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mlau17's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
brittaddictedtobooks's review against another edition
4.0
This was sort of a miss for me as an adult. I’d probably have given it a 3.75 if an adult fantasy was similarly written. There was a lot of cliched writing and I don’t love the way the Spanish is thrown in here and there. It feels forced.
All that said, I read this with my son and he enjoyed it enough to start the next book in the series, so it’s a 4.
All that said, I read this with my son and he enjoyed it enough to start the next book in the series, so it’s a 4.
kai1313's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
karen_hallam's review
5.0
I received an ARC for an honest review.
Charlie Hernandez’s parents are gone. While waiting at child services for placement, he discovers tiny horns sprouting from his head and recalls the stories his abuela told him night after night, especially those about the Morphling, the myth about a young hero who always defeats his nemesis—an evil twice-cursed witch—by manifesting some kind of an animal trait.
But those were just made up stories.
No longer sleeping at the police station, he’s placed temporarily with the elderly doll collector, Mrs. Wilson, and just when life begins to feel normal again, feathers sprout up all over his body—at middle school! Thinking fast, Charlie ditches into the office and finds a long-sleeve sparkly snow jacket in the lost and found. Wearing a ski jacket during the afternoon in Miami shouldn’t bring any unwanted attention.
Then he runs into Alice-the-Terrible, 6-foot-tall-fastball-crushing all-state softball player—and she wants the locket he’s wearing. The one thing he has left of his mother’s.
Not while Violet Rey is around—super-sleuth-school-newspaper-reporter—with the megawatt smile stops Alice in her tracks. The same girl he’s crushed on since first grade. Turns out, Violet has admired Charlie’s father, the animal geneticist, ever since his presentation on the harm in breeding dogs, she even used it for the school paper. Violet is very curious about his mother’s locket and knows it’s an antique (her father owns a pawn shop). Is there anything Violet doesn’t know? But it’s locked and Charlie’s unable to open it. Violet has a look and it clicks open in seconds. Inside, they find a miniature map, with the same horns and feather insignia Charlie sees everywhere.
Together, they make an unlikely team, and go underground with the tiny map, in search of answers to where Charlie’s parents are, and they come face to face with supernatural villains, myths and folklore from all over the Spanish-speaking world.
Conversations with a calaca, and La Llorona, the weeping woman, after following the glowing orbs of La Luz Mala, deep into the woods, among many others. Charlie discovers the stories his abuela told him were true. Was she preparing him?
An exciting, fast-paced Middle Grade adventure! With friends standing up for each other and working together. I loved Violet’s character and the skills she has when they’re needed and Charlie’s self-deprecating humor. Rich in cultural mythology, and so much fun! For further study of these fascinating tales, the glossary of Spanish folklore is a good starting point. Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, or anyone who loves magic, adventure, and tracking down a mystery.
Charlie Hernandez’s parents are gone. While waiting at child services for placement, he discovers tiny horns sprouting from his head and recalls the stories his abuela told him night after night, especially those about the Morphling, the myth about a young hero who always defeats his nemesis—an evil twice-cursed witch—by manifesting some kind of an animal trait.
But those were just made up stories.
No longer sleeping at the police station, he’s placed temporarily with the elderly doll collector, Mrs. Wilson, and just when life begins to feel normal again, feathers sprout up all over his body—at middle school! Thinking fast, Charlie ditches into the office and finds a long-sleeve sparkly snow jacket in the lost and found. Wearing a ski jacket during the afternoon in Miami shouldn’t bring any unwanted attention.
Then he runs into Alice-the-Terrible, 6-foot-tall-fastball-crushing all-state softball player—and she wants the locket he’s wearing. The one thing he has left of his mother’s.
