Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys [Paperback]

Xavier Garza (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2004

Have you ever been too scared to sleep with the lights off? Were you frightened by a scratching sound inside of your walls or the beady red eyes and knotted green fingers of a duende? In his first collection of scary stories, Xavier Garza asks us these questions.

The stories in this collection curdle with the creepy and crawling characters of traditional folklore. These stories brim with the supernatural: the mysterious disappearance of children who made deals with duendes, evil trolls who live inside the walls of our houses; the ghostly specter of La Llorona who floats along the creek bed, howling, "¡Ay, mis hijos!"; witches that turn into great white owls; a severed hand that hurtles across floors and catches a death grip; and even the Devil himself harvesting wayward souls.

These are all cucuys, supernatural beings who have come to haunt the imagination in these tales of wonder and warning. These delicious and frightful stories come down through generations of grandmas teaching children to respect the laws of nature and the All Powerful.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

These particular spooky cucuys are recounted and illustrated by master storyteller Xavier Garza, just the way he heard them at the knees of other masters when he was growing up in South Texas. Garza has preserved just the right gory detail and startling surprise to frighten the socks off you. And he always insists that you learn your lesson and take heed, or else

About the Author

Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, Xavier Garza is a prolific author, artist and storyteller whose work focuses primarily on his experiences growing up in the small border town of Rio Grande City. Graduating from UT Pan American in 1994 with a BFA in Art, Xavier Garza has exhibited his art and performed his stories in venues through out Texas, Phoenix, Arizona and Spokane, Washington. He is currently at work in a sequel to Cucuys and is also producing new bodies of work, "Adventures in Mexican Wrestling," a collection of stories that focuses on Mexico's lucha libre and its masked heroes and villains, and a children's book titled "El Chupacabras, Alias El Big Bird." Xavier Garza and his wife live in San Antonio.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Arte Publico Press (May 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155885410X
• ISBN-13: 978-1558854109
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,297,234 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Xavier Garza was born in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. He is an enthusiastic author, artist, teacher and storyteller whose work is a lively documentation of life, dreams, superstitions, and heroes in the bigger-than-life world of South Texas. Garza has exhibited his art and performed his stories in venues throughout Texas, Arizona and the state of Washington. He lives with his wife and son in San Antonio, Texas, and is the author of numerous books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rich in RGV folklore, June 20, 2005

By 

M. Nevares "Mary Nevares" (Edinburg TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys (Paperback)

This book was fantastic. As a teacher, it is hard to find really good Hispanic authors for my students. This book will most certainly be in my classroom. Xavier is a wonderful storyteller who captures the spirit and imagination of the folklore of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. This book is written in vinettes, which makes it a fun and easy to read for classroom students. The young and old will enjoy this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun filled and creepy, July 18, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys (Paperback)

This was a fun read, creepy but in a fun way. I really enjoyed the book, and children will love the just right blend of humor, horror and shock!