ChupaCarter
by George Lopez, Ryan Calejo, Santy GutiérrezAlso by this author: Charlie Hernández and the League of Shadows, Charlie Hernández and the Castle of Bones (Charlie Hernández, #2), Charlie Hernández & the Golden Dooms
Published by: Viking Books for Young Readers on August 30, 2022
Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Humor
Pages: 272
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
With his signature laugh-out-loud humor, world-famous comedian George Lopez launches a fantastical middle grade series inspired by his own colorful childhood and Latinx folklore.
In this illustrated contemporary fantasy, twelve-year-old Jorge is lonely and resentful after being sent to live with his grandparents. His first day at his new school doesn't go well after catching the attention of his belligerent principal and the school bullies, so Jorge might be a little desperate for a friend.
But the only kid who shares his interest in junk food and games turns out to be a young chupacabra--a legendary monster whose kind is known for being bloodthirsty livestock killers. The truth is, Carter is anything but savage--he's kind, a good listener, and has great taste in sneakers. Being friends with a mythical creature should be amazing, but when local cattle turn up dead and his principal suspects the truth, Jorge is torn. Should he trust that his friend is innocent and protect him from exposure, or reveal his dangerous existence and change the world forever?
Content Tags:
Perfect for readers who want:
- Mexican folklore brought to life
- Latinx characters, with Spanish sprinkled in
- Light-hearted, humorous light read with plenty of heart
- Thoughtful narrative about family and friendship
- Super cute illustrations blended with the narrative
- Easy-to-read, casual narrative voice
Many thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours and Viking Books for Young Readers for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
The moment I saw that George Lopez and Ryan Calejo were teaming up to write a middle grade book, I immediately knew I had to read it, whatever it was about. I confess that I was a huuuge fan of The George Lopez Show when it was on TV, and I’ve enjoyed Lopez’s standup for years. If you asked me who would make a dynamic duo with George Lopez for a comedy middle grade book focused on Latinx characters, the first name to pop in my head would be Ryan Calejo, whose Charlie Hernández series I read last year and really enjoyed. So imagine my surprise when I found out that’s exactly what would be happening! AND it would be a book featuring a Chupacabra. Obviously, this thing was written just for me, and I appreciate it.
ChupaCarter is a hilarious, heartwarming middle grade fantasy about family and friendship, with a Mexican protagonist, Latinx folklore, lovable characters, and, best of all, Chupacabras!
This book was a ton of fun! Not only do I love the focus on a Mexican character and folklore, but I enjoyed the inclusion of Spanish words and phrases (especially in a way where context makes it clear what it means). Despite being a funny story, Lopez and Calejo also manage to take on some hard subjects, like non-traditional family structures and poverty. By the time I got to the end, I just wanted more, so I was thrilled to see that there actually is a sequel that was just released, so I’ll definitely be checking that out!
If you’re at all familiar with George Lopez’s voice and comedy, you’ll easily recognize it in the narrative voice and the way Jorge talks.
I guess this is a bad thing if you don’t like George Lopez? But if that’s the case . . . why are you even here? Shoo! This book isn’t for you.
The narrative style has Lopez’s signature on-the-nose, dry observational humor, which I love. It’s punchy and sucked me right in, making this a very fast, easy read that I didn’t want to put down. Plus, it’s freaking relatable, even if you’ve never been in Jorge’s position yourself, because it sounds like Jorge is talking right to you and telling you his story.
The kid—Ernie, I guess—sort of hesitated like he wasn’t sure whether that was a trick question.
Then, watching the overgrown burro’s scowl crank up a couple of notches, he quickly said, “No, Zane! No way! You know how much I appreciate the humiliation and childhood trauma caused by our little get-togethers. My therapist says the effects should only last into my early forties.”
Meet Jorge, whose mother has dropped him off to stay with his grandparents (read: abandoned, as far as Jorge is concerned), who is forced to start at a new school (again) in a place he’s determined to hate.
When you move as often as Jorge has, though, it’s hard to fall in love with a place. I mean, you’re just asking for heartbreak at that point. So his original dislike for New Mexico is understandable, especially coming from LA. From the start, Jorge’s determined that he’s absolutely going to hate living with his grandparents and everything about it.
