Hear Ye Mortals

In this raw and heartbreaking historical novel set in the same world as Furia, Méndez intertwines political history with speculative storytelling, drawing on firsthand accounts of life under Argentina’s 1976 military coup. Alternating between present-day narration from an unnamed angel and flashbacks charting the rise of Río Babel, a teenage rock band whose love of music collides with the brutality of a repressive government, the story opens with a grim scene: the angel, tasked with escorting souls to the afterlife, must help a young girl remember her name to keep her soul from disappearing. Prompted by the girl’s familiarity with Río Babel, the angel recounts the band’s tragic tale. Río Babel’s teenage members, including brothers Daniel and Adrián, dream of rock stardom when their song “Lágrimas de Marrano” unexpectedly becomes a rallying cry for rebels against Argentinian government dictatorship. But when 15-year-old bandmate Herminia disappears, the stakes rise, forcing the teens to prioritize survival and anonymity over recognition as violence spreads throughout Argentina. Narrative timeline shifts are somewhat abrupt; still, the novel’s central motif of music as salvation amid oppression resonates throughout a haunting, morally urgent tale of art, resistance, and memory. Characters are described as having various skin tones. Ages 12–up. Agent: Linda Camacho, Gallt & Zacker Literary. (May)