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erincataldi's review against another edition
3.0
Set during the summer of the Zoot Suit Riots (LA 1943)when two young Hispanic Americans encounter violence, prejudice and 5 foot tall lizard. A Navy base has been installed in a predominately Hispanic neighborhood and the white sailors think nothing of tossing out verbal assaults and starting fights, when a 6 foot tall lizard pops out of a sewer grate to save the sisters they realize they've made a new friend. What they don't realize is that the lizard is also being hunted by a crazed Navy scientist. Are they in even more danger for befriending him? The fantastical story is set in an all too real situation and helps readers see it in a new light. Great for all ages.
thenextgenlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Lizard in a Zoot Suit was a gas full of humor, action and fun!
thenextgenlib's review against another edition
4.0
Lizard in a Zoot Suit was a gas full of humor, action and fun!
cupcakesandsmut's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review! The lizard saves Cuata and her and her family decide they must put him in a zoot suit so they can find his family before the military finds him. The illustrations were amazing and I absolutely loved the story line. I would definitely recommend to a friend!
darnfeinbookthoughts's review
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
elyssam's review
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
An introduction into the history of the Zoot Suit Riots. Has the feel of classic comics.
backonthealex's review against another edition
4.0
It's June 3, 1943 and twin Latinx sisters Flaca and Curata have just stumbled upon Dr. James Rogers, a naval geophysicist and a few sailors digging in their Mexican American Los Angeles neighborhood of Chavez Ravine. After almost getting into a fight with the sailors for lewd remarks directed at Curata, the sister return home. Later that night, after their mother falls asleep, the girls take the family pickup truck and head to downtown Los Angeles to hangout and party with friends, all of whom are part of the city's Zoot-suit culture. But when a sailor bumps into Curata, a fight begins.
Some of the sailors chase Curata into a dead end alley. Scared and with no place to escape, a manhole cover opens and a large lizard-like creature climbs out and scares the sailors away. When Curata faints, the lizard takes her into the underground tunnel he came out of, followed by Flaca. And unknowingly also followed by one of the sailors working for Dr. Rogers, who immediately calls the scientist.
The lizard doesn't speak, but seems to understand Curata and Flaca and takes them home through the tunnel. It turns out that the creature, whom they call Chulito, has become separated from his family. The next morning, they decide that he should be reunited with them, if they are even still alive. After all, they understand separation and loss, they lost their dad, a soldier, in the war. But the night before, police and servicemen beat and arrested the mainly Mexican American Zoot-suiters in Los Angeles, resulting in the start of the Zoot Suit Riots.
Deciding to disguise the lizard, they put him in one of Flaca's Zoot suits. But before they even leave their neighborhood, they encounter Dr. Rogers and his sailors looking for Chulito. A fight ensues between the sailors and the Flaca and Curata's other Zoo-suit friends, but the sailors manage to capture the lizard. Desperate to get him back and help him find his family, the sisters get some help from a very unexpected person. But will they find Chulito?
Done in two tone panels of black and yellow, Lizard in a Zoot Suit is an interesting look at a particular time and place in history. At first, it seems like just an excitying historical science fiction story, until you discover that some of it is based on reality. Curata and Flaca are great characters. Curata wears skirts that she's rolled up to make shorter and has a real soft heart for animals, which is why Chulito appeals to her so much. Flaca has a hot temper when it comes to racist remarks, especially when directed at her and her sister, which is how she sometimes gets into fights, and dresses in Zoot-suits when they go out. Both are proud Mexican Americans, proud of their father's service despite losing him, and both are kind, caring teens.
Right from the start, readers will know that Dr. James Rogers is a smarmy corrupt scientist looking to make a fast buck and a claim to fame on the back of Chulito, and the sailors he gets to help are all white and racists, and all to happy to go after Zoot-suiters with their fists.
The result is a graphic novel that brings together the 1943 Zoot Suit Riots, the legend of an underground reptilian race living in tunnels under Los Angeles, and the treatment of the Latinx community displaced by housing discrimination.
