How to Live Like an Aztec Priest

December 15, 2016
Grades 4-6 The lighthearted tone and abundant cartoon-style illustrations of the books in the How to Live Like . . . series bring some of history's most exciting professions to life. Each sets the scene with the appropriate time and place before introducing a fictional figure to guide readers through the lifestyle or training required for these positions; cultural and historical context pads out the narrative. In An Aztec Priest, readers follow a teenage boy through his education at school and on the battlefield as he becomes a priest. Concluding Awesome Aztec Facts help to clarify the rather murky and sacrifice-heavy portrayal of the Aztec religion. These high-interest titles read like graphic novels, and although their information is relatively light (and uncited), they are perfect for piquing interest and engaging reluctant readersthough a girl guide or two would have been welcome.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2016
In a tongue-limbering recitation, Tlenamacac (fire priest) Ten Vulture describes his city, his gods, and his training."It's the year 1518 and you're in the middle of the Aztec Empire," he burbles, with a fine disregard for verisimilitude. "Aztecs rule, ok?" Ten Vulture then introduces Itztlacoliuhqui, Xipe Totec ("god of flayed skins..."), and eight other deities whose names are left to readers to sound out. Following this, he retraces his history from being chosen for the priesthood through games, wars, and blood sacrifices (with a bit of cannibalism thrown in). Despite multiple references to gruesome ritual practices, though, in the cartoon illustrations the occasional spatters of gore are almost unnoticeable. Aloisi populates his scenes with brown-skinned, bare-chested boys and men sporting elaborate headdresses or topknots (the few women in view are discreetly covered up). The attempt at historical accuracy seems to die with the scribbles that stand in for Aztec writing. At least most of the kanji in the co-published How to Live Like a Samurai Warrior and the hieroglyphics in How to Live Like an Egyptian Mummy Maker seem to be more than generic scribbles. These and How to Live Like a Caribbean Pirate (who were nearly all, at least according to illustrator Tatio Viano, white) are similarly framed as narratives by young participants. A bland alternative to You Wouldn't Want to Be an Aztec Sacrifice (2013) and other entries in that rousing series. (index, glossary) (Nonfiction. 9-11)

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