His grandparents, on the other hand, are having none of it. Abuela is obviously the fierce matriarch, and is taking absolutely no nonsense. Abuelo is a little more understanding and patient, but is also not going easy on Jorge either, in his own way. I loved both of their characters, and I hope to see more of them in future ChupaCarter adventures!
I ran right up to her, screaming, “GRANDMA, GRANDMA—THERE’S SOMETHING OUT THERE! A MONSTER! IN THE PINE TREE! IT TALKED TO ME!”
But did she even bother looking up? Nope.
“Get out of my light,” she said dryly.
Get out of her—? “GRANDMA, DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID?”
“Yeah, bobo, I heard it. Now I’m trying to forget it.” Large brown eyes, so much like my mother’s, glared at me from over the top of the magazine. “And you’re still in my light.”
Despite having a more humorous and over-the-top nature, ChupaCarter also manages to tackle some pretty heavy subjects, even if just in passing, that will definitely tug on reader’s heartstrings.
These are pretty varied, and while a whole slew of time isn’t given to each one, they do the trick in-between all the light-hearted bits. Like the reminder that while Jorge may not enjoy school, at least he has a choice in going and setting up his future—a luxury that his grandparents didn’t have. Or the fact that his mother leaving him with his grandparents doesn’t mean she doesn’t love him or isn’t looking out for his best interests.
There are a lot of small, heartfelt moments that readers may find super relatable, for various reasons. If not relatable, they can certainly be an eye-opener to different experiences that people go through in life.
Now he held his hands out to me, turning them over slowly.
His palms were rough with calluses, crisscrossed with deep wrinkles and scars. They ran across his skin like the course of some wild river. And in them, I thought I could see the whole course of his life, all his years and all his hard work.
Man, it hurt just looking at them . . .
“But like I said,” whispered my abuelo, “you’re blessed. You at least get to choose: hands or head. So make sure you make a choice you’ll be happy with when you’re my age.”
Jorge isn’t alone in this little adventure/personal journey, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention his little squad, including two humans and, yes, a Chupacabra.
Which, by the by, I absolutely want a Chupacabra best friend and I’m low-key mad that it wasn’t a part of my childhood. Or my adulthood. FYI, a Chupacabra isn’t quite what you think. Okay, fair, it’s a blood-sucking creature, sure, but Carter defies expectations by not being a monster, despite the fact that’s what people think of him. Judging someone before you even meet them isn’t fair, okay? He can’t help the hurtful stereotype of Chupacabras that humans have. Being Mexican American, Jorge knows a bit what that’s like.
Jorge is also joined by Liza and Ernie, who are a bit like him in terms of their loner status . . . except not quite, because of course they’re different people. Liza is super smart and an animal rights activist, and Ernie is kind of a geek (which I say with love). While the two don’t add a whole lot to the adventure this time and are kind of relegated to the background, I enjoyed their uniqueness, and I hope they’ll also make a reappearance in further adventures!
“Did you move because of danger?”
“Nah, nothing like that. Just the regular stuff. Bills, finding work, money stuff. But it got me down, you know? I mean, it made me mad.”
“Movin’ made you mad?”
“Heck yeah! It sucks being the new kid in school every year. To be fair, though, it wasn’t just the constant moving. I was mad because of other stuff, too.”
“What stuff?”
I shrugged. “Stuff like my dad running out on us. He left when I was really little. And I got mad at my mom, too, because it didn’t seem like she’d tried that hard to get him back.”
“It was your mother’s fault?”
“No. Things like that aren’t anyone’s fault, I don’t think. But it still made me mad.” I huffed out a sad chuckle. “Honestly? I was mad pretty much all the time.”
About George Lopez
George Lopez is a New York Times bestselling author, stand-up comedian, actor, and talk show host. He made waves as the star of the most successful English-language prime-time television series about Latin Americans in recent history. His successful stand-up comedy showcases his idiosyncratic point of view and impeccable comedic timing. He lives in Los Angeles.
About Ryan Calejo
Ryan Calejo is the author of the Charlie Hernández series. He was born and raised in south Florida, where he graduated from the University of Miami with a BA. He teaches swimming to elementary school students, chess to middle school students, and writing to high school students. Having been born into a family of immigrants and growing up in the so-called “Capital of Latin America,” Ryan knows the importance of diversity in our communities and is passionate about writing books that children of all ethnicities can relate to.
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sounds great! have added it to my tbr
This sounds so fun! I had no idea George Lopez was an author too.
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