Cousins in the Time of Magic by Emma Otheguy is about three cousins who discover a magical portal that transports them into the past. Jorge, Camila, and Siggy have always been told by their eccentric Tía Xia that history is filled with magic. The three cousins are very different from one another: Jorge is a daredevil, Camila is a dreamer who loves animals and spends her time reading, and Siggy is an aspiring influencer who manages to score an invite to an exclusive party. While they’ve always known their aunt to be aloof and secretive, everything changes when they discover a mysterious diamond-encrusted sword—clearly a clue to something much bigger.
As they search for answers about the sword, the trio stumbles upon a magical portal that transports them to the year 1862. They quickly learn that while the past holds many wonders, it is also filled with danger. In order to return home, they must ensure the sword is delivered to General Ignacio Zaragoza before the historic Battle of Puebla in Mexico—the event that would later inspire the Cinco de Mayo holiday. To succeed, the cousins must rely on their individual strengths and work together to protect history without accidentally changing it.
The novel was an okay read. I wasn’t familiar with General Ignacio Zaragoza or the details behind Cinco de Mayo, so I appreciated learning more about that history. I liked that the author included Latin American history and culture, and that she clarified which characters were fictionalized. However, I can’t quite pinpoint why, but nothing in the story really wowed me or made me feel invested in continuing with the rest of the series. I believe young readers who enjoy time travel adventures—especially those with a Latinx background—may connect with this story more deeply than I did. It’s a great starting point for learning about aspects of Latin American history that are often left out of traditional history books.
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