Written in English, Finnegan throws in lots of Spanish, most of which is easily understandable by context alone. I did look up pachucas, which in this case means Zoot-suiter.
Pair Lizard in a Zoot Suit with Margarita Engle's verse novel Jazz Owls: A Novel of the Zoot Suit Riots for another perspective of Los Angeles' Zoot Suit culture and riots.
You might also be interested in reading about how author Marco Finnegan can up with the idea for his graphic novel. You can find it HERE
And you might also like to read about the real person looking for the underground reptilians. You can find it HERE
This book is recommended for readers age 13+
This book was purchased for my personal library
Some of the sailors chase Curata into a dead end alley. Scared and with no place to escape, a manhole cover opens and a large lizard-like creature climbs out and scares the sailors away. When Curata faints, the lizard takes her into the underground tunnel he came out of, followed by Flaca. And unknowingly also followed by one of the sailors working for Dr. Rogers, who immediately calls the scientist.
The lizard doesn't speak, but seems to understand Curata and Flaca and takes them home through the tunnel. It turns out that the creature, whom they call Chulito, has become separated from his family. The next morning, they decide that he should be reunited with them, if they are even still alive. After all, they understand separation and loss, they lost their dad, a soldier, in the war. But the night before, police and servicemen beat and arrested the mainly Mexican American Zoot-suiters in Los Angeles, resulting in the start of the Zoot Suit Riots.
Deciding to disguise the lizard, they put him in one of Flaca's Zoot suits. But before they even leave their neighborhood, they encounter Dr. Rogers and his sailors looking for Chulito. A fight ensues between the sailors and the Flaca and Curata's other Zoo-suit friends, but the sailors manage to capture the lizard. Desperate to get him back and help him find his family, the sisters get some help from a very unexpected person. But will they find Chulito?
Done in two tone panels of black and yellow, Lizard in a Zoot Suit is an interesting look at a particular time and place in history. At first, it seems like just an excitying historical science fiction story, until you discover that some of it is based on reality. Curata and Flaca are great characters. Curata wears skirts that she's rolled up to make shorter and has a real soft heart for animals, which is why Chulito appeals to her so much. Flaca has a hot temper when it comes to racist remarks, especially when directed at her and her sister, which is how she sometimes gets into fights, and dresses in Zoot-suits when they go out. Both are proud Mexican Americans, proud of their father's service despite losing him, and both are kind, caring teens.
Right from the start, readers will know that Dr. James Rogers is a smarmy corrupt scientist looking to make a fast buck and a claim to fame on the back of Chulito, and the sailors he gets to help are all white and racists, and all to happy to go after Zoot-suiters with their fists.
The result is a graphic novel that brings together the 1943 Zoot Suit Riots, the legend of an underground reptilian race living in tunnels under Los Angeles, and the treatment of the Latinx community displaced by housing discrimination.
Written in English, Finnegan throws in lots of Spanish, most of which is easily understandable by context alone. I did look up pachucas, which in this case means Zoot-suiter.
Pair Lizard in a Zoot Suit with Margarita Engle's verse novel Jazz Owls: A Novel of the Zoot Suit Riots for another perspective of Los Angeles' Zoot Suit culture and riots.
You might also be interested in reading about how author Marco Finnegan can up with the idea for his graphic novel. You can find it HERE
And you might also like to read about the real person looking for the underground reptilians. You can find it HERE
This book is recommended for readers age 13+
This book was purchased for my personal library
briarsreviews's review against another edition
4.0
Lizard in a Zoot Suit is a fantastical little novel that packs a punch with history, fantasy and action!
Flaca and Cuata are heading home when they get into a brawl with some sailors. As they escape, they discover a lizard creature and befriend it. Suddenly, the government is after their lizard friend which causes much chaos. Meanwhile, the Lizard in a Zoot Suit is trying to find his own family since he lost them years ago. Will friendship prevail? Will our fancy smancy Lizard friend find his family? Will Cuata's skirt ever be brought up by her Mother?!