Not while Violet Rey is around—super-sleuth-school-newspaper-reporter—with the megawatt smile stops Alice in her tracks. The same girl he’s crushed on since first grade. Turns out, Violet has admired Charlie’s father, the animal geneticist, ever since his presentation on the harm in breeding dogs, she even used it for the school paper. Violet is very curious about his mother’s locket and knows it’s an antique (her father owns a pawn shop). Is there anything Violet doesn’t know? But it’s locked and Charlie’s unable to open it. Violet has a look and it clicks open in seconds. Inside, they find a miniature map, with the same horns and feather insignia Charlie sees everywhere.
Together, they make an unlikely team, and go underground with the tiny map, in search of answers to where Charlie’s parents are, and they come face to face with supernatural villains, myths and folklore from all over the Spanish-speaking world.
Conversations with a calaca, and La Llorona, the weeping woman, after following the glowing orbs of La Luz Mala, deep into the woods, among many others. Charlie discovers the stories his abuela told him were true. Was she preparing him?
An exciting, fast-paced Middle Grade adventure! With friends standing up for each other and working together. I loved Violet’s character and the skills she has when they’re needed and Charlie’s self-deprecating humor. Rich in cultural mythology, and so much fun! For further study of these fascinating tales, the glossary of Spanish folklore is a good starting point. Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, or anyone who loves magic, adventure, and tracking down a mystery.
browndingdong's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
This was a fine book. It just wasn’t for me it is very much a boon for pre-teens
hidingzeus's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
hulahoopes's review
4.0
I LOVED the story and the mythology but the writing was a little off-putting.
thenextgenlibrarian's review
4.0
I loved seeing a fantasy MG novel about South American and Latin American myths and characters. Students will love all the adventures and stories that come alive in this novel. I’m excited it’s a series.
saidtheraina's review
4.0
This book is great! Very [a: Rick Riordan|15872|Rick Riordan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1383677264p2/15872.jpg]-style, but referencing lore from Spain, Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, and other Spanish-speaking and/or Central or South American countries. And ownvoices!
I read this to take along to virtual visits with local middle schools (it's 2020, in case you're reading this years from now and didn't notice that) and ended up opening my presentations by paraphrasing an early scene where the protagonist starts sprouting feathers.
Calejo roots this in Miami (I could find maps on the internet of specific streets that are mentioned) and weaves in lots of creatures and deities that were new to me. Naturally, there are Spanish words and dialogue integrated into the story. I saw one of the climactic twists coming, but there were nuances I didn't anticipate. The story is largely told in short chapters that will make it easy for more hesitant readers to hook into.
This deserves to be read and promoted!
I read this to take along to virtual visits with local middle schools (it's 2020, in case you're reading this years from now and didn't notice that) and ended up opening my presentations by paraphrasing an early scene where the protagonist starts sprouting feathers.
Calejo roots this in Miami (I could find maps on the internet of specific streets that are mentioned) and weaves in lots of creatures and deities that were new to me. Naturally, there are Spanish words and dialogue integrated into the story. I saw one of the climactic twists coming, but there were nuances I didn't anticipate. The story is largely told in short chapters that will make it easy for more hesitant readers to hook into.
This deserves to be read and promoted!
bookladykd's review
4.0
5 stars for the use of Latino mythology, the smart-talking bilingual main character and the sheer fun of the plot. Two stars (and that's being generous) for the plucky girl sidekick/friend/possible love interest. She's the lead journalist for the school paper AND head cheerleader AND a competitive gymnast? And she still has time to go gallivanting all over Miami with Charlie? What, she's borrowed Hermione Granger's time turner? And for at least one of their expeditions she chooses to wear, "a long silky dress the color of a wintry sky" which later on gets caught on a chain-link fence but apparently causes no difficulty in BICYCLING. Seriously? Were there no females involved in the editing of this book to point out the sheer impracticality of bicycling in a long flowing skirt, or the stupidity of the idea in general? Hispanic mythology come to life--sure, I'll suspend disbelief. Boy growing horns and feathers--no problem. Biking in a long flowing skirt without it getting hopelessly tangled in the chains and spokes? Nope. Just nope.