Sequels rarely measure up to the first novel.  While I enjoyed this story it didn't have the "WOW" factor of the first one.

I received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.  I haven't read book 1, and the story was obviously carrying over from previous events, but I could easily follow the story. I'm a middle school librarian, and I've read a lot of middle grade fiction. I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I laughed out loud while reading.  Sal is a fantastic narrator of his life.  He's so kind and fun and smart and funny.  The premise of the story is that Sal's father, a calamity physicist,  has created an AI that will close all of the wormholes that Sal and Gabi caused. Sal and Gabi must deal with parallel characters (some ill-intentioned) throughout the multiverse that both support and wreak havoc on his plans.  Sweet "side stories" abound in this book, ranging from Sal's grief over his mother's death, Sal's diabetes, child protective services, and the wedding of an AI toilet.  I will definitely be recommending book 1 and book 2 (and hopefully a book 3?) to my middle grade students.

Sal and Gabi team up again in this second book in the Sal & Gabi series. Sal creates wormholes and his father tries to fix them just as fast. Gabi is in another universe and has gone rogue. It is up to Sal and Gabi to get Rogue Gabi and Sal's papi under control, all while trying to find Yasmany who has gone missing in action. Are they up to the challenge?

Carlos Hernandez once again delivers a hilarious and heartfelt story with Sal & Gabi Fix the Universe, sequel in his SFF Middle Grade Sal & Gabi series. These books provide a much needed sensitive boy protagonist in Sal Vidón. One of the reasons I’ve loved this series so much is because of how vulnerable this kid is allowed to be. He makes mistakes, learns to verbalize his grief, and also learns what it means to take personal responsibility for his actions. I wish all adults could be just as supportive as the ones written by Hernandez. They are always understanding, yet firm, helpful, but never overbearing. Gabi remains the most relatable to this reformed know-it-all child (slightly reformed?). I love how determined and ambitious she is. She is always in someone’s business with the very best intentions (mostly). I loved that Hernandez shows the value of found family and how these bonds can be just as powerful as the ones you are born into. Sal & Gabi Fix the Universe was just as much fun as its predecessor while also expanding the Sal & Gabi multiverse. Please tell me there is a chance for more novels because I am not ready to say goodbye to these characters.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe

Author: Carlos Hernandez

Book Series: Sal and Gabi Book 2

Rating: 4/5

Diversity: Cuban american main character and #ownvoices, gender neutral terms!

Publication Date: May 5, 2020

Genre: MG Fantasy

Recommended Age: 10+ (multiverse, wibbly wobbly, timey wimey)

Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents

Pages: 432

Amazon Link

Synopsis: Sal and Gabi have to try to make everything right with our world when there is a rogue Gabi from another universe running loose.
Sal Vidon creates wormholes. But Sal's father, a calamity physicist, is trying to shut down all the wormholes Sal creates, because Papi thinks they are eroding the very fabric of our world. All of Papi's efforts are in vain, however, because a Gabi from another universe has gone rogue and is popping up all over the place, seeking revenge for the fact that her world has been destroyed. While Sal and Gabi work together to keep both Papi and Rogue Gabi under control, they also have to solve the mystery of Yasmany, who has gone missing from school. Could it have something to do with the wormhole in the back of his locker?

Review: Overall, I thought the book was good. The characters were funny and engaging, also well developed. The pacing was suited for the book and the story really flowed well. I really liked the fantasy elements yet again.

However, there were some issues I had with the book. The teacher in this book wants to be referred by Srx which is a gender-neutral term, but referred to the kids in the class in her/him pronouns without really asking. One of Gabi’s 7 dads is also a bit of a mystery. She doesn’t use gender neutral terms but she still wants to be referred to as a dad. I’m all for being whatever you want to be called. Dad, mom, doesn’t matter it’s a parent title, but I would appreciate some more clarification on this. The story is also a bit harder to comprehend. There’s a lot of multiverse stuff that goes on and it gets a little complicated.

Verdict: It’s a good book!

