This novel was a really solid and fast read MG novel! I adored the characters, Especially Sal. There was a mix of geniune love and tenderness and down right HILARITY that kept me coming back for more! I really enjoyed the family dynamics, as it really did feel like conversations my students would have with adults. This book is on point and a great book for the entire family!

Posted to Goodreads: Sal and Gabi are unlikely friends. Gabi is the straight A student council president while Sal is a want to be magician who often finds themselves in trouble. However, when Gabi finds out that Sal has the power to pull things through into our universe from another the two pair up to stop the rips in the universe and possibly save Gabi's little brother who is deathly ill.

This book was frustrating. There are aspects that are so great and you don't normally see in books. Sal's family, their heritage and their interactions was great. Plus, Sal's experience with his diabetes was incredibly well done. However, I never really understood the science around Sal's powers which felt muddled.

Loved much of this book, particularly Gabi and her relationship with Yasmany, and Sam's relationship with his dad and stepmother. And I very much loved that the male protagonist was more tender and empathetic than most others I've read-- a result of his diabetes and his mother's death, the book points out. But it did feel overstuffed, and I wonder how many kids will stick with it to the end, particularly through the long description of the process of making Sal's costume for a school project.

You know it's a solid middle grade novel when a nearly 28-year-old woman starts giggling at jokes. And not just your usual like, fart jokes (I will forever laugh at fart jokes, I have the sense of humor of a twelve-year-old sometimes). I'm talking this is truly a funny book!This is my first Rick Riordan Presents book, and I absolutely love it. Carlos Hernandez flips between serious moments (like when in the NICU with Gabi's baby brother, Iggy) and truly funny (like just the general opening of the book, with Sal releasing a chicken from another dimension in his bully's locker). And it's all real conversations that kids and families actually have! Like, A+, my dude, on nailing how seventh graders talk.Another aspect I truly love about this story is how science (even made up science) plays such a huge role in the story. Sal's father is a calamity physicist, and by knowing about other dimensions, Sal can reach into parallel universes and bring his dead mother into this current one. It's heart touching, and a little terrifying!Gabi is a no-nonsense honor student with a heart of gold and a bunch of dads (it's explained, I promise!). So to see her try to figure out Sal's story is just straight up funny.

Sal didn't mean to punch a hole in the universe and put a dead chicken in Yasmany's locker.

Oh, wait, yeah, he did.

Meet Sal. He's a lot of things. The new kid. Cuban-American. Diabetic. Aspiring magician. Lover of Skittles. And he can access other dimensions. How did that happen? Well, let's just say it all started after his Mami Viva turned into Mami Muerta...

Now meet Gabi. Student council president. Overachiever. Loves t-shirts with quotes and funky barrettes. Future lawyer. Sal's worst enemy turned bestie. How did that happen? Well, let's just say it took a little bit of breaking the universe...

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe is a fun, fantastic adventure full of friendship, family, love, and a whole lot of yummy Cuban cooking. All of the characters are amazing and you can't help but love them. Yasmany, the school bully and receiver of the above dead chicken? You'll love him by the end of the book. Principal Torres, whose office Sal has ended up in every day of his first week at his new school? Wonderful and definitely deserves a raise. Papi and American Stepmom? You'll want them--along with all of Gabi's dads--to be your parents, too.

It's basically a slice-of-life book, coupled with alternate realities that Sal can access, leading to wacky adventures for all. And, maybe, lead to a miracle or two.

In addition, I want to make a quick note about Gabi, and something that endeared her to me. Though also Cuban-American and studies more than she breathes, she doesn't understand Spanish, leading to Sal to translate for her at times. I think that this is incredibly important for the Latino kids who weren't raised speaking Spanish for whatever reason (like, say, my kid brother, who is adopted from Guatemala and barely even knows Dora-level Spanish--not for a lack of trying on the part of our parents and myself). Not knowing Spanish doesn't make these kids any less Latino than their fluently bilingual peers, and highlights diversity of families and lifestyles.

I feel like I'm obligated to start this review by saying I absolutely LOVED this book! From the very beginning, it hooked me in and literally kept me in the same state of pure enjoyment for the entirety of the read.

