The Last Cuentista Summary
Donna Barba Higuera

The Last Cuentista Overview

Donna Barba Higuera's dystopian novel The Last Cuentista is the story of Petra Pena who leaves Earth with her parents and brother after it becomes clear that Halley's Comet is going to strike Earth with devastating consequences. When a radical group known as the Collective takes over the ships of survivors, Petra is the only one with her memories of Earth intact. She soon discovers the power of storytelling as she and others fight for their freedom. The novel's main themes are the importance of stories, the needs of the Collective versus individual needs/rights, the power of propaganda, culture, and the role of the individual in society.