Carlos Hernandez (1)

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 (trying to save baby Ignacio's life) 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.… (more)

I just love these characters and Hernandez's writing style. The plot is not the strongest element (I got a little lost in the middle) but it all pulled together in the end to make a very satisfying follow-up to the first Sal & Gabi book. The series has so much heart and warm vibes. It was a great pandemic read because it has an overall funny, reassuring tone. At the same time, it's zany and delivers the kind of tech I want to see in sci-fi (helpful AI, unbelievable gadgets, a supersmart toilet, etc.). I feel emotionally prepared for the multiverse after reading this book!

Merged review:

I just love these characters and Hernandez's writing style. The plot is not the strongest element (I got a little lost in the middle) but it all pulled together in the end to make a very satisfying follow-up to the first Sal & Gabi book. The series has so much heart and warm vibes. It was a great pandemic read because it has an overall funny, reassuring tone. At the same time, it's zany and delivers the kind of tech I want to see in sci-fi (helpful AI, unbelievable gadgets, a supersmart toilet, etc.). I feel emotionally prepared for the multiverse after reading this book!… (more)