Published: 2024
Authors: David Bowles & Guadalupe García McCall
Genre: YA Fantasy / Romance / Mythology
Audience: Grades 8–12
Number of Stars: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Goodreads Link: Hearts of Fire and Snow
Content Warnings: Mild violence and mild sexual content.
Publisher’s Summary
Award-winning authors David Bowles and Guadalupe García McCall reimagine a beloved Aztec tale of star-crossed lovers with one last chance to reunite. Blanca Montes wants to make a difference in the world, to do more than her wealthy godfather and spoiled boyfriend think her capable of. So when Greg Chan shows up as a new student at her Nevada school, she is more than intrigued by this handsome, brilliant stranger.
But Greg and Blanca are drawn to each other by something stronger–their fates entwined centuries ago. In his first life, Greg was Captain Popoca, and Blanca is the reincarnation of Princess Iztac, who took her own life after believing her beloved Popoca was sent to his death in battle. Greg has spent a thousand years searching for his lost love, and now the fates have given them one more chance to reunite. Will their hearts finally beat as one? This swoony contemporary fantasy is perfect for fans of These Violent Delights and This Poison Heart.
Review
Hearts of Fire and Snow is a retelling of a Nahua myth about two star-crossed lovers whose fates and souls become intertwined with volcanoes as they are forced to look for each other in every lifetime until the girl remembers who she is and their enemies are defeated. This lifetime sees them reincarnated as two wealthy teenagers at a high school in Nevada.
The novel alternates between the perspectives of Gregorio Chan (Popoca) and Blanca Rose Montes (Iztac). Gregorio must slowly remember each of his past lives and win the affection of Blanca to make her remember who she really is and fulfill the prophecy. As Blanca falls for Gregorio, she also has to grapple with memories about her controlling Padrino (godfather) that make her question his role in her parents’ deaths.
Overall, Hearts of Fire and Snow is an enjoyable, if a bit disjointed, read. There are elements of fantasy, romance, and mystery with enough action to keep a wide range of young readers engaged. The novel has heavy-handed tie-ins to other works of literature; it directly mentions the myth’s connections to Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet, which makes this text lend itself easily to being in conversation with those texts in the classroom.
🗺️ Legend and Landscape: The Volcanoes of Mexico
The story is deeply rooted in the Nahua (Aztec) legend of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, which explains the origin of two of Mexico’s most famous volcanic peaks.
- Popocatépetl (The Smoking Mountain): Represented by Gregorio, this volcano is active and “smoking” with grief.
- Iztaccíhuatl (The White Woman): Represented by Blanca, this mountain has four peaks that resemble the head, chest, knees, and feet of a sleeping woman.
- The Eternal Guard: The myth tells of the warrior kneeling beside his princess, holding a torch to watch over her forever. In the book, this “watch” spans a thousand years of reincarnations.
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
- ELA (Comparative Mythology & Classic Literature):
- Activity Idea: Create a “Star-Crossed Lovers” Venn Diagram. Compare the Nahua myth of Popoca and Iztac with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. How does the element of “Reincarnation” in this novel change the stakes compared to the finality of Shakespeare’s tragedy?
- Social Studies (Nahua Culture & Indigenous Heritage):
- Activity Idea: Research the authors’ use of Indigenous Mexican mythology. Discuss how contemporary “Urban Fantasy” can be a tool for preserving and reclaiming cultural stories for modern audiences.
- Government & Law (Conservatorship): Blanca faces the threat of a conservatorship under her godfather.
- Activity Idea: Research the legal definition of a conservatorship. Discuss the ethical implications of a guardian controlling a young adult’s finances and agency, using Blanca’s struggle as a case study.
- Environmental Science (Geology as Storytelling):
- Activity Idea: Analyze how the authors use volcanic activity as a metaphor for the characters’ emotions. Have students research the actual volcanic activity of Popocatépetl and discuss how geographical features influence the folklore of a region.
