Take a photo of a barcode or cover
kristinasshelves 's review for:
Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe
by Carlos Hernandez
This middle-grade sequel picks up right where Sal and Gabi Break the Universe ends. Sal’s papi, Dr. Vidon is a calamity physicist working to repair the damage to the multiverse (multiple universes) perpetrated by Sal and Gabi. This novel continues so much of what Hernandez brilliantly included in the first book. Sal’s grief over the loss of his mother continues to be tackled in a beautiful, meaningful way. Sal has diabetes, which is depicted as a daily part of his life without judgement and discussed with medical accuracy. The characters, for the most part, are Cuban American and their culture is woven into the pages of this book so well. There are plenty of points where the characters slip into speaking Spanish- but don’t worry, most of it is translated.
Sal and Gabi attend an artistic magnet school where nothing is off limits. The students are tackling a play of Alice in Wonderland and this classic story is subtly referenced throughout the book. Sal and Gabi continue to find themselves exploring the multiverse, with Sal’s magic tricks still prevalent. Their friend Yasmany continues to play a role, showing how friendships can blossom through kindness. He has a troubled home life and is involved with Child Protective Services. As a former child welfare worker, his feelings about his situation are accurately portrayed without being turned into a major plot point.
There is also humor interspersed throughout the book. Although aimed at a middle grade audience, I found myself laughing along with the characters at many points. Hernandez also often has the characters break the 4th wall and directly address the reader, which I found to be a fun addition.
I adore the Rick Riordan imprint and need no persuasion to pick up any of the titles from the many series it is publishing. I also adored the first book in this series, Sal and Gabi Break the Universe and rated it an easy five stars. Unlike the Percy Jackson-esque formula I’ve come to expect from anything attached to Riordan, this series is a science fiction, dimension bending wild ride! The featured fringe physics includes parallel universes, multiple timelines, and parallel individuals- all presented in an accessible way. There are also sentient machines, an AI scientist and even an AI toilet (would it be a good middle grade novel without some bathroom humor?).
I love this series and am so excited for the next book! I was selfishly sad when this was looking to be a duology, but the end of the third epilogue leaves the door wide open for book three. And oh my goodness that ending! I was not expecting the twist and cannot wait for the continuation of this series!
A huge thank you to Netgalley for providing an ebook of this title for review, all opinions are my own.
Sal and Gabi attend an artistic magnet school where nothing is off limits. The students are tackling a play of Alice in Wonderland and this classic story is subtly referenced throughout the book. Sal and Gabi continue to find themselves exploring the multiverse, with Sal’s magic tricks still prevalent. Their friend Yasmany continues to play a role, showing how friendships can blossom through kindness. He has a troubled home life and is involved with Child Protective Services. As a former child welfare worker, his feelings about his situation are accurately portrayed without being turned into a major plot point.
There is also humor interspersed throughout the book. Although aimed at a middle grade audience, I found myself laughing along with the characters at many points. Hernandez also often has the characters break the 4th wall and directly address the reader, which I found to be a fun addition.
I adore the Rick Riordan imprint and need no persuasion to pick up any of the titles from the many series it is publishing. I also adored the first book in this series, Sal and Gabi Break the Universe and rated it an easy five stars. Unlike the Percy Jackson-esque formula I’ve come to expect from anything attached to Riordan, this series is a science fiction, dimension bending wild ride! The featured fringe physics includes parallel universes, multiple timelines, and parallel individuals- all presented in an accessible way. There are also sentient machines, an AI scientist and even an AI toilet (would it be a good middle grade novel without some bathroom humor?).
I love this series and am so excited for the next book! I was selfishly sad when this was looking to be a duology, but the end of the third epilogue leaves the door wide open for book three. And oh my goodness that ending! I was not expecting the twist and cannot wait for the continuation of this series!
A huge thank you to Netgalley for providing an ebook of this title for review, all opinions are my own.