience history firsthand. Ofc, there’s more than a sprinkling of magic to help the kids on their way, a magic almost as potent as their strong family ties. Ms Otheguy caps it all off with several pages of historical notes, a glossary, a bibliography and recommended reading.

I learned so much from this fascinating book but do wonder whether a younger reader might get a little bored at the earnestness of the text. While it starts off lively, the story feels like it develops a flow problem once the kids find themselves in the past, as if it has to dutifully hit a series of plot points rather than unfold organically. Perhaps a younger reader might not even notice that this book is very much meant to be good for them. And it’s certainly a very small complaint overall given the rich perspective that Cousins In The Time Of Magic otherwise affords to readers who likely know very little of why this particular chapter of history matters. Definitely recommended for anyone interested in learning more about North American history from important, if undersung, viewpoints.

Cousins In The Time Of Magic by Emma Otheguy was published February 25 2025 by Atheneum Books For Young Readers and is available from all good booksellers, including