I’ve got to be real with you. I don’t know a single thing about physics or magic tricks. But holy hell, I loved Sal and Gabi Break the Universe.


Sal and Gabi Break the Universe CoverHow did a raw chicken get inside Yasmany’s locker? When Sal Vidon meets Gabi Real for the first time, it isn’t under the best of circumstances. Sal is in the principal’s office for the third time in three days, and it’s still the first week of school. Gabi, student council president and editor of the school paper, is there to support her friend Yasmany, who just picked a fight with Sal. She is determined to prove that somehow, Sal planted a raw chicken in Yasmany’s locker, even though nobody saw him do it and the bloody poultry has since mysteriously disappeared. Sal prides himself on being an excellent magician, but for this sleight of hand, he relied on a talent no one would guess… except maybe Gabi, whose sharp eyes never miss a trick. When Gabi learns that he’s capable of conjuring things much bigger than a chicken–including his dead mother–and she takes it all in stride, Sal knows that she is someone he can work with. There’s only one slight problem: their manipulation of time and space could put the entire universe at risk. A sassy entropy sweeper, a documentary about wedgies, a principal who wears a Venetian bauta mask, and heaping platefuls of Cuban food are just some of the delights that await in his mind-blowing novel gift-wrapped in love and laughter. (Goodreads)
Goodreads

I received an eARC of Sal and Gabi Break the Universe on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Middle school is hard, especially at a new school in a new state. It’s even harder when you can rip holes in the universe and you don’t know how you’re doing it.

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe needs content warnings for the death of a parent, severe illness of an infant, hospitalization due to diabetic shock, bullying, mentions of an abusive parent, and a runaway teenager.

There were so many good things about this novel. Hernandez is a stunning writer and I can’t wait to read more of his work.

Culeco seemed like a dream of a middle school. I remember middle school being a lot more traumatic and socially horrible, but I’ll take this version for sure. I loved that this book took down a lot of aspects of toxic masculinity and did it in such a way that acknowledged how hard it is to change habits that have been ingrained in us, even as young as thirteen. It also broke down a lot of cisheteronormativity and allonormativity naturally.

I loved the way that, unlike many of the other stories in the Rick Riordan Presents Imprint, Sal has no idea how he really does what he does. Even his dad the calamity physicist (which is a job I would totally love to exist), doesn’t understand where this ability came from. I loved that it skewed more sci-fi than fantasy. I think that future books in this series will feature a lot of experiments.

I was a little confused by Gabi’s family – I couldn’t tell if it was a polyamorous family with all of the dads or just an extended Cuban found family. With that being said, I loved their whole family, the way they supported each other and how they welcomed everyone into it with them.

I can’t wait to see more of Sal and Gabi’s adventures, with their families, Aventura and Yasmany in the future.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

If you’re searching for a book that’s about the connections we make, character growth, meaning of family and friendship, all while giving you a novel and thorough world full of creative sci-fi, Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez is the one for you.

We follow Sal Vidón, a precocious young teen who, on his third day at the Culeco Academy of Arts, finds himself at the principal’s office after a bullying incident. Said incident involves a dead chicken, which Sal had magically placed inside the bully’s locker. It’s in the principal’s office where Sal meets Gabi Reál, another precocious kid who’s intent on exposing Sal and saving the bully from drastic repercussions.

After realizing that his magic could result in a kid being kicked out (and that Gabi is a an expert cross-examiner), Sal has a change of heart and says his magic was an illusion: there was no chicken. Sal knows what to do in order to survive, even if it means lying and conjuring things from a different dimension to get his way; he’s had to learn how to do so especially in light of his traumatic childhood.

Sal is a frank boy in that he’s honest about his mental health (he has PTSD after a traumatic car accident and the death of his mother) as well as his own physical disability (he’s a Type I diabetic). Even though magic is all about misdirection, Sal never uses it dishonestly. In fact, he’s truthful when he says that he learned magic in order to cope with his traumas. He finds a way to scurry away from trouble thanks to this coping mechanism, but tends to create more trouble than he solves, as evidenced by his unusual ability to borrow things from alternate universes.

