“Magical Realism in the Amazon”: A Review of Once an Amazonian by Jenelia Cyril

 It is always both a pleasure and a challenge to review a novelist’s debut creation. In the wise words of W. Somerset Maugham: “There are three rules for the writing of a novel. Unfortunately no one knows what they are.”

The success of this young adult/teen fiction novel, which I believe seventh to ninth graders will best enjoy, hinges on the acceptance of Magical Realism as its dominant device. From the first appearance of a mysterious headdress to a series of dangerous and arguably should-be-fatal experiences the novel’s trio of heroes survive against the odds, to their encounters with Indigenous peoples in the Amazon, if one focuses on the adventure and the characters’ experience of it, and not the implausibility of individual events and circumstances, this debut novel succeeds.

The central characters are 13-year-old middle school students Katelyn and Eva, who have been friends since the second grade. Like characters in a fairy tale, Cyril’s characters do not have a great deal of physical detail and background, allowing readers to imprint easily upon them, which facilitates immersion in the story (thank you, Bruno Bettelheim). Soon after Katelyn discovers the mysterious ceremonial headdress while attending Mr. Gunther’s social studies class (Mr. Gunther being the third central character and the archetypal middle-school social studies teacher many of us encountered), Eva surprises her with a trip to the Amazon, paid for by her generous Uncle Larry.

After a series of embedded clues, bits of foreshadowing, and events that all function in the Realm of Magical Realism, the girls and Mr. Gunther—who was also on the flight—find themselves pitted against the Amazon and its flora and fauna for their survival.

I want to go carefully here, so as not to ruin the plot. The target audience will learn about the Indigenous people of the Amazon, although again through the device of Magical Realism. I am not sure Mr. Gunther would approve of all of the elements of the portrayal. The central characters’ arcs will resolve in ways that one would expect in a story aimed at the target audience.

Structurally and in terms of language, there is every indication that Jenelia Cyril has a bright future as a novelist. The book is well paced and vivid in its descriptions and the characters are easy to cheer for. 

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