Age: 5th-middle school
Identity, author: Mexican born, lived in multiple countries but currently in USA, Chicago
Location: Mexico

Life and Death play a traditional Mexican card game called Loteria with extremely high stakes: a girl's life. Weaving itself throughout this fantastical quest are philosophical discussions of fate and free will. While the plot progression was exciting and eventful, the philosophical angle, while unique for a book geared towards a younger audience, did not quite stick with me. Perhaps my mind wasn't as focused as it should have been in order to appreciate it.