Throughout the book, Sal starts to rely less on his magic, and more on his friends and family in order to solve his problems. Even so, his magic is explained away with science, all while not hitting you over the head with it; this ex-physicist found it logical, not a complete head-scratch anyway.

Sal evolves especially as his friendship with Gabi grows. He becomes more empathetic when he’s in touch with his feelings and emotions, such as when he reacts badly to an exposé gabi writes without realizing how it could hurt him. He recovers immediately and sincerely apologizes to Gabi. Their relationship is one that’s based in the earnestness of friendship, in wanting someone to look at your unique qualities and not think they are strange; it’s refreshing to see such a take on friendships. Even when they are being teased by their peers and close ones, Sal and Gabi maintain a respectful relationship full of curiosity and lightness (and yes, even fart jokes). When Gabi asks “Am I that extra?” at the sight of an alternate version of herself, Sal keeps quiet to not hurt her feelings, yet allows the reader to reach their own conclusion (yes, you are but no, never change, Gabi Reál).

Gabi is one of the most Lawful Good characters I’ve ever had the pleasure to read about, while still never betraying her intuition or impulses, even if it comes at a cost. Though Sal and Gabi are both impulsive, they’re a balanced duo in that they take turns being the stabilizing force until they’re convinced otherwise (they take turns sharing one brain cell).

Even so, another part that makes this book such a strong one is its ensemble cast of supporting characters. From the bully (whose name is Yasmany, and he’s a dancer with a troubled past) I mentioned earlier to a stern but fun principal, from Sal’s small but loving family to Gabi’s Mom and multiple “dads,” they all have important parts to play in Sal and Gabi’s lives. They allow the duo to grow and to have fun, all while being fully fleshed-out characters.

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe’s main questions are: What does family mean in the face of horrible events? How do these people around me and these sequences shape who I am?

They’re heavy questions to tackle, and when one thinks about the books that pose questions like these you’d think they’re more easily answered in a Contemporary book. But Hernandez manages to choreograph an intricate dance between the heavy and the light using grounded Science Fiction that deserves a standing ovation. The reader is immersed into a world full of Cubans in Miami, questioning gendered expectations and misogyny, all while having funny lines like: “You just give feero zucks what people think about you, don’t you?” (bless you, Yasmany)

I’m very much looking forward to more discussions about alternate universes, bonding moments, fart jokes, and Gabi Reál in iconic quote-t-shirts in the sequel.

An eARC was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
(Post will be uploaded to boriucareads.wordpress.com and Goodreads on 04/16/2019)

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe was SO fun. It's got wonderful elements of family and friendship mixed in with a wild, fantastical elements and I cannot WAIT for the next one

A great new series for the 12+ year old readers. There’s science fiction, humor, diabetes, Cuban culture, and two great friends. I can’t wait to read their continuing adventures in this series and recommend it to our young readers.

Another brilliant addition to the recent trend of science fiction and fantasy books with diverse cultures, Sal and Gabi Break the Universe is seeped in Cuban influence and magic. Fun, funny, fast-moving, and action packed, readers will love the story and fall in love with the characters.

I really liked this one. I love Gabi and all of her Dads, and how enthusiastic she is and how she can get so many people to do things for her. Sal is a great character, and you learn a lot about Type 1 diabetes. You will also get really hungry for Cuban food. I can't wait to see what other adventures these two get up to.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This was cute. Very weird and sweet. Things are just different and there's no explaining it, it just is and I love it for that. I don't know what or how to compare it to accurately.

There's an amazing step-mom, a host of amazing dads, Gabi who is a force of nature, and fun detention.

It's not all fun and games though as Sal is still grieving the loss of his mom, PTSD from a car crash, moving, Gabi's got a sick brother in the hospital, and her best friend has an unstable home.

