by Mary Buff
First published 1953
Fabian works in secret, planting the special corn his people call magic maize. The Mayan boy knows his father disapproves, but something drives him to tend these seeds in hidden places. While digging in the earth, his fingers close around something hard and smooth. He pulls up a jade earplug, carved by ancient hands and buried long ago. The discovery sets off a chain of events that pulls Fabian between two worlds. His father clings to old traditions and resists anything that smells of change. The jade and the growing corn become symbols of a deeper conflict about whether the past and present can coexist. Fabian finds himself caught between honoring his ancestors and embracing new possibilities. The adventures that follow test not just his courage but his ability to bridge the gap between generations. Through trials that seem impossible to overcome, both father and son must learn what it means to honor tradition while making room for growth.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, coming-of-age, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: bridge-the-gap, fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Mayan, Maya
Period: Ancient
76 pages · Hardcover · Houghton Mifflin Company