REVIEW + GIVEAWAY featuring... Chupacarter by George Lopez

Today's second tour of choice, has us shining the book review spotlight on a new Children's Fiction title by George Lopez.  Yes, that George Lopez, and let me tell you, this book was REALLY GOOD!  Hosted by Rockstar Book Tours, make room on your TBR for a hairy tale of friendship you just don't see every day. 

Title: CHUPACARTER

Author: George Lopez, Ryan Calejo, & Santy Gutiérrez (Illustrations)

Pub. Date: August 30, 2022

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

About the book...

With his signature laugh-out-loud humor, world-famous comedian George Lopez launches a fantastical middle grade series inspired by his own colorful childhood and Latinx folklore.

In this illustrated contemporary fantasy, twelve-year-old Jorge is lonely and resentful after being sent to live with his grandparents. His first day at his new school doesn’t go well after catching the attention of his belligerent principal and the school bullies, so Jorge might be a little desperate for a friend.
 
But the only kid who shares his interest in junk food and games turns out to be a young chupacabra—a legendary monster whose kind is known for being bloodthirsty livestock killers. The truth is, Carter is anything but savage—he's kind, a good listener, and has great taste in sneakers. Being friends with a mythical creature should be amazing, but when local cattle turn up dead and his principal suspects the truth, Jorge is torn. Should he trust that his friend is innocent and protect him from exposure, or reveal his dangerous existence and change the world forever?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reviews:

“ChupaCarter is an uproariously good time, full of humor, heart, and unexpected friendships.” 

—Zoraida Córdova, award-winning author of Valentina Salazar Is Not a Monster Hunter

"A narrative punctuated with wisecracks and flavored with Spanish phrases and slang...Frights and fun in equal measure."—Kirkus Reviews

"Gutierrez’s lively b&w illustrations expertly render Jorge and Carter’s occasionally over-the-top, adrenaline-filled adventures. Actor/comedian Lopez and Calejo offer a rollicking tale brimming with Latinx folklore and culture about finding one’s home in the unlikeliest of places that never takes itself too seriously."—Publishers Weekly

"Some good and gross humor...in this fantasy-infused tale."—School Library Journal

 

This was an unexpected delight!

I mean, you never go into a  book with lowered expectations, mind you, but I didn't expect it to be this funny, this interesting, this educational, and this full of feelings as the story I experienced between the pages.  Or leading lad was just a boy feeling left out and left behind.  His mother meant well, but instead of feeling taken care of, he felt let go...and his actions thereafter spoke volumes.  He's not a bad kid, and he has very good intentions, but he often goes about it in the wrong way.  Like when he tries to help the kid being bullied...verbally mouthing off, probably not your best line of defense; getting a teacher or other staff member so it's not your word against theirs, probably a little better.  See?  He meant well, but being the new kid, and having the principal he had, he had a better chance of dodging his grandmothers shoe the next time she was doling out corrections, than coming out on top of this situation.  But that's only the beginning...

He makes a few new friends, two of which are very human, while another is decidedly less.  I love how Carter was shown as more than a monstruso.  We got to see the very "human" side of him and discover that sometimes the monster isn't the one who looks like one, but the one that ACTS like one.  Through all their ups and downs, revelations and running away tactics, we're reminded in a BIG way that friendship doesn't come in one shape, size, or color...it's for one and all.  The only limits on it are the ones we put on it.  Be strong, be yourself, and stand up for what you believe in...whether that be humane treatment of animals, the legitimacy of the Star Trek convention, or the new best friend you made that just so happens to have an interesting dietary restriction. 

A grand adventure filled with culture, and color, that will appeal to the middle grade set and behind!  The story is great, but the included graphics really bring the moments to life.  Through those images, you get a folly rounded picture of everyone involved, and the amount of heart between the pages.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

About the authors...

George Lopez is a New York Times bestselling author, stand-up comedian, actor, and talk show host. He made waves as the star of the most successful English-language prime-time television series about Latin Americans in recent history. His successful stand-up comedy showcases his idiosyncratic point of view and impeccable comedic timing. He lives in Los Angeles.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon

 

 

Ryan Calejo is an award-winning author born and raised in south Florida. His critically acclaimed Charlie Hernández series has been featured on half a dozen state reading lists and is a two-time gold medal winner of the Florida Book Awards.

Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @RyanCalejo.

Simon & Schuster Webpage | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~   GIVEAWAY   ~~~~

2 winners will win a finished copy of CHUPACARTER, US ONLY.

Ends December 6th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special thanks to the Rockstar Book Tours team for the chance to bring this tour to you and to the publisher for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer or visit your local brick and mortar to grab your copy today! Catch the rest of the tour for more!

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

11/1/2022	Mythical Books	Excerpt/IG Post
11/2/2022	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt/IG Post
11/3/2022	Author Z. Knight	Excerpt/IG Post
11/4/2022	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt/IG Post
11/5/2022	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

11/6/2022	Jazzy Book Reviews	Excerpt/IG Post
11/7/2022	Lady Hawkeye	Excerpt/IG Post
11/8/2022	@allyluvsbooksalatte	IG Review/TikTok Post
11/9/2022	YA Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
11/10/2022	onemused	IG Post
11/11/2022	Lifestyle of Me	Review
11/12/2022	Log Cabin Library	Review

Week Three:

11/13/2022	Jeff_of_allmedia	IG Review
11/14/2022	Locks, Hooks and Books	Review
11/15/2022	@just_another_mother_with_books	IG Review
11/16/2022	The Page Ladies @jacleomik33	IG Review
11/17/2022	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review
11/18/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
11/19/2022	Brandi Danielle Davis	IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Four:

11/20/2022	Eye-Rolling Demigod's Book Blog	Review/IG Post
11/21/2022	Books With A Chance of Traveling	Review/IG Post
11/22/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
11/23/2022	@froggyreadteach	IG Review/Read Aloud
11/24/2022	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post
11/25/2022	@ReadsReaders	YouTube Review/IG Post
11/26/2022	Emily Ashlyn	Review/IG Post

Week Five:

11/27/2022	@thebookishfoxwitch	IG Review
11/28/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
11/29/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review
11/30/2022	The Real World According To Sam	Review/IG Post

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!