Fast-paced and far-out, this series opener mixes theoretical science with human joys and sorrows.
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez. Disney (Rick Riordan Presents), 2019, 400 pages.
Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12
Recommended for: ages 12-15
Note: Please see the reader comment below for an alternative view.
Adjusting to a new school, after moving to a new state, is never easy, but Sal Vidon has some extra adjustment-burdens. One, he’s Type 1 diabetic, and there’s a whole new crop of teachers to educate about what that means. Two, he still misses his mother, who died a few years earlier (even though his stepmom is very cool). Three, it’s his third day at the Miami magnet school and his third appearance in the principal’s office, this one over an altercation with a hulking 7th-grader over a locker. And a dead chicken. But it’s on Day Three that Sal meets Gabriella Real, who’s acting as counsel for the 7th-grader. They don’t exactly hit it off at their first meeting, but subsequent events will draw them together.
For, besides his talent for magic and pranks, Sal also has the ability to access alternate realities, or multiverses. Just how is never explained, but it started when he brought his first mom back from whatever alternate universe she was living in. There have been other moms, from other places: some difficult, some warm and nurturing, and all great cooks. Sal’s father, a specialist in calamity physics, is tracking Sal’s ability closely, fearful of unleashed “calamitrons.” Gabi has her own issues. First off, to say that her family is non-traditional is an understatement. It’s not that she has two dads—she has many dads (one is mechanical), plus a mom, and a baby brother who’s on a ventilator and may not pull through. (The multi-dad phenomenon, like the multi-verse, phenomenon is never explained. None of them act gay, for what that’s worth.)
Yes, it sounds crazy, but Sal is an unusually winsome narrator and his story is both touching and hilarious. Unlike most other “Rick Riordan Presents” series, this one does not feature the gods of non-western mythologies. It’s more science fiction, with the added appeal of a rich Cuban cultural background. I can’t vouch for the rest of the series, but the first one is lots of fun, especially the audio version.
Please note: This review pertains to the first book only. Additional installments in the series may contain objectionable content, so as always, read with discretion.
Considerations:
- See Gabi’s unconventional family, above. I don’t sense an agenda; it just fits with the general quirkiness of the story. Sal’s family is close, and he has a good relationship with both father and stepmother.
- There are occasional (2-3?) misuses of God’s name.
Overall value: 3.75 (out of 5)
- Worldview/moral value: 3.5
- Artistic/literary value: 4
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I agree that this is a fun and fast-paced adventure and it has a lot to like as it treats issues of developing an honorable character, but I found one more caution I would add: American Stepmom tells Sal that he can be whatever gender he wants to be and love whoever he wants to love. I didn’t sense an agenda with Gabi’s family, but I did with those lines.
Lacy,
Thanks for pointing that out! I’ll admit, I failed to take note of that particular thought. On the positive side, it can make a good teaching moment for middle-grade readers, but parents should know it’s there.
I’m going to have to disagree with this review. I think you might have missed what is really happening here because maybe you aren’t aware that polyamory is a thing. Just to define it, polyamory is when people chose, as a lifestyle, to have multiple committed romantic/sexual relationships at the same time.
The book is trying to promote polyamory. Gabi’s mom in a relationship with 3 women and 4 men, all of whom Gabi calls “dads.” Gabi’s mom kisses them all at one point in the book (page 328). It is made clear that though they can’t be legally married, they non-the-less have as much love as any family. The book is attempting to normalize this as as an alternative lifestyle because as Sal says when he meets Gabi’s polyamorous parents “love is all that matters.” (page 123)
Gabi’s polyamorous parents are described as the “most fun,”, “magical,” and “the best family” at different points in the book. (page 317 for instance). When Gabi’s mom is asked what she was like when she was young she says that all she did was “fantasize about dating everybody, and I mean everybody.” (page 296-97)
Twice in the book Sal’s mom teaches Sal in regards to sexuality that “you do you.” (page 335, 336). I believe the kids in the book are meant to understand that perhaps they also might discover in their youth that they have any number of sexual propensities that they will be able to act on later in life, just like Gabi’s mom.
There is a lot more too.
This book is a hard no for me. If you are interested, I can send you a list of quotes I pulled from the book including page numbers. I can understand how you could miss what was going on in this book if you weren’t aware that polyamory is a thing that is being promoted more and more.
My elementary school had my 10 year old daughter read this book and a lot of parents were upset when they saw quotes from the book. The reviews available online don’t describe what the book contains and this website could do a big service. I’d love to see an updated review with more of the quotes included. I’d be happy to help if you are interested. I think it would help bring this to light.
Thank you for posting a review.
Thank you for your valuable perspective, CarrieAnn. I will post a note at the top of the review so the readers will be sure to check out your comment and make their own decisions.