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe is about, you guessed it, Sal and Gabi. Sal is a new student at a performing arts school in Miami (literally sounds like the best school ever. I can't decide if I want to be a student there or the teacher). Sal and his father and American stepmom had to move to Miami because Sal kept using his bizarre gift of crossing the multiverse to bring back his dead mother one too many times. Not that Sal's luck gets any better in Miami because on his third day, he opens the multiverse to pull a prank on a bully in school. This catches the attention of Gabi, who is incredibly intelligent, passionate, and endearing (I can't decide if I would love to have a student like her or if it would be a nightmare) and she decides to investigate Sal and quickly has the entire school thinking he's a sorcerer. But Sal and Gabi become friends shortly because Gabi reveals to Sal that her little, month-old brother is in the NICU fighting for his life and, not long after, Sal discovers that Gabi can do what no one else has done: she can also see the holes in the multiverse.

There are so many amazing things about this novel. The main characters are absolutely amazing. Sal is totally Percy Jackson at his best: smart, witty, charming, and completely real and full of emotion. Sal has diabetes, which he deals with in a completely natural way (yeah, it sucks but it doesn't become the focus of who is character is, it's just part of who he is) and Sal never hesitates to talk about the complete, utter raw loss of his mother and how it impacted his life. Gabi is very similar: she hides a lot of her emotions behind bravado but also lets herself be honest and open when she needs to be. Both Sal and Gabi have a lot of support from the adults in their lives, which is refreshing and also accounts for the speech and outlook of the characters themselves. Sal and Gabi are never treated "as children" and the adults around are always open and honest with them, and also trusting of what they do and how they feel. I loved the dynamic between Sal and Gabi and how they navigate through the whole "boys-and-girls-can't-be-friends" assumption that, of course, everyone makes. I like that Sal and Gabi are nothing more than friends. It's a very strong, very important relationship.

The book also touches with very serious topics too, like the deal of a parent and the sickness of a sibling. Sal's diabetes is shown in a realistic way and his frustration with the disease is portrayed as well. Another character in the book is shown to come from an abusive home, which, in turn, causes him to act out as well. The characters are all faced with difficult situations and don't always know the best way to deal with them, which is honest and okay too.

Most of all, this book is incredibly funny. I LOVED all the Cuban-American lingo and how the author doesn't necessarily translate everything that the characters say. I think that will be awesome for Spanish-speaking readers, who might finally feel like they have a book written for them and will be able to get those little jokes that other readers might not get. The humor in the book is top notch. This book is utterly charming, that's one of the best words for it. It's just so charming and wonderful. The ending feels completely satisfying and I love how the author does not shy away from very references/parallels (like Every Man plays). This book treats its intended audience like the smart, clever, passionate people that so many authors (and adults) fail to see them as.

The one thing I didn't get was (SPOILER) the title because they don't *exactly* break the universe but...the end might have hinted to that? And the title of the second book certainly suggests that maybe the characters did exactly that without realizing it.

Honestly, this book is just so refreshing. It's such a wonderful, charming, adorable, entertaining, thought-provoking read. I would recommend this for readers of all types/levels/interests. There is something here for everyone. Wonderful!

This book is funny. Sal is such a goober. But for all of the funny little asides, this book is HEAVY. It deals with the death of Sal's mom, his diabetes, his friendship with Gabi (whose little brother is very sick), and his friendship with Yasmany (who has a bad home life). And that's not even mentioning Sal's ability to see into other universes.

For all of the heavy issues (and there are many), the author does a really nice job making them just real enough for kids to see inside another kid's window without it feeling scary.

This is the best of the RR Presents books I have read so far! Would recommend to all kids grades 5-8.

I love books that are about the multiverse, and this one was certainly likable in that respect. It had lots of likable characters and the setting was fabulous. It did have some issues though.

Let’s start with the things that I really liked.

Both Sal and Gabi were very likable characters and I loved the friendship that developed between them. Sal especially was funny and smart, and you know I love characters who can talk their way out of situations.
Yasmany was also a solid character, but I wish there had been a bit more of him. Perhaps in the next book.
The glimpses of the different universes was very amusing. I also liked how Sal used them to get himself out of trouble.
The Cuban culture was awesome. I love Cuban food and there was a lot of food mentioned in this book.
The school that Sal and Gabi attend. I would love to work there.
Principle Torres was a great principal.
Parents that we saw were all loving and understanding of their kids different abilities.
The things I didn’t like.

