The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class: The Legend of Memo Castillo
by William Alexander (Author) Kat Fajardo (Illustrator)
In the exciting new KIDS IN MRS. Z'S CLASS chapter-book series, every book is written by a different beloved author and stars a different kid in the class. With Book Four, written by National Book Award winner William Alexander, Memo Castillo is excited to attend his first-ever fan convention with his best friend, Theo Chang -- but when their transportation plans go awry, will they get to live out their dreams?
Guillermo "Memo" Castillo and Theo Chang have been best friends since they were in kindergarten, and now they're partners in Sorcery too -- the mega-popular collectible card game, that is. Memo and Theo are excited to attend the upcoming science fiction & fantasy fan convention not far from Peppermint Falls. They plan to dress up in costumes, play in their first-ever Sorcery competition, defeat that arrogant fifth grader Josh Harkan in the tournament, and have an awesome day.
But Memo's dad can't drive them to the convention. His mom can't either. Theo's family is out as well. That leaves just one option: Memo's fearsome abuela. Lala doesn't speak English, though, and Memo doesn't speak Spanish. The two of them have never been able to really connect or communicate. But when Lala unexpectedly agrees to take Memo and Theo to the convention, it opens up a whole new set of adventures and challenges -- along with a kind of magic that Memo never expected.
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School Library Journal
Gr 1-4–The series installment introduces readers to Guillermo, also known as Memo, a Cuban American third grader at Curiosity Academy with a love for card games and comic conventions. Though Memo’s family is from Cuba, he speaks only a little Spanish, which sometimes makes it hard to communicate with his abuela, Lala. When Memo and his friend Theo need a ride to MagiCon to compete in a Sorcery card game tournament, Memo’s dad forgets, and Memo has to figure out if he can ask Lala to take them by bus. With a warm, gentle tone, Alexander brings together all things geeky—RPGs, cosplay, and comic cons—while subtly exploring relatable challenges, including neurodiverse experiences: “He wore a helmet made out of plastic and foil, which covered up his noise-canceling headphones.” Fajardo’s illustrations bring Memo’s story to life, adding depth and helping young readers fully engage with the imaginative boy’s adventures.
VERDICT A valuable addition to any collection, this early chapter book is perfect for sensitive readers seeking lighthearted fiction. It works well as a standalone, but fans will want to explore the entire series.
JUV035000 - Juvenile Fiction | School & Education
JUV045000 - Juvenile Fiction | Readers | Chapter Books
JUV011030 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - Hispanic & Latino