I don't like magic or pranks, so Sal was kinda annoying at first. But his backstory and enthusiastic talk and use of magic won me over.

It does open with a bullying moment against Sal, which is not fun. But it's not extreme, and works out in the end. What really saves it from being the tiring typical bully redemption is that its only one instance and the principals reaction. This is not a get off scot-free or blame both sides kind of place, thank gods!

My best work friend is diabetic and Mexican, and I can't wait to find out what she thinks when she's done.

I will definitely reading the sequel!

I couldn't stop laughing while reading this book! Sal and Gabi together are one of my favorite character duos in a long time and I can't wait to give copies of this book to all the 12 year olds I know. The plot was fast paced and fun and I loved the cultural influences throughout.

Rick Riordan Presents is probably the only imprint I can say I want to read EVERY SINGLE BOOK FROM. I saw the synopsis mentioned a raw chicken inside a locker and was immediately sold. I WANTED IT and I READ IT and YEAH. I am not really sure if Sal and Gabi Break the Universe has mythology vibes??? But what I can say is that it is truly a work of art.

There is a good chance I’ve said that about another book or two before but I don’t know how else to describe how truly well written this book is. Carlos Hernandez knows how to pace a book, he knows how to pull at your emotions and he knows just how to crack and build tension. There were so many times when I’d be teary eyed and a well placed joke would have me laughing my butt off. I don’t think I’ve read a book in a long time that actually made me laugh out loud but this book? THIS TRULY WONDERFUL BOOK DID.

Sal Vidòn is an aspiring magician. He loves the thrill of pulling off complex tricks and entertaining people. He and his family recently moved to Miami and it’s his first week at the Culeco Academy of the Arts. Unsurprisingly, it isn’t off to a great start. One thing leads to another and somehow...a raw chicken finds its way into the locker of Yasmany- the kid who has been bugging Sal.   

Gabi Reál is… a lot of things. She is head of student council, editor of the school paper and occasionally plays lawyer whenever her friend Yasmany gets in trouble. She knows that whatever Sal might say, that raw chicken wasn’t just a magic trick. Something fishy is going on and she is here to unearth the truth.

Of course, the truth is the furthest thing from what Gabi could have imagined and soon, Sal and Gabi find themselves investigating parallel universes and figuring out how they can minimize long-term consequences.

So, here is the thing, I personally found that Sal and Gabi Break the Universe wasn’t super plot-driven which is sort of what I went in expecting?? There are things happening but I noticed that the characters themselves were at the front and center of the story rather than adventures and such.

I AM A PLOT PERSON But I wasn’t even really disappointed that there wasn’t as much of a plot because the characters themselves are so so well-written and well rounded. Sal has diabetes and lost a parent 5 years ago. He is still grieving his mother and yet he also has a positive relationship with his stepmother and his father. Gabi’s brother is in the NICU and might not survive. She is terrified for her brother but she is surrounded by her mother, many fathers and friends who lend her support when she needs it. Yasmany is not really a main character but he deals with abuse and is still able to form meaningful relationships and also find support.

These characters are all so wonderful I absolutely cannot wait to see where their adventure will take them next. I DO HOPE that now that we have an incredibly strong grasp on these characters, we get more adventures into parallel universes and explore this near-futuristic world a bit more.

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe introduces us to a host of entertaining new characters. I found myself rooting for all of them, even the bully. I love that the characters are realistic, their problems and solutions and thoughts and feelings all rang true for me. I love a hero with relatable flaws! I love when the mc finds themself in situations that force them to grow and both Sal and Gabi face tough things with courage. Obviously, this is fiction and as such has fantastical elements (e.g. a 13-year-old boy bringing things from one universe to another with his thoughts), but his family, his friendships, his health, and his heartache all rang true for me.

