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calypsogilstrap's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great adventure sci-fi. Perfect for kids dealing with grief, sickness in their family, blended families, and/or Type 1 diabetes. But also anyone who wants a funny story.
charvi_not_just_fiction's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a lovely book! Every middle grader needs to have this book on their shelf. I loved the fun tone and the jokes that were incorporated in the sci-fi plot but most of all, I love the messages sprinkled in the book, the themes that I feel are so important for children to learn about at an early age ❤
I was also delighted to see the diabetic rep as well as the friendship that could stay like that and didn't need to evolve into a romance.
I just felt that the pacing was too slow for my taste and there was a lot of filler content. I wish we had gotten to the plot a little faster but still, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book
I was also delighted to see the diabetic rep as well as the friendship that could stay like that and didn't need to evolve into a romance.
I just felt that the pacing was too slow for my taste and there was a lot of filler content. I wish we had gotten to the plot a little faster but still, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book
ratherbereading25's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely fabulous middle grade read. As a parent of boy readers, I am always on the prowl for good books with good themes. This one delivers on so many counts - Cuban American main characters, main character with medical disability, super strong female characters, men/adolescents expressing emotions in healthy ways and talking about it. Plus magical realism. I mean, what more could I ask for?
literaryk's review against another edition
4.0
This was an enjoyable read, although the plot seemed to have its hands in a lot of themes and subplots. So much though that the conflict from the title seems to be the least of our worries. Science and magic blend beautifully together as Sal figures out is multiversal powers as well as how to navigate his new school and friends. The characters are unique and entertaining while also being introspective and (mostly) emotionally mature. Well written and engaging!
bastrat's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
4.25
xavia's review against another edition
3.0
This book was not what I expected.
I had been putting it off, because of all the Riordan Presents Books, this one was the one I was least interested in. Don't know why, I just... didn't jive with the synopsis.
And in a way, I didn't really jive with the book.
This is a good book, don't get me wrong. It's smart and funny and the characters are interesting.
But I never really felt like it was going anywhere or doing anything. And that is always hard for me in books. I like to see where the plot is going, what are we working towards, what is the problem we are trying to solve for?
But despite the name of the book, Sal never really does "break the universe". Maybe he punched a hole in the wall of the universe, but the universe is still standing and functioning and as far as I can tell everything is mostly fine.
If you don't mind books with no real plot though, this is a very good one. Despite my issues with the plot, I did find Sal and Gabi very funny, and their acceptance of the weird and the unexplainable was fun and silly (Gabi has like.... twelve dads, and it's never explained? Or really remarked upon? Also one might be a robot? And one is a cat?). It also shows a different kind of masculinity, with Sal being unafraid to let his emotions show or admit he was wrong. He is a great character and I really liked seeing him and Yasmany becoming friends.
I had been putting it off, because of all the Riordan Presents Books, this one was the one I was least interested in. Don't know why, I just... didn't jive with the synopsis.
And in a way, I didn't really jive with the book.
This is a good book, don't get me wrong. It's smart and funny and the characters are interesting.
But I never really felt like it was going anywhere or doing anything. And that is always hard for me in books. I like to see where the plot is going, what are we working towards, what is the problem we are trying to solve for?
But despite the name of the book, Sal never really does "break the universe". Maybe he punched a hole in the wall of the universe, but the universe is still standing and functioning and as far as I can tell everything is mostly fine.
If you don't mind books with no real plot though, this is a very good one. Despite my issues with the plot, I did find Sal and Gabi very funny, and their acceptance of the weird and the unexplainable was fun and silly (Gabi has like.... twelve dads, and it's never explained? Or really remarked upon? Also one might be a robot? And one is a cat?). It also shows a different kind of masculinity, with Sal being unafraid to let his emotions show or admit he was wrong. He is a great character and I really liked seeing him and Yasmany becoming friends.
sharpiemyshoe's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
4.75
fallingletters's review
5.0
Brief thoughts originally published 26 April 2020 at Falling Letters. Cybils 2019 finalist for middle grade speculative fiction.
If you read my comments elsewhere on how Riordan Presents books aren’t for me, you might be surprised to hear that I loved this book. Admittedly, it’s largely because Sal and Gabi Break the Universe diverges from the established structure of the action-adventure fantasy story.
Sal and Gabi is essentially a contemporary fiction story, with a light dose of scifi. I would hand it first to a contemporary fan over a scifi fan (as I would hand Auxier’s Sweep to a historical fiction fan over a fantasy fan.)
Sal and Gabi was a smoother read for me than Tristan Strong. I didn’t have to push myself to keep reading. I found the storyline less cyclical and more varied (i.e. it doesn’t read like an episodic action adventure story).
Because of my personal preferences, I found the character relationships in Sal and Gabi more compelling and real (likely in part because the characters are every day people, rather than the dominant cast of god and folk figures in Tristan Strong.) I love the dismantling of masculinity and how Sal demonstrates how to be a decent kid and own up to his mistakes. I love how his relationship with Gabi develops. In another story, they might have easily become rivals but their personalities and their active choice to not bully lets them have a great friendship. Other great relationships depicted include Sal’s own family, Gabi’s family, Principal Torres and other school staff, Yasmany, and Aventura.
I count the slower pace of Sal and Gabi as its advantage, though another reader may count that as a flaw.
