Sal is a fairly normal Cuban American living in Florida and attending a magnet school for the performing arts. His preferred performance is as a magician but most people don't know that some of his tricks are more than slight of hand. When he was five his mother died, and he wanted her back so badly he learned to reach into parallel universes to try to find her. Now he can pull other things through to this world, like a raw chicken or a scarf with a creepy all seeing eye. His tricks get him in trouble, in more ways than one, and when he finds out his new friend can see the tears in the universe he knows he has gone too far.This book got starred reviews all over the place last year and I can see why. It is loads of fun and pops with energy, but at the same time deals with some really serious themes. One of the things that gives is a lot of energy is the Span-glish that Sal and many of his friends speak. I know some Spanish, so for me it was fun to follow the verbal gymnastics, but I wonder if it would frustrate reluctant reader anglophones. I guess not, since this book was hugely popular last year. Another thing that was fun was that really off-the-wall things kept happening. Hernandez pushes the boundaries of outrageous, but keeps it in check with the right balance of silliness and seriousness. I will definitely try to recommend this to the next 5-7 grader I meet. (2019, 382 p.)
No comments:
Post a Comment