Four stars instead of five because there were several times throughout the book when I felt like I was missing some key piece of information. I felt like the beginning of the book just dropped the reader into Sal's life without enough explanation to follow along. How Sal mixes things up from universe to universe is never really explained, even at the end, and often it's hard to really feel like you know what's going on without that information. The same can be said of Gabi's family. It's never made clear who her biological dad is, or if he's even still in the picture. Is he among all those dads? This is all the more confusing because her baby brother is so young. It makes it hard to follow the structure of her family or understand their ties together. Sal does mention that Gabi's Mami cannot possibly be married to all those men at once, but who's the baby's dad? And, how do they all fit together? Then, throw a woman in the mix as one of Gabi's "Dads" and it just gets way too messy for many middle grade readers to grasp. I know that all families are different and that it is important for kids to see themselves in books, but come on! Kids also like to understand what they read and not be confused. In all honesty, my own confusion was probably exacerbated throughout the book by the fact that I don't speak any Spanish and there was a LOT of Spanish thrown in without any kind of translation -- not even any contextual clues. But, I enjoyed the glimpse into Cuban culture and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys middle grade literature, wants a little look at Cuban families, or likes a little magical realism in the mix. And, I look forward to reading the sequel.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this ebook from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Sal Vidon is a magician. A young magician who has just lost his Mami, moved to a new school and is having a hard time fitting in. Recently relocated to Miami, Sal quickly finds himself on the wrong side of the school bully, Yasmany. To escape this run-in, Sal performs his trickiest of tricks yet. He makes a raw chicken appear in the bully's locker! Take that!

Unfortunately, such antics have the opposite effect he is looking for when accused of being a brujo, the other kids at school become afraid of him. Of him! Sal Vidon, one of the kindest, most gentlest human beings in the world.

While pleading his case in the Principal's office (again), Sal meets Gabi Real for the first time. Gabi swoops in like a hurricane. Smart, determined and funny, Sal thinks, this is somebody I could work with.

Over the course of the rest of the story, we get to watch Sal and Gabi's relationship grow as they reveal more and more about themselves to each other and come to rely on one another for support. Sal is still struggling with the grief of losing his Mami and Gabi has an infant brother fighting for his life at a local NICU.

I was so impressed with this book. The writing style is fantastic, very fluid and easy to read. I LOVED the characters. Sal is one of the sweetest characters in any book EVER and Gabi is a true force to be reckoned with!

As a middle grade novel, I feel that this is an excellent introduction to the science-fiction genre. This explores the idea of multiple dimensions and travel between them. I loved that aspect of the story and thought it was really well done. There was just enough of that scifi feel without being overwhelming for readers who may be new to the genre.

My favorite aspect of this story: the humor!!
I was laughing out loud from the very beginning and never let up. The characters are so witty and fun. Very well done by Hernandez.

Another piece of this I really appreciated was the presence of such strong adult characters. I feel like often in YA or Middle Grade stories, the adults are either absent or not very nice people. All of the adults in this were really great, supportive influences in the kid's lives and that was nice to see for a change. I think it sets a good example, not just for young readers, but for adults reading this as well.

This being said, even though this is a Middle Grade book and I am far from that, this has been one of my most enjoyable reads of the year. Keep in mind people, there is no age limit on fun! Everyone needs to read this. Go ahead, now...

Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney Book Group and Rick Riordan Presents, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity and was truly impressed with this one!

I enjoyed this sci fi. There was a lot of humor and I appreciated the celebration of Cuban culture. Sal was a bit devious but loveable, and the supporting characters, especially Gabi, were fun to read.

That said, I am not sure I’ll be adding it to my collection. I think the discussion of Sal not being a sexual being was unnecessary. I know upper elementary kids are becoming aware of their sexuality, but all of my students grades 2 and up have access to my fiction section and that’s just not a discussion I feel comfortable having with a third grader. If I were in a middle school I’d buy it in a heartbeat.

