Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

I wasn’t expecting to love Sal & Gabi Break the Universe. To be honest with you, I wasn’t even sure how much I was going to LIKE it. Sci-Fi/Fantasy is not so much my thing, after all, and while the Aru Shah books and the Storm Runner trilogy were interesting, I was fully prepared for Sal & Gabi to join them in the “adventurous ride that I listened to because my daughter was interested” category.

And then I loved it. LOVED IT. The thing about Sal & Gabi is that it’s hilarious–and real–and poignant, all at once and beautifully, incredibly so. The saga of the Mami Muertas–Mamis Muertas?–is enough to break your heart, except that then Sal is deflecting bullying by bringing up murdered poultry, all while his insights on life ring solidly true. How often do you get all that in one book? Add to that a main character with type one diabetes–I have a niece that was diagnosed at 4–and the fabulous Cuban Spanish angle, and Gabi’s writing, and Yasmany’s storyline–oh my goodness. This is a book that will take you from a Coral Castle (of sorts) through the multiverse to the NICU, and you’re going to love every minute of the journey.

I can’t WAIT to give this one to my 15-year-old.