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showell's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful story filled with joy, sadness, friendship, diverse family structures, and wonder.
Importantly for some of the students in my library there are also a couple of conversations in which Sal identifies as ace.
Importantly for some of the students in my library there are also a couple of conversations in which Sal identifies as ace.
foampittroll's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
heathershectichideaway's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
3.0
gggina13's review against another edition
5.0
Rick Riordan’s publishing imprint puts out the most inclusive and both good and morally good books for middle graders (and grownups) and this book is no different. It was such a fun and sweet read. Book 4 completed for the reading rush 2019!
e_cobbe's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
seregelda's review against another edition
4.0
Great book, really great, but disappointing coming to it as a Rick Riordan Presents reader. I was looking for mythology and this is sci-fi. No mythology and no demi-gods, alas, maybe it should be under a different imprint? IDK, I might not have read it otherwise, and I did thoroughly enjoy it, but it was not want I was expecting and looking for in a RRP book :( All that being said, multiverses are cool!
dontpanic42's review against another edition
5.0
Highly recommended, probably ideally suited for age 11+. I read it with my 9-year-old, though, and he loved it, even though he didn't understand some parts that a slightly older reader might. I also loved it, and I'm 38. Point is, there is much of the story and the wonderful humor that holds a universal appeal.
For fellow parents, the reason I so recommend this book is not just the wonderful writing and humor, but the way it maintains this while taking on a range of real issues. Sal lives with his father and stepmother and is learning to cope with the death of his mother. He's also diabetic and starting at a new school. Gabi likewise has a "non-traditional" family and a baby brother in the hospital. Having been raised by a single mother, I love seeing the easy incorporation of different family structures. The book also manages to deal, albeit somewhat tangentially, with domestic violence. The book takes on all of these issues with appropriate care while also making ridiculous funny fart gags.
Another thing I loved as a parent was the positive role modeling from every single character in the book. Even the bully! Sal in particular shows that a middle schooler can be vulnerable with his feelings and form stronger connections because of it. I wish that all young boys would read this book and see different ways forward than the toxic masculinity most of us have learned from a young age.
Fair notice: most of the characters are Cuban-American, and there are some moments (not a lot) of Spanish and Spanglish that are not translated. I don't think a non-Spanish speaker would miss anything essential, but I know I've read books where French sentences went untranslated and felt annoyed by the presumption that the reader would understand French. I translated the Spanish for my son as we read, but fair warning for non-Spanish-speakers. I hope that doesn't put anyone off of trying this wonderful book, though, if only to learn the word cacaseca.
For fellow parents, the reason I so recommend this book is not just the wonderful writing and humor, but the way it maintains this while taking on a range of real issues. Sal lives with his father and stepmother and is learning to cope with the death of his mother. He's also diabetic and starting at a new school. Gabi likewise has a "non-traditional" family and a baby brother in the hospital. Having been raised by a single mother, I love seeing the easy incorporation of different family structures. The book also manages to deal, albeit somewhat tangentially, with domestic violence. The book takes on all of these issues with appropriate care while also making ridiculous funny fart gags.
Another thing I loved as a parent was the positive role modeling from every single character in the book. Even the bully! Sal in particular shows that a middle schooler can be vulnerable with his feelings and form stronger connections because of it. I wish that all young boys would read this book and see different ways forward than the toxic masculinity most of us have learned from a young age.
Fair notice: most of the characters are Cuban-American, and there are some moments (not a lot) of Spanish and Spanglish that are not translated. I don't think a non-Spanish speaker would miss anything essential, but I know I've read books where French sentences went untranslated and felt annoyed by the presumption that the reader would understand French. I translated the Spanish for my son as we read, but fair warning for non-Spanish-speakers. I hope that doesn't put anyone off of trying this wonderful book, though, if only to learn the word cacaseca.