Veronica Moscoso
LA LEYENDA DE CANTUÑA is a historical fiction novella inspired by Quito’s most popular legend. The story takes place in the 16th century during the Spanish conquest, when the Inca civilization came to an end, and the countries that we now know as Latin America became Spanish colonies. Cantuña, the main character, is a child of Inca descent who survives the Spanish conquest by luck. He has to adapt to a new reality in which living like a Spaniard is the safest bet for him. He’s seen as an underdog by most people, but his survival spirit and his wits keep him alive. This novella is written in the present tense. It’s an easy reader ideal for mid-beginner and high-beginner students. Every chapter has a full glossary and an illustration. At the end of every chapter there is also a list of historical facts, for the reader to learn what parts of the story actually happened in reality. Depicting the historical events and accompanying the facts section there are drawings by Felipe Guamán Poma de Ayala, an indigenous chronicler who lived in the 16th and 17th centuries.With about 170 unique words, 25 cognates, and plenty of repetition, the novella tells a 2,680-word story.