Additional points that strengthen the story: incorporation of Cuban culture, living with diabetes (Sal), having a younger sibling in the NICU (Gabi), loss of a parent but a positive relationship with a stepmom, and scientific rather than ‘fantastic’ elements
This book is the first in a duology! The second book, [b: Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe|41712668|Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe (Sal and Gabi, #2)|Carlos Hernandez|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581960906l/41712668._SX50_.jpg|65059257], comes out May 5.
The Bottom Line: Readers of Riordan and Riordan Presents will find Sal and Gabi Break the Universe diverges somewhat from the established path, but still makes an excellent read.
If you read my comments elsewhere on how Riordan Presents books aren’t for me, you might be surprised to hear that I loved this book. Admittedly, it’s largely because Sal and Gabi Break the Universe diverges from the established structure of the action-adventure fantasy story.
Sal and Gabi is essentially a contemporary fiction story, with a light dose of scifi. I would hand it first to a contemporary fan over a scifi fan (as I would hand Auxier’s Sweep to a historical fiction fan over a fantasy fan.)
Sal and Gabi was a smoother read for me than Tristan Strong. I didn’t have to push myself to keep reading. I found the storyline less cyclical and more varied (i.e. it doesn’t read like an episodic action adventure story).
Because of my personal preferences, I found the character relationships in Sal and Gabi more compelling and real (likely in part because the characters are every day people, rather than the dominant cast of god and folk figures in Tristan Strong.) I love the dismantling of masculinity and how Sal demonstrates how to be a decent kid and own up to his mistakes. I love how his relationship with Gabi develops. In another story, they might have easily become rivals but their personalities and their active choice to not bully lets them have a great friendship. Other great relationships depicted include Sal’s own family, Gabi’s family, Principal Torres and other school staff, Yasmany, and Aventura.
I count the slower pace of Sal and Gabi as its advantage, though another reader may count that as a flaw.
Additional points that strengthen the story: incorporation of Cuban culture, living with diabetes (Sal), having a younger sibling in the NICU (Gabi), loss of a parent but a positive relationship with a stepmom, and scientific rather than ‘fantastic’ elements
This book is the first in a duology! The second book, [b: Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe|41712668|Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe (Sal and Gabi, #2)|Carlos Hernandez|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581960906l/41712668._SX50_.jpg|65059257], comes out May 5.
The Bottom Line: Readers of Riordan and Riordan Presents will find Sal and Gabi Break the Universe diverges somewhat from the established path, but still makes an excellent read.
librariandest's review against another edition
5.0
This breaks the Riordan mold, while remaining true to what makes the books popular. I really liked it despite all the ways it confused me.
Mold-breaking stuff:
1. Mythology/folklore doesn't play a big role in the plot. There are many references to Cuban culture, but the plot is mostly driven by science fiction themes like calamity physics and the multiverse.
2. There are no supernatural god or demigod characters. Just humans and robots.
3. There are no villains! Honestly, I love a story with no bad guys. The conflict is between humans, disease, and the unknowable mysteries of the universe.
I was confused by the lack of a bad guy for awhile. I kept waiting for there to be an evil Sal or something, but it didn't happen. I was confused when conflict seemed to arise and then fizzled and was not a big deal after all. The ultimate drama () comes late in the book and is resolved alongside the overarching drama of Sal working through the death of his mother. It was actually beautifully done, but since I expected something completely different, I felt befuddled by the plot.
Things I loved about this book:
1. It's so funny, both in the strange scenarios dreamed up by the author and in his playful use of language. Also it has tons of puns.
2. The characters are so lovable. Somehow everyone is goodhearted while also feeling realistically flawed. The closest thing this book has to an unlikable character is a girl who is annoyingly superstitious and afraid of Sal.
3. It explores some big themes (grief, powerlessness, disease) in an engaging and mind-opening way. It's accessible and entertaining to middle grade readers without watering down the seriousness and ambiguity of these themes.
Very excited to real the sequel next year.
Mold-breaking stuff:
1. Mythology/folklore doesn't play a big role in the plot. There are many references to Cuban culture, but the plot is mostly driven by science fiction themes like calamity physics and the multiverse.
2. There are no supernatural god or demigod characters. Just humans and robots.
3. There are no villains! Honestly, I love a story with no bad guys. The conflict is between humans, disease, and the unknowable mysteries of the universe.
I was confused by the lack of a bad guy for awhile. I kept waiting for there to be an evil Sal or something, but it didn't happen. I was confused when conflict seemed to arise and then fizzled and was not a big deal after all. The ultimate drama (
Spoiler
trying to save baby Ignacio's lifeThings I loved about this book:
1. It's so funny, both in the strange scenarios dreamed up by the author and in his playful use of language. Also it has tons of puns.
2. The characters are so lovable. Somehow everyone is goodhearted while also feeling realistically flawed. The closest thing this book has to an unlikable character is a girl who is annoyingly superstitious and afraid of Sal.
3. It explores some big themes (grief, powerlessness, disease) in an engaging and mind-opening way. It's accessible and entertaining to middle grade readers without watering down the seriousness and ambiguity of these themes.
Very excited to real the sequel next year.
cjmedinger's review against another edition
5.0
SUCH a fun book, and yet a book that deal with grief and loss and being different.