Nobel Peace Prize winner and noted Maya activist Rigoberta Menchú Tum
returns once more to the world of her childhood in The Secret
Legacy.
Seven-year-old Ixkem is chosen by her grandfather amongst all the
villagers to inherit the responsibility for tending his special
cornfield. Ixkem goes to the field and begins to shout and stomp to
frighten away the animals who would like to share the harvest. Suddenly
a mass of tiny creatures appear -- the b'e'n -- secret animal spirits of
which there is one for every human on earth. They take Ixkem into the
underworld, where she tells them the amazing stories that her
grandfather has told her. In exchange the b'e'n whisper a secret for her
to take to her grandfather.
Rich and vibrant illustrations by noted Mazatec-Mexican artist Domi
perfectly complement this magical Maya tale.
Key Text Features
Illustrations
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language
Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.2
Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse
cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain
how it is conveyed through key details in the text.