Grade 3-6-Mi-Sun, a Korean-American girl, and her little brother, Ju-Won, accompany Lupe, Mi-Sun's friend, on her summer visit to her Uncle Hector's goat ranch in Mexico. Soon after they get there, an old abuelo tells them stories about chupacabras, vampirelike monsters that prey on goats. Ju-Won, whose reading diet consists of "Scream Street" books, is sure the stories are true. A dead goat, a mysterious housekeeper who dresses in black, and more stories from the abuelo eventually arouse the suspicions of the girls, too. The mystery doesn't develop much and the narrative meanders around the market, a fiesta, and other venues near the ranch. In what seems like an attempt to produce a multicultural thriller, there are phrases written in Spanish and Korean. The Spanish has errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The repeated use of "Ay" throughout the book is irritating. Ju-Won suddenly speaks a phrase in perfect Spanish, but readers are never told how he learned the language so quickly. There is a glossary of Spanish and Korean words, but pronunciation is not included. Most chapters end with a cliffhanger, but the transitions aren't successful. The only noticeable character growth is in Ju-Won, who decides to read better quality books and whine less. Skip this one.
Linda L. Plevak, Alamo Area Library System, San Antonio, TX
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"A nice blend of cultures." -- Kirkus Reviews
"This fast, easy read is a fun, often informative combination of culture, suspense, and humor." -- Booklist
"This fast, easy read is a fun, often informative combination of culture, suspense, and humor." -- -- Booklist --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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