Scan barcode
A review by fallingletters
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
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.