Mari and the Curse of El Cocodrilo
by Adrianna Cuevas (Author)
From Pura Belpré Honor-winning author Adrianna Cuevas comes Mari and the Curse of El Cocodrilo, a new middle grade novel about a young Cuban American girl who must fight to break a curse of bad luck set upon her by El Cocodrilo when she rejects her family's traditions.
If Mari Feijoo could, she would turn her family's Peak Cubanity down a notch, just enough so that her snooping neighbor and classmate Mykenzye wouldn't have anything to tease her about. That's why this year, there's no way that Mari's joining in on one of the big-gest Feijoo family traditions--burning the New Year's Eve effigy her abuela makes. Only Mari never suspects that failing to toss her effigy in the fire would bring something much worse than sneering words at school: a curse of bad luck from El Cocodrilo.
At first, it's just possessed violins and grade sabotaging pencils, but once El Cocodrilo learns that he becomes more powerful with each new misery, her luck goes from bad to nightmarish as the curse spreads to her friend Keisha. Instead of focusing on Mari's mariachi band tryout and Keisha's fencing tournament, the pair, along with their friend Juan Carlos, are racing against the clock to break the curse. But when Mari discovers her family's gift to call upon their ancestors, she and her friends will have to find a way to work with the unexpected help that arrives from the far corners of Mari's family tree. Only will it be enough to defeat El Cocodrilo before he makes their last year of elementary school the worst ever and tears their friendship apart?
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Publishers Weekly
In this uplifting tale by Cuevas (The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto), a Cuban American 12-year-old must reckon with the mystical consequences of breaking tradition. Maricel Yanet Feijoo's family is proud of its Cuban identity and customs. Sometimes, though, their "Peak Cubanity" embarrasses Mari, and a white classmate's frequent racist remarks add to her discomfort. When she shuns her family's annual New Year's Eve burning of an effigy to expel bad luck, her refusal to participate awakens a powerful ghostly entity called El Cocodrilo. Realizing that feeding off Mari's negative emotions boosts his power, El Cocodrilo engages in disruptive mischief--possessing Mari's belongings and sabotaging her school pursuits--that causes her public humiliation. After El Cocodrilo begins haunting her bestie, Mari must rely on her family, friends, and ancestors to expel the spirit. El Cocodrilo's schemes include humor-laced, unsettling situations starring black lizards and flooded backpacks that add levity to this meditative look at the literalization of how rejecting one's identity can have detrimental ramifications. Strong tween friendships, tight-knit familial bonds, and an emphasis on taking pride in one's roots round out this eerie supernatural adventure. An end note discusses Latin American New Year's celebrations. Ages 8-12. Agent: Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel, Full Circle Literary. (Oct.)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
"Dynamic action scenes rendered in vivid detail bring Cuevas' imaginative (and terrifying) interpretation of Cuban cultural traditions to life. Strong plotting, high stakes, and the curse's evolving rules of engagement make this a satisfying page-turner. A delightful horror novel with emotional and cultural resonance." — Kirkus Reviews
"A creepy, magical adventure, bursting with culture and folklore." — Eden Royce, author of the Walter Dean Myers Award honoree Root Magic
"A book that is in turn scary, silly, and soulful (pun totally intended)." — Lora Senf, Stoker-nominated author of The Clackity
"A must-read for fans of nail-biting creepiness, (peak) Cubanity, and pastelitos de guayaba!" — Karla Arenas Valenti, author of Lotería
"Deftly weaves together a fun, spooky story, filled with slimy bugs, creepy curses, and mariachi music. A creepy adventure with a heartwarming message about family." — Ally Malinenko, author of This Appearing House
"Hits the perfect note for fans of spooky middle grade fiction, combining spine-tingling chills and a big heart. An absolute treat to read!" — Lisa Stringfellow, author of A Comb of Wishes
"Strong tween friendships, tight-knit familial bonds, and an emphasis on taking pride in one's roots round out this eerie supernatural adventure." — Publishers Weekly
JUV039250 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emigration & Immigration
JUV058000 - Juvenile Fiction | Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural
JUV012070 - Juvenile Fiction | Legends, Myths, Fables | Caribbean & Latin American