It wasn’t until about a fourth of the way into the book that I suddenly realized that maybe this was not our world, or at least it was a more advanced version of our world. Up until that point things seemed normal.
So with that in mind, while I loved the setting, there needed to be a bit more explanation of it.
It bugged me that there was never an explanation as to why Gabi had so many “Dads”. This probably won’t bug other people though.
The narrative was bogged down about 3/4ths of the way through when they put on the play at the hospital. I just didn’t get what it had to do with the bigger storyline.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will be adding it to my schools collection. It will also be a pretty easy sell to the students, especially with that cover! So far this is only a two book series, but I hope to see more than that of Sal, Gabi and their world.

In addition to his writing, Rick Riordan also has his imprint which is publishing many great books with diverse characters, telling stories from cultures all over the world. I have largely enjoyed all of these titles, and have to remind myself not to lump them together. I always expect these books to remind me of Rick Riordan’s but Sal and Gabi Break the Universe has a lot of focus on family, magic and parallel universes with far more humour than action. Sal is a magician, but much of his ability stems from his ability to see into the multiverse. He befriends Gabi, and the families become intertwined as their friendship grows. Carlos Hernandez packs a lot into this book including a secondary character who comes off as a bully until we find out more about his background info, a main character who is diabetic, which is key as this book has as many characters eating as any I have recently read a lot of Spanglish, and science and technology. Sometimes it feels like a lot, but there is a lot to like about this book that comes out in March.

This book just did not come together for me. From the title I imagined Sal and Gabi cavorting about the universe getting themselves into trouble and having to make things right. What I did not expect was Sal bringing back his versions of his dead mother and Gabi having numerous dads with a baby brother just one month old and in the NICU. So, although parts were entertaining I will pass on the sequel. Sorry, Rick Riordan!

Thank you to Disney and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this new middle grade novel.

Sal and his family have recently moved to Florida, after he caused a terrible rip in the universe by pulling in his dead mother from another universe. He doesn’t know how he can make things appear and disappear from these other universes, but he knows that he has to find a way to control it because it could cause the end of the universe as he knows it. Sal is having trouble fitting in at his new school, his type 1 diabetes means that he needs to eat at certain times, sometimes in the middle of gym class. The teachers and students are still learning about Sal. Also, Sal has attracted the notice of bully Yasmany, and when he uses his magic skills and ability to cross universes, Sal is labeled a scary sorcerer by his classmates. Sal is desperate to just be known for his regular magic tricks, not sorcery. His abilities catch the notice of fellow classmate Gabi, who has it all together, is the class president and perfect student. As they begin working together, Sal finds out that Gabi’s new baby brother is in the NICU and they might need to use his universe abilities to help out.

This book was funny and the characters were great. I feel that it would have been a stronger book, if it was the second in a series. It was difficult to understand the setting, because it felt that the author assumed you understood everything going on in the world. It appears to be set in a world that is slightly more advanced than our own. I liked the unlikely friendships developed through this book. This book is a great bridge between children’s books and teen books.

I loved how much Spanish there was in this book, but I wasn't sure I bought that Gabi had no idea what most of it meant because her mother did speak Spanish frequently. I loved how casually they treated blended and unconventional families, but including Sal (and then a cat) as a dad was confusing rather than sweet, based on what "dad" means to me and, I'm sure, others -- there was surely a less awkward way to say that he was considered part of the family?

I loved the book, though. I loved the multiverse concept, I loved how he used the world-building to reflect the multiverse (Sal and Gabi live in a world that's just like ours except for it's not in subtle and, later, not-so-subtle ways), I loved the characters. I loved that Sal's diabetes was not his only characteristic, or even a main characteristic, but it still influenced his choices and life in ways that seemed believable enough to me as the daughter of someone with Type 1. I loved Gabi's shirts.

Sal arrives at his new school in Miami and ends up a frequent visitor in the principal's office. Gabi shows up in the office to represent Yasmany, the other student involved. Perpetual hijinx ensue with an undercurrent of sadness. Sal's mom died yet still "visits." Sal can open portals into other universes. Gabi is the only one outside his family who knows. Sal's school is a very special place where kids can pursue their passions and help each other. The Miami setting with Spanish speaking characters adds the perfect aura. This book is unforgettable. Luckily there will be a sequel.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. You have a winner!

