Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC of this!

This was an absolutely adorable story of a young Puerto Rican girl and her friends, following them as they try to save a baby Chupacabra. The main character is helping her grandmother reopen her home and her restaurant following a hurricane, but the adults in her life don't want her to have to do these "adult" things and ask her to just stay out of the way. So instead she decides to help where she feels that she can, with the Chupacabra that is said to be eating crops, even if she doesn't believe in it.

I love this so much!! The art is adorable and I love the little field guide in the end about Puerto Rican wildlife. It's such a lovely story that shows the community and resilience of Puerto Rican people as they come together to rebuild after tragedy. It's a great story about family, friendship, and learning how to not only help others but also how to accept help. Pretty sure it's a standalone, but I would love more adventures of Violeta and her friends!

Thanks for giving us a story about el chupacabras that doesn't cater to stereotypes. The art is magestic and the writing as well. This is a book I would def. recommend.

This is a captivating and heartwarming tale that takes readers on a remarkable journey filled with friendship, bravery, and determination.

I'm a fan of cryptid books and often feel like the chupacabra is underexplored. This one does a nice job of not just exploring the cryptid as it is currently understood but also looking at folklore and it's place in culture. It becomes representative of a people, place, and way of life. Apart from that, it's just a fun read.

This was such a cute graphic novel with colorful art. I really enjoyed this story and the cultural elements that were introduced.

Absolutely delightful, with vibrant, colorful art and charming characters (including the titular Chupie!), and a very important message that actually snuck up on me. I loved getting to know the kids and their families, and the heartbreak and love both felt very real.

Violeta and her family travel back to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria came through and caused sever damages to the entire island. Her abuelita, a Puerto Rican native, used to live on the island and run a popular restaurant, but due to the hurricane had to relocate to Florida with Violeta until it was safe to go back to Puerto Rico. Now back on the island, there is a lot of work to be done to the restaurant and abuelita's apartment, none of which Violeta's parents will help her with. All Violeta wants to do is go to the beach or help out with the work, and no one will let her do either. That is until she's introduce to Diego and Lorena, two local kids with an knack for invention, and the 3 quickly become best friends, doing all the things Violeta had been asking her family to do all summer. Unfortunately, things turn south when the goats that provide meat to Diego's mom's business are all killed, by none other than the chupacabra. Violeta, of course, is unconvinced, as el chupacabra is a myth, a legend, and determined to prove her friends who believe in him wrong, they set out to find him. As it turns out, Violeta was the one proven wrong, and she herself is saved by el chupacabra. Scared and unsure what to do, she hides the appropriately named Chupie in her abuelita's shed, out of harms way. When she reveals Chupie's existence to Lorena and Diego, Lorena is on board with hiding Chupie, and Diego is upset- it was his mom's livelihood Chupie was destroying. With the friend group on the rocks, the trio struggle with Chupie's existence, and what to do with him, since so many are searching for him.

This story was very fascinating and I felt it did a great job of incorporating the deep history of Puerto Rico into it. There was so much info that you could really feel the sorrow of the people who were there for Maria and experiencing the loss of the animals and the upturning of their home. And the story itself was quite fun and cute. It took a very deep message, friend struggles, family cultures, loss, and made a fun story around it that still addressed all of these in a way that was age appropriate. A great read that I really enjoyed.

Follow Violeta and her friends as they find, befriend, and rescue a baby Chupacabra.

I loved the originality of this story, and the themes of family, friendships, and personal growth. The way the author portrays adults undermining kids abilities was so well done. And I LOVED all the Spanish that was seamlessly interwoven with English dialogue. Spanglish isn't seen often in books (at least not what I've read) and it was really well done.

I felt like some of the dialogue in the story was a bit out of place that would take me out of the adventure. Or that some scenes were glossed over and would've been nice to expand on. But overall it was a really sweet book, and I know kids will love it.

Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this delightful book! This book was so much fun! Great characters and gorgeous illustrations combine with some mythical creatures for a fast-paced, heartfelt story! Looking forward to sharing this gem with my students! Highly recommend!

“Saving Chupie" by Amparo Ortiz: A Heartwarming and Enlightening Read

5/5 stars

I recently had the pleasure of delving into the pages of "Saving Chupie" by Amparo Ortiz, beautifully illustrated by Ronnie Garcia. From the very beginning, this book captured my attention with its colorful illustration that represents Puerto Rico’s beauty. Its heartfelt themes and captivating storytelling kept me on the page.

One of the aspects that truly stood out to me was the emphasis on loyalty and family. Through the protagonist's journey, readers are reminded of the deep bonds and unwavering support that exist within families. The importance of standing by each other, even in the face of adversity, is beautifully portrayed, reminding readers of the significance of these relationships in our lives.

Another commendable aspect of the book is its portrayal of the cultural richness of Puerto Rico. The vivid and stunning illustrations of the rainforest and indigenous animals transport readers to the enchanting landscapes of the island. This inclusion of diverse cultural elements is crucial in literature, and "Saving Chupie" excels in showcasing the beauty and heritage of Puerto Rican culture.

Furthermore, the book addresses the impact of Hurricane Maria, shedding light on the challenges faced by Puerto Rico and its people during this natural disaster. This educational aspect of the story helps foster empathy and understanding among readers, allowing them to connect with the experiences of individuals and communities affected by such events.

