Benny Ramírez and the Nearly Departed
by José Pablo Iriarte (Author)
Benny Ramírez can see dead people . . . Well, one dead person, anyway. A hilarious and heartwarming story about a boy who can suddenly see the ghost of his famous musician grandfather!
After moving cross-country into his late grandfather's Miami mansion, Benny discovers that the ghost of his famous trumpet-playing abuelo, the great Ignacio Ramírez, is still there . . . and isn't too thrilled about it. He's been barred from the afterlife, and no one can see him except his grandson. But Benny's got problems of his own. He's enrolled in a performing arts school with his siblings, despite having no obvious talent.
Luckily, Abuelo believes they can help each other. Abuelo has until New Year's Eve to do some good in the world and thinks that teaching Benny how to play the trumpet and become a school celebrity might be the key to earning his wings. Having no better ideas, Benny finds himself taking Abuelo's advice--to disastrous and hilarious results. Benny and Abuelo will find that there's more than one way to be great in this unforgettable, laugh-out-loud tale of family, music, and self-discovery.
Locate at a Library Near You WorldCat is the world's largest library catalog, helping you find library materials online.
Find books about:
ALA/Booklist
Kirkus
School Library Journal
Gr 3-7--Benny is not talented--not like his sister, the dancer; or his brother, the actor; or his recently deceased abuelo, the famous musician Ignacio Ramirez. He is forced to reckon with this when he and his family move into his grandpa's Miami mansion and Benny attends arts school. He discovers Abuelo is actually a ghost who has some unfinished business! Ignacio decides to help Benny become a star, so that the performer can go to the eternal party that is the afterlife. This debut title explores the complexities of family dynamics in a way that shows a love for the characters, including those who are not always the most sympathetic. Arguably the least relatable character, Ignacio, is the funniest to read about, with his wildly colorful outfits and his lack of self-awareness. As such, he may remind readers of their own weird relatives who are beloved. Though some of the humor falls flat, each emotional scene will riff on readers' souls. Children who are going through the pain of barely-there parents or family will relate to Benny and Ignacio's relationship. This pleasant title is best for young fantasy readers who like the paranormal, but do not want the scares. VERDICT Benny's story is a charming, not-scary ghost story with moments of joy, sadness, and wishing-you-were-there in Miami eating a delicious Cubano sandwich.--Wilsinia Ocasio
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
"A fun and lyrical exploration of what it means to find your true talent while keeping your priorities straight. . . . A stunning debut by a rising talent." —David Bowles, Pura Belpré Honor-winning author of They Call Me Güero
"A funny and heartwarming story about family, friendship, and discovering your talents that resonates like a beautiful song." —Christina Diaz Gonzalez, Edgar Award-winning author of Concealed
JUV031040 - Juvenile Fiction | Performing Arts | Music
JUV069000 - Juvenile Fiction | Ghost Stories
Family life
Music
Grandfathers
Humorous fiction
Cuban Americans
Future life
Novels