I received this e-ARC from NetGalley and Disney in exchange for an honest review.
Sal and Gabi are back! This sequel picks up shortly after the events of the first book, saving Gabi’s baby brother Iggy by connecting him to an Iggy in another universe. Sal’s father has finished the remembranation machine (now dubbed Brana by Sal) designed to close the holes Sal is making to the other universes. Unfortunately, in one of those universes, Brana has made things worse and the Gabi from there is crossing all the universes to “fix” things. It’s up to our San and Gabi to stop the other Gabi while putting on an interactive performance of Alice in Wonderland for parent-teacher conferences. 
This sequel is very entertaining but has a lot of “extra” stuff going on. For example, we get to see Gabi’s home with her entire family, including her 7 dads; lots of details about the upcoming performance. Reading this on my Kindle after spending my social-distancing days looking at another screen might have made it difficult for me to concentrate on this book. However, I did enjoy this book and I can’t wait for our library to reopen so kids can get to read it. Also, Carlos Hernandez has a nice shout-out to another character in the Rick Riordan Presents universe (I won’t say who – read it and find out!) Very cool! Will Sal and Gabi be back for a third go-around? I wouldn’t be surprised!

Carlos Hernandez thrills again in this clever adventure. This book is ready for the hands of readers, young and old, and
I would gladly add it to my classroom shelf.

How can a book get even better than the first? Usually sequels can drag, but this was a ride from start to finish. I love the idea of Rompenoche so much, and the Wonderland-esque setting was a perfect companion to the actual events in the story. I'm also glad that actual communication happened at least closer to the end. Most of these kinds of books don't emphasize that communication is healthy and necessary and it's an important lesson that was extremely necessary here.

The characters are relatively the same as they were in the previous book, unsurprising considering it's only been a few weeks tops since the end of the last one to the beginning of this one. They're still endearing, and honestly I had a lot of fun. The Sisterhood was something I absolutely wasn't expecting and it's so good. I hope there's a third book figuring out what was going on with FixGabi because she deserves it.

The one thing that felt extremely off from me vs the first one, though, was the humour. Toilet jokes and puke humour is so boring nowadays, especially for the audience they're trying to hit. There's a reason none of that flew in pretty much any other novel from the line, and it feels clunky and outdated here. It's 2020, we can get better jokes.

I love Sal and Gabi's story and friendship and I know my students will too! Their adventures and humor are perfect for my 5th graders!

We last left Sal and Gabi when they broke the universe and it’s up to them to fix it. Sal’s calamity physicist father thinks that Sal has eroded the fabric of the universe with his wormholes and seeks to permanently close them. Meanwhile, a rogue Gabi from another universe shows up to stop his dad from doing just that. In addition, Yasmany, a troublemaker at their school, is acting completely strange and the original Yasmany has disappeared. With the dimensions co-mingling, can Sal and Gabi fix the universe for good? Will they be able to stop the rogue characters? The Spanish in the book is well-placed, easy to understand, and adds depth to the characters in the book. The plot is well-developed, engaging, and funny.  Fans of Rick Riordan, fantasy, humor, and adventure will want to pick this one up. It is recommended that readers read the first book first. 

Please note: This was a review copy given to us in exchange for an honest review. No financial Please note: This was a complementary review copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.

Sal and Gabi do not disappoint! Their continued adventures are a rollicking ride. Sal and Gabi experience the ups and downs of. friendship while trying to figure out how to stop Sal's dad from closing all the holes in the universe. Add the curveball that there is a rogue Gabi from another universe with her own agenda and you know there will be plenty of mayhem for the middle school reader. I know the Sal and Gabi fans in my middle school library will devour this book. It's perfect for my diverse population. 

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely fell in love with the characters in this series after reading Sal and Gabi Break the Universe. It made me laugh, cry and BEGGING to know these characters more and more. So, to no surprise was I ecstatic to read an eARC of Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe!! 

The book started off pretty much right where the first left off, making me wish I had reread the first one to prepare! But it didn't matter because I loved remembering all the reasons I had enjoyed the first so much when these characters were brought to life again. This story is full of hope and makes the reader want to CARE so much more about everyone and everything in their life. In the most random and silly ways possible (a love story between robots, parents aiding their kids in secret missions to help friends, an Alice in Wonderland themed parent teacher conference, etc) this book gives you quite an adventure. It is a book that is framed to be about ripping holes in the multiverse, but really is a book about kindness and love.

This book ♥️♥️♥️♥️. I was in love with this book in the first chapter. Sal's narrating voice is honestly my favorite of ANY book. He is very upbeat and funny even though he constantly deals with his diabetes and grief. He genuinely cares about people and is constantly trying to do good while also creating hilariously ridiculous situations.
Carlos Hernandez does a fantastic job of weaving humor and pop culture references through out the book without seeming forced. Honestly some of the references had me screaming with joy. I live on internet memes & the whole thing made me very happy. Its a good light hearted read needed in these unsure times. Surprisingly, this book also has some lovely touching moments that really made me tear up. And there is an over arching themes of counting on others, keeping hope, and moving pass grief.

