Sal and Gabi Break the Universe

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe is beautiful, bonkers, and filled to the brim with a fiercely unstoppable joy.--William Alexander, National Book Award-winning author of A Properly Unhaunted Place *Delightfully weird, this is unlike any other book in the middle grade canon. Hernandez has managed to include conflict and excitement into his first novel for young people . . . Fans who enjoyed Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time and Rick Riordan's works will love Sal and Gabi, as will readers looking for upbeat fiction with Spanish-speaking characters. Hernandez offers a rip-roaring and emotionally resonant sci-fi adventure. A must-have for middle school or upper elementary libraries . . .--School Library Journal (starred review) An extraordinary adventure about family and friendship, pulled off with show-stopping style. If Harry Houdini, Mr. Rogers, and Dr. Stephen Hawking wrote a book together, it might come close to the wonder, magic, and metaphysics of Carlos Hernandez's Sal and Gabi Break the Universe, but only Hernandez can bring the magnificent Sal Vidon, the brilliant Gabi Real, their families, and fellow students at Culeco Academy of the Arts to life. This book is a delight and a must-read.--Fran Wilde, Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award Finalist; author of Updraft Artfully balancing sf antics with a meaningful exploration of grief, Hernandez fills his fast-paced novel with an intriguing blend of sf, folklore, and Cuban culture and populates it with delightfully well-rounded, clever, and exceptionally kind characters, all in a lively, distinctive voice. With a compelling cliff-hanger ending, this engrossing adventure is sure to leave readers excitedly anticipating the next installment.--Booklist (starred review) The story moves quickly, with lots of multiverse traffic, school hijinks, and strong, smart, diverse characters. Most are Cuban-American in various shades of brown, like Sal, Gabi, and Yasmany, and Hernandez effortlessly folds in multiple intersectionalities, including Sal's diabetes and Gabi's unusual, delightfully matter-of-fact family structure. Secondary characters receive as much care and love as the primary cast, and readers will find themselves laughing out loud and rooting for Sal, Gabi, and even Yasmany until the very end. This book, drenched in Cuban Spanish and personality, is a breath of fresh air.--Kirkus Reviews (starred review) This vibrant tale from Cuban-American Hernandez (The Assimilated Cuban's Guide to Quantum Santeria for adults) is peppered with Spanish dialogue and slang, filled with mouthwatering plates of Cuban cuisine, and highly inclusive, featuring a sprawling, memorable cast, including Gabi's collection of gender-spanning dads. A nonstop sense of wonder accompanies a genuinely heartwarming and humorous tone, and Sal and Gabi are clearly a fictional team destined for greatness.--Publishers Weekly (starred review) This book is good-hearted, funny, magical, and absolutely unputdownable. I fell in love with all the characters and want to keep reading about them forever.--Tina Connolly, author of the Seriously Wicked Series