This is a very character-centric book, and the characters are wonderful! It's hard not to fall in love with Sal, an exceptionally emotionally precocious child, despite the fact that he's still trying to recover from the loss of his mother when he was a young child. He's also a practiced magician, and his magic adds a playful element to the book. Then there's Gabi, who's precocious in an entirely different way--she could win any debate with her logical mind and incredible intelligence. The book explores themes of love and loss and deep friendship.

My only complaint is that it's a bit light on plot, especially for a middle grade--I kept waiting for Sal and Gabi to ... break the universe or something. The title is deceiving because nothing bad ever really happens because of Sal's gift with multi-verses and he doesn't do all that much with his gift until the very end of the book (which was excellent and emotionally compelling). Also, the setting was a bit jarring (at 50% in there were suddenly androids and I was really thrown--wait, is this set in the future? I'm still not quite clear.) Still, there were lots of positives: great messages, tons of Cuban-American culture, a diabetic main character who helped us see what living with that condition is like. So, it will be a definite win if kids will stick it out.

***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***

I liked Sal and his voice in this story (learning a little bit about diabetes through him was interesting, and I found the sections where he is unpacking the grief of losing his mother to be the strongest in the book). But otherwise, this fell flat for me. For one, it really dragged. Things happen, but they’re not all that exciting. Most of the book is Sal saying smart-aleck things or Gabi being a less tolerable version of Hermione from HP. But the thing that drove me the most crazy was that all of the logistics of the multiverses and rips in the universe and calimatrons and stuff felt really fuzzy. I didn’t quite understand what was going on half the time. The world-building felt really incomplete. I believe this is the first in a series, so perhaps the author was trying to set up things to come, but it really felt like something was missing.

The latest book from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint of Disney Hyperion, Sal & Gabi Break the Universe (A Sal & Gabi Novel, Book 1), is totally different from what I was expecting. I’ve read every book from Rick Riordan’s imprint and almost every book Riordan himself has written (he writes too fast, ok? I’ll catch up eventually), and they all follow a similar, albeit awesome, formula of a demi-god discovering their abilities and going on some epic adventures.

Sal & Gabi breaks out of that mold with a unique, one-of-a-kind ultimate buddy comedy adventure. Readers who are expecting another demi-god story might be disappointed at first, but they really shouldn’t be. Author Carlos Hernandez has delivered a hilarious and memorable duo in Sal and Gabi.

Sal is a thirteen-year-old who just happens to be able to rip holes in the fabric of the universe — which is super helpful when you’re a budding magician and need quick access to the ultimate weapon (in this case, a raw chicken) to fend off a bully. Sal meets Gabi his first day at Culeco Academy of the Arts in Miami, Florida. She’s student council president, editor of the student newspaper, and the perfect partner in crime, both due to her tenacity and a few other reasons that are revealed over the course of the book.

The other delight of Sal and Gabi are their amazing families, who are rich and fully-formed characters in their own right. Oh, and then there’s the food! A story full of Cuban American characters wouldn’t be complete without lots of references to Cuban food, and lots of opportunities to eat said food. I got hungry about 500x while reading this book, so be sure to have a snack handy.

This is a great book about true friendship, the importance of family, and being there for each other through the ups and downs life throws at you — and life sure seems to throw a lot at Sal and Gabi. A sequel, Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe, has already been announced, and I can’t wait to read what hijinks this pair gets up to next across the multiverse.

Cute book where the boy (Sal) can open up new worlds through a rip in the universe. He brings back his dead mami and gets into all kind of trouble. Gabi discovers his ability and the two of them try to fix the mess that develops. Gabi is a strong protagonist and Sal is extremely likeable. The book is great for our LatinX kids and uses a lot of Spanglish. Also, lots of referrals to Cubano culture.

The 400 page book Sal and Gabi Break the Universe to be published in March 2019 by Rick Riordan Presents is a hilarious book! It follows the adventures of Sal Vídon and Gabi Réal through school and magic that could destroy the world.

