Cousins in the Time of Magic by Emma Otheguy

Cousins in the Time of Magic

Emma Otheguy

Atheneum Books for Young Readers · Paperback · February 10, 2026

Three cousins get transported back to 1862 to play an important role in the Battle of Puebla, the reason we celebrate Cinco de Mayo today, in this “spellbinding” (School Library Journal, starred review) middle grade fantasy adventure.

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Who it’s for
For readers interested in magical time travel and historical adventure
Themes
Magic and history, Latin communities in U.S. history, Preserving the past
Pacing
Fast

About this book

Three cousins get transported back to 1862 to play an important role in the Battle of Puebla, the reason we celebrate Cinco de Mayo today, in this “spellbinding” (School Library Journal, starred review) middle grade fantasy adventure. History is alive with magic. That’s what zany Tía Xia is always telling cousins Jorge, Camila, and Siggy.

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Daredevil Jorge couldn’t be more different than his cousins: Camila is a dreamer who adores animals and Siggy is an aspiring influencer who always has an exclusive party to attend. And their aunt has many secrets, including a mysterious diamond-encrusted sword that Jorge definitely wasn’t supposed to see. But when the three stumble upon a time portal in their aunt’s yard, they are transported back to 1862, a past filled with wonders—and dangers. To return to the present, they must race to deliver the sword to General Ignacio Zaragoza in time for the historic Battle of Puebla in Mexico: the foundation of the holiday Cinco de Mayo. As their journey to Mexico takes them through the Civil War–era United States, the cousins see just how much US history has been shaped by Latin communities. They must find the power within themselves to make sure things happen as they’re supposed to, without altering the past.

Who it’s for

  • For readers interested in magical time travel and historical adventure
  • For readers curious about Latin communities’ influence on U.S. history

Where it sits

Time Travel Fiction66%
Magic & Fantasy53%
Historical Fiction39%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Action & Adventure
  • US: Hispanic & Latino Stories
  • Magic & Fantasy
Authors
Emma Otheguy
Publisher
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published
February 10, 2026
Format
Paperback
Theme
Magic and history · Latin communities in U.S. history · Preserving the past
Reading lane
Action & Adventure