Yes yes yes yes yes! This book made me laugh out loud and also brought me to the verge of tears. It's snarky and smart and honest, and I loved every minute of it. I adored the Cuban influence, and I loved that we got to see a diabetic protagonist (Sal's the only one I've encountered in children's lit outside of Stacy from the Babysitter's Club years and years ago, but type 1 diabetes affects a lot of kids!), and I loved the emphasis on Gabi and Sal's families, and I ADORED the fact that Sal totally defies all the negative stereotypes of what masculinity is "supposed" to look like while still being very much a teenage boy. (Let boys have feelings!!!) Plus, the sci-fi aspect was handled really well: everything made sense within the context of the book world, it didn't get too technical but didn't hand-wave oddities, and left me hoping we'll find out more in the next book. Although even if we didn't, I'd be back for Sal and Gabi! I can't wait until this one is out in the world and I can't push it into everyone's hands.

I loved this book! It is part of the Rick Riordan Presents series. (from their website: "Our goal is to publish great middle grade authors from underrepresented cultures and backgrounds, to let them tell their own stories inspired by the mythology and folklore of their own heritage.")

I am SO glad there is a second book which is due out March 2020. I loved all the characters but especially Sal and Gabi. There is a fair amount of Spanish words thrown in but it is pretty easy to understand and it was funny! Adjusting to life in a new city and a new middle school, Sal has a great attitude and seems to have a knack for getting into and out of trouble. Gabi is just a ball of energy that doesn't seem to let anything stop her. It is a fun book. I can't wait to read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.

I loved the blend of sci-fi with Cuban flavors and folklore. My students love the Riordan books and will gladly explore the world of Sal and Gabi. Great addition to the field.

Sal Vidon is a complicated kid. He loves to work magic and is excited about his new magnet school, Culeco, and the chance to improve his stage skills. He is also nervous about his ability to access alternate dimensions, especially since his calamity physicist father tells him that it could release calamitrons and break the universe. Sal also has some things working against him; he is the new kid, he gets bullied by a much larger and athletic kid (yes, Sal is short), he has type 1 diabetes, and ... oh yeah, he keeps pulling versions of his dead mother from parallel universes (see above warning about calamitrons).

So, when Sal winds up in the principal's office for the third time on his third day of school, it doesn't seem like the place he would make a new friend. But, somehow, he and Gabi seem to connect. As they learn more about each other, these two seeming opposites have an incredible adventure. It includes masks, lie detectors, lots of Cuban food, dad jokes, homework, and other random stuff.

Readers who see the Rick Riordan Presents label may be expecting another series that features mythology from a culture they are not too familiar with. Sal's story has large amounts of Cuban culture and talks about magic and whether Sal is a brujo or not, but it has more to do with the culture of friendship, family, and food. No gods or goddesses make an appearance (although there is an entropy detector with an attitude), but those looking for cultural diversity will not be disappointed. There is also the added layer of the school (staff and students) dealing with Sal's diabetes. As Sal says, the students and faculty of Culeco have a lot to learn about how to make a school safe for diabetics."

Recommended for middle grades and up.

Sal has moved with his stepmother and father to a new town after a recent incident with his Momma Muerta. Sal is an amateur magician, who also can bring objects and people from other universes into his world. A new town means a new school and a fresh start for Sal. But, on the first day of school things go awry and Sal brings a chicken into Yasmany’s locker. These rips in the space/time continuum could have disastrous affects as they bring calmitrons into the universe. But, is Sal willing to risk the universe in order to help others?

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe is a good book, but the complicated plot could be difficult for younger readers. Sal and Gabi are great characters. You want to be friends with them.

Note: I read an ARC of Sal and Gabi Break the Universe courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe is a fun middle grade book full of Cuban culture, magic, friendship and middle school! I enjoyed the writing and liked Sal and Gabi’s characters, but struggled at times with the busy storyline. I really liked the 400 page book but I’m not sure my eleven year old son would go for it. I will however be interested in the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Book Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Great adventure. Sal and Gabi draw the reader into their world where a magician discovers there's magic in New friends.