Signal to Noise

Signal to Noise switches between two timelines in Mexico City - 2009, when Meche returns for her father's funeral, and 1988, when she was a music-obsessed teenager who discovered she could cast spells through vinyl records. In 1988 Mexico City, fifteen-year-old Meche and her friends Sebastian and Daniela are high school outcasts who stumble upon the ability to perform magic through music. The three friends begin experimenting with spells, despite warnings from Meche's grandmother about the price of magic, while navigating school social hierarchies and family tensions. Twenty years later, Meche must confront her past and the relationships she left behind when she returns to Mexico City for her father's funeral, having avoided both the city and her old friends for decades. The novel explores themes of memory, first love, and the transformative power of music, set against the backdrop of Mexico City's vibrant culture and the universal experience of teenage longing for belonging.

Readers describe Signal to Noise as a nostalgic story that resonates with anyone who made mixtapes as a teenager. Many reviews highlight the authentic portrayal of Mexico City in the 1980s and the realistic depiction of complicated family relationships. Readers appreciated: - The blend of music and magic without heavy-handed explanations - Complex mother-daughter dynamics - The non-linear timeline between past and present - Accurate representation of Mexican culture and folklore Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the first third - Some found the protagonist unlikeable - Romance elements felt underdeveloped - Wanted more exploration of the magic system Ratings: Goodreads: 3.83/5 (8,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (580+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.85/5 (300+ ratings) "Like a perfect song, this book gets better with each revisit," noted one Goodreads reviewer. Others compared it to Stranger Things meets The Craft, but with vinyl records instead of D&D.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab A story of music, magic, and immortality unfolds across time periods as a woman makes a supernatural bargain that leaves her forgotten by everyone she meets.

Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older The streets of Brooklyn come alive with Caribbean-inspired magic when a young artist discovers her family's connection to spirit magic through art and music.

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas A woman in post-Mexican War of Independence moves into a haunted house where folk magic and Catholic traditions blend to combat dark forces.

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia A young woman in 1920s Mexico becomes entangled with a Mayan death god in a tale mixing mythology, jazz age glamour, and Mexican folklore.

When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore Two teenagers navigate first love amid magical realism steeped in Latinx culture and family traditions.

🎵 The novel's unique magic system involving vinyl records was partly inspired by the author's own experiences working as a music reviewer and her lifelong passion for collecting records. 📚 The book won the 2016 Copper Cylinder Adult Award, which celebrates Canadian works of speculative fiction, highlighting its success in blending fantasy with literary fiction. 🇲🇽 The 1988 sections of the novel accurately capture real events from Mexico City's history, including the controversial presidential election and the economic challenges of that period. 🎸 Many of the songs referenced in the book are real tracks from the 1980s, creating an authentic playlist that readers can actually listen to while reading the story. 🌟 Silvia Moreno-Garcia wrote the first draft of "Signal to Noise" during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), completing the initial manuscript in just 30 days.