I thought this book was super fun! It's short and sweet yet packed full of action and adventure. There's not a ton of dialogue, but the pictures tell the story just perfectly.
At the end of the book, there's a little section describing the Zoot Suit riots. I found it super intriguing to read about, since I hadn't been reminded of this since grade school. I'm always down for a little educational break within or after the novel.
Also, best title ever. Just saying.
Overall, I think this book is a real success! It's a fun, little comic that will bring lots of joy and excitement to readers. It reminds me of The Shape of Water without the R rated content.
Four out of five stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Lerner Publishing group for this wonderful opportunity to pick up this book. I hope to see more of Marco Finnegan soon!
Flaca and Cuata are heading home when they get into a brawl with some sailors. As they escape, they discover a lizard creature and befriend it. Suddenly, the government is after their lizard friend which causes much chaos. Meanwhile, the Lizard in a Zoot Suit is trying to find his own family since he lost them years ago. Will friendship prevail? Will our fancy smancy Lizard friend find his family? Will Cuata's skirt ever be brought up by her Mother?!
I thought this book was super fun! It's short and sweet yet packed full of action and adventure. There's not a ton of dialogue, but the pictures tell the story just perfectly.
At the end of the book, there's a little section describing the Zoot Suit riots. I found it super intriguing to read about, since I hadn't been reminded of this since grade school. I'm always down for a little educational break within or after the novel.
Also, best title ever. Just saying.
Overall, I think this book is a real success! It's a fun, little comic that will bring lots of joy and excitement to readers. It reminds me of The Shape of Water without the R rated content.
Four out of five stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Lerner Publishing group for this wonderful opportunity to pick up this book. I hope to see more of Marco Finnegan soon!
briarsreviews's review against another edition
4.0
Lizard in a Zoot Suit is a fantastical little novel that packs a punch with history, fantasy and action!
Flaca and Cuata are heading home when they get into a brawl with some sailors. As they escape, they discover a lizard creature and befriend it. Suddenly, the government is after their lizard friend which causes much chaos. Meanwhile, the Lizard in a Zoot Suit is trying to find his own family since he lost them years ago. Will friendship prevail? Will our fancy smancy Lizard friend find his family? Will Cuata's skirt ever be brought up by her Mother?!
I thought this book was super fun! It's short and sweet yet packed full of action and adventure. There's not a ton of dialogue, but the pictures tell the story just perfectly.
At the end of the book, there's a little section describing the Zoot Suit riots. I found it super intriguing to read about, since I hadn't been reminded of this since grade school. I'm always down for a little educational break within or after the novel.
Also, best title ever. Just saying.
Overall, I think this book is a real success! It's a fun, little comic that will bring lots of joy and excitement to readers. It reminds me of The Shape of Water without the R rated content.
Four out of five stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Lerner Publishing group for this wonderful opportunity to pick up this book. I hope to see more of Marco Finnegan soon!
Flaca and Cuata are heading home when they get into a brawl with some sailors. As they escape, they discover a lizard creature and befriend it. Suddenly, the government is after their lizard friend which causes much chaos. Meanwhile, the Lizard in a Zoot Suit is trying to find his own family since he lost them years ago. Will friendship prevail? Will our fancy smancy Lizard friend find his family? Will Cuata's skirt ever be brought up by her Mother?!
I thought this book was super fun! It's short and sweet yet packed full of action and adventure. There's not a ton of dialogue, but the pictures tell the story just perfectly.
At the end of the book, there's a little section describing the Zoot Suit riots. I found it super intriguing to read about, since I hadn't been reminded of this since grade school. I'm always down for a little educational break within or after the novel.
Also, best title ever. Just saying.
Overall, I think this book is a real success! It's a fun, little comic that will bring lots of joy and excitement to readers. It reminds me of The Shape of Water without the R rated content.
Four out of five stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Lerner Publishing group for this wonderful opportunity to pick up this book. I hope to see more of Marco Finnegan soon!