In conclusion: I loved this book. I have been waiting a year for it and man it was worth it. Everyone should be HYPED for it. And hey, Carlos Hernandez if you write more adventures with Sal & Gabi I will read each and every one of them.

Thanks to Netgalley and Disney Publishing for the advance Kindle copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
•
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. YOU ALL - this series is EXACTLY what you need if the world feels overwhelming right now. It is a funny, insightful escape. This is the sequel to Sal & Gabi Break The Universe, and it picks up just days after the first book. Now, Sal is somewhat amicable with Yasmani, his former bully, Gabi is still... Gabi, and Sal’a father has a new class-nine AI in the Coral Castle. When a Gabi from another universe shows up, trying to convince Sal that his Papi is a bad guy in other universes, he falls into a new adventure that leads him to discover more universes, more ridiculous (in the funniest way) situations, and who his real friends are. Oh, and there is an AI toilet, so that’s a thing. The ending left the story open for more books in the series, which makes me happy. Highly recommended for grades 6+. It is out 5.5.20, so be sure to pre-order from your favorite indie bookstore. And get the first one while you’re at it. You will not be disappointed.

What a great, action packed middle grade book under the Rick Riodran banner. I did not read the first book in the series, but this title was able to pick me up and fill me in right where the first one left off. I was excited to join the journey with Sal and Gabi as they experience trouble at school. The middle schoolers at my school are going to love this book, as they are always requesting books about kids their own age and magic. The mystery in this book would also be great for teaching inferencing skills with my students.

I started reading this book before I realized it was book 2 in a series. I was so taken with the initial chapter, and also so confused about what was going on, that I stopped reading it and promptly read book 1, Sal and Gabi Break the Universe. I really enjoyed it and was all ready to dive back into Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe, so I read it and was a little let down.

You definitely need to read book 1 in order to understand book 2. It's a plus if you understand some Spanish, because there are lines of dialogue that are not translated and sometimes the author didn't offer any comprehension clues. There are a few terms I could have done without in both books - calling someone (or yourself) 'a sandwich,' for example. It got a little distracting and didn't add to the story.

This story seemed to take a long time to get off the ground, and by the time it did, you could see the ending coming a mile away. I still like the characters and I'm so glad that diverse characters are  being represented. I just wish this book had a little more going for it.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the first Sal and Gabi book, so my hopes were high when I saw there was a sequel! I'm pleased to say my hopes were not disappointed. Sal and Gabi are back and they're both as charming as ever, as are all the other Gabis and Sals and Papis and various other universe versions of various characters we meet. The humor in this book is spot on and I love how well it mixes science fiction and real world problems, weaving them seamlessly into an adventure that is exciting enough for the most hardcore scifi nerd while still deeply relatable and emotionally touching. I love these characters, and I'll follow them to any other universe they travel to.

Fun and engaging characters and plot, but it doesn't quite measure up to the first book. Personally, I think the duet would have worked better as one longer (better edited) book rather than two separate titles. I genuinely loved the first book. However, by the time I was 2/3's of the way finished with the sequel I wanted to know how the story ended (since it really was the ending of the whole story) but I was not getting much new character growth, jokes, or substance. I was just skimming to get the main plot.

A joyful continuation of the Sal & Gabi universe, but one that doesn't live up to the original. Pacing felt rushed, and it was hard to follow even as a reader familiar with the events of Book 1.

I received an electronic ARC from Disney Book Group through NetGalley.
Hernandez brings us back to Culeco to see what Sal and Gabi are up to after saving Iggy and "breaking" barriers in the multiverse. Now Sal's Papi has created a machine that will seal up all holes between the universes. He's determined to prevent Sal from continuing to see Mami's in other worlds. This balances against a Gabi in another world that has been destroyed by the Gustavo in that universe so she is trying to completely destroy the membrane among the universes. Sal and Gabi are caught in the middle trying to get ready for a full theater experience for parent-teacher conferences. Culeco is putting on a full production of Alice in Wonderland for the families. Conflicts and last minute changes abound to create humorous situations throughout.
Middle grade readers will enjoy the wild ride through this fantasy adventure. Definite hint of a third book to come in the very last sentence.
The story begins slowly and wanders heavily into excessive details but rights itself and moves forward with action and story hooks to pull the reader in.