One of the most endearing themes explored in "Saving Chupie" is the power of friendship. The book beautifully captures the journey of finding companionship, even when feeling awkward or out of place. This emphasis on building connections and fostering friendships serves as a valuable reminder of the importance of human connection and personal growth.

Ultimately, "Saving Chupie" by Amparo Ortiz, illustrated by Ronnie Garcia, is a heartwarming and enlightening book that leaves a lasting impact on its readers. With its themes of loyalty, family, cultural representation, and the importance of friendship, the story offers valuable life lessons for readers of all ages. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking an engaging and thought-provoking read that celebrates the power of love, resilience, and unity.

This was so amazing. First of all, the artwork was beautiful and Chupie was just the cutest thing ever. I loved the themes of friendship and family, and how people came together to recover from Maria.

This was a really fun graphic novel! I love the vivid colors and illustrations. Violeta's eagerness and desire to help were really poignant, and her learning how to be a friend are relatable. I really enjoyed this unique take on the story of chupacabras and other monster tales!

This was absolutely a fun and gorgeous book to read. I grew up in a Hispanic household, so I know all about the legends of the chupacabra. I did not prepare myself for how cute this chupacabra was going to be, and I was not disappointed. I want a Chupie!

Violetta, her parents, and her grandma go back to Puerto Rico to help her grandma rebuild her home and her local famous restaurant after a hurricane destroyed her town. Violeta wants to feel like she could help,but her parents and her grandma keep pushing her away. She makes two new friends and they instantly become a trio! When her new friend Diego tells them that a chupacabra has been eating the local livestock, decide to go find this monster. Violetta comes close to hurting herself in an animal trap but the chupacabra saves her but ends up, getting caught in the trap himself. She saves him and they instantly become bonded buddies. She names him Chupie but decides to not tell her friends due to her not having full trust since she has never really had friends before. So what will happen? Well, she tell her friends? Will they understand why she wants to keep him safe? What will happenns when a local poacher finds out about Chupie?
This story is a amazing coming of age telling of how trust and friendships and family can come together during times of need. The artwork of this book is absolutely beautiful. You will instantly fall in love with every single character, the facial expressions, and just every panel in this stunning graphic novel. The design of the chupacabra is adorable. Like a cute puppy dragon iguana. You’ll want to read more adventures with Chupie!

Saving Chupie was so cute! I love cryptids, and I especially love chupacabras, so I've been eagerly awaiting this release and it didn't let me down. The art is stunning, Chupie is the cutest little guy, and I loved the storyline's themes of family, making friends, loyalty, forgiveness, and learning how to accept help even when we want to do everything on our own (for both adults and kids). I'd highly recommend this to any kid (or kid at heart) who enjoys fun adventure stories with monsters and beasties.

Violeta has heard a lot about Puerto Rico from her Abuelita, but she still feels out of her element during a summer visit to the island. She feels useless in the project to repair Abuelita’s reastauraunt, after the devestation from Huracán Maria. And making friends makes her a bit nervous.

Though, perhaps she’d be a bit less nervous if her new friend was a cute, baby animal. One just right to snuggle in her arms, lick her face, and suck goats.

…wait, what?

Violeta has found a baby chupacabra. And there’s been a lot of attacks on local livestock. Violeta must hide Chupie, find a way to get it home, stop the attacks on livestock, and convince her few new friends that this little cuddle bug isn’t a threat to the community.

This book has such an emphasis on the cute, with Chupie, who really embodies a lot of dog loyalty, plus cat mischief. And, by the end of the book, we get to see plenty more creatures of folklore, which are all quite fascinating.

Definitely a good pick for any animal-loving kid, and probably also a good choice for those who feel a bit hesitant about social life.

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

I adored this one! This is such a sweet story that gives a great introduction to the Chupacabra. Themes of friendship, exploration of family, devastation after Hurricane Maria, and Puerto Rican identity, are all explored in this graphic novel. I especially liked the art style of this one! My only minor complaint is that the pacing felt a little off in the middle of the book and everything wrapped up a little too fast, but overall I enjoyed my time with this one!

"Carolina Ortiz at HarperCollins has bought world rights to Eisner-nominated author and illustrator Amparo Ortiz and Ronnie Garcia's "Saving Chupie," a middle grade graphic novel about Violeta Rubio and her friends' mission to protect their local Chupacabra, set in a recovering town in Puerto Rico."


I have always loved a story where a mythical creature/monster needs protecting. Saving Chupie by Amparo Ortiz was the sweet, fun, adventure my summer reading needed. The artwork is beyond reproach, Chupie is adorable and now I want a plush of it, and the story of family and folklore gave me all of a fuzzy feels! The setting of Puerto Rico and the corresponding artwork is just breathtaking. This middle-grade adventure is great for all ages and I highly recommend getting a copy!

Awww I loved this story, it had two main focuses, returning grandmother to her house in Puerto Rico, after the devastation of Hurricane Maria, rebuilding La Casita her restaurant, and saving a local legendary animal that is accused of killing the local cattle. The grown-ups want Violeta to enjoy her days as a child, but she makes new friends and they investigate what they can to protect Chupie, who appeared to Violeta.
It's adventurous and funny with great facial expressions, movement, an amazing climax, and also an amazing conclusion to both focuses. I loved the three friends stepping up and saving the day.
At the end of the book, there are a few pages like a traveling journal with some of the local animals that are not so legendary.
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this eARC.