It‘s first-person narrative in Sal’s favor, and it’s super funny! Sal is a type 1 diabetic who just moved to Miami from Connecticut with his American Stepmom (whose favorite saying is “phew, baby!”) and Dad because his Mami Viva turned into Mami Muerta and kept showing up in their house.

When Sal is threatened by the school bully, he somehow causes a dead chicken, like the supermarket kind, to appear in his locker and then causing it to completely disappear! Gabi now comes in as Yasmany’s friend/lawyer. She attempts to help Yasmany, but his proof, such as the chicken blood on his shoe, is all gone!

At the Culeco School of the Arts, things aren’t always what they seem to be, and that’s only school. Now, Sal and Gabi must embark on a mission to stop the world from ripping apart and save Gabi’s baby brother!

This book was amazing! I loved it, and the plot was interesting and funny, throwing in plenty of exciting twists and turns. I especially loved how Sal portrayed everything, so that you were always on his side.

Carlos Hernandez’s humor is perfect for the portrayed age range, which is 9-12. Another awesome thing about this book was that, unlike many books in this age range, it was never cheesy! Everything felt real, like it was happening right in front of you. The characters were real, just like somebody from the real world.

Gabi was smart and sophisticated (although a little overdramatic courtroom lawyer at times), but this all came together to form a girl who had a baby brother born to have to fight for his life. Sal was definitely funny and overdramatic (and a little annoying at certain points), but he was also somebody you sympathized with, not only because of his family background, but also because of how he deals with his life. He never whines because it’s not fair. Instead, he takes charge of his life, like the aforementioned chicken incident shows us. This creates a tough, fun character that never grows old.

I eagerly await the next installment, Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe, coming in March 2020!

This book is funny, clever and moving with a great cast of lovable, diverse characters. I loved it! I can't wait to start sharing it with kids!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

SAL AND GABI BREAK THE UNIVERSE by Carlos Hernandez follows young magician Sal Vidón and Gabi Reál (student council president, editor of the school paper, and self-proclaimed student lawyer) as they navigate the adventures that life throws their way.

Sal does his best to take it easy, because his life is not easy. He has just moved with his dad and American Stepmom and is figuring out things at a new school. He's in the principal's office every day. His classmates think he's a brujo because of the dead chicken in Yasmany's locker. His Mami Muerta keeps popping up and complicating life... and, he just might be accidentally destroying the universe when he "relaxes." He's trying to become the world's greatest magician, but Gabi seems like she won't stop poking and prodding until he's revealed his secrets to everyone! Somehow, with all of this, Gabi and Sal start together on an adventure that celebrates the beauty of true friendship and chosen family that you don't want to miss.

SAL AND GABI is one of my favorite books of the year. Sal's voice is fresh and unique, and young readers will love both his and Gabi's spunk and attitude. Sal and Gabi (along with the entire cast of characters) excel at bucking "normal" expectations, but the fantastical trials they face ring true to reality and how the hand we're all dealt in life can sometimes seem both senseless and immaculately planned. You usually think of "slice of life" as a story type that we see in realistic fiction, and it's so refreshing to read this extraordinary slice of Sal's life. I love this sci-fi adventure that's true to the "what if" that the genre is about. We don't need an antagonist or an arbitrary magical timeline to have a great adventure. Life and science give us more than enough to question and embrace.

I love the way that Carlos Hernandez doesn't stop the story to explain every little thing to the reader. You are dropped into Sal's life, from his point of view, and you stick with him for an amazing ride. Some of your questions will be answered. Some of them won't be. As a teacher, I'm drooling over the fact that there's no way any of my students would be able to hand me a blank sticky note and say honestly, "I didn't have any questions while I was reading." There are also parts where you might struggle if you don't have any Spanish or linguistic experience. I love that, too. The characters and multiverse of SAL AND GABI are so authentic through and through that it really does feel like looking through a hole from our universe into theirs.

If life, friends, family, and a little bit of out-of-this-world sound like your cup of tea, I promise you (and/or your students) will devour this book - and then want to devour some delicious Cuban food as well.