ChupaCarter and the Haunted Pinata by George Lopez and Ryan Calejo

What worked:

The main conflict involves the legend of a rich boy humiliated by his classmates who dies in a fire on his birthday. Supposedly, he reappears every six years as a haunted pinata and sets green fires around town. The idea of a ghostly pinata sounds far-fetched but perhaps not since Jorge’s closest friend is an actual chupacabra named Carter. The fiery destruction around town hits close to home for Jorge and his friends when the butcher shop owned by Liza’s father is burned to the ground. The plot becomes a mystery that has no shortage of suspects. However, every time the kids think the clues lead them to the arsonist something pops up to show them that they must be wrong.

Jorge’s small group of friends presents an interesting contrast of characters. Liza is the logical, scientific one who only believes in what can be proven or what she’s actually seen. She obviously scoffs at the idea of a ghostly pinata setting fires so she drives the investigation into the legend. Ernie is an anxious friend who’s ready to believe anything that might scare him. He’s constantly frightened by every rumor or incident even as Liza collects evidence to debunk the tale. Carter reappears from Mexico and the chupacabra is determined to utilize his beastly skills to assist his friends. It’s nice to have a hairy, seven-foot-tall, blood-sucking monster working with you!

As in the series’ first book, the authors infuse the narrative with bits of Spanish. Non-Spanish speakers probably won’t know all of the terms but they’re usually able to use the context of the sentences to easily figure them out. The phrases are often repeated in English which makes it very simple to understand. These words are normally included in the characters’ dialogue or as mild exclamations so they sound natural when they’re used. The inclusion of bits of Spanish enhances the setting and atmosphere of the story since it takes place in the Southwest region of the United States.

What didn’t work as well:

The kids quickly jump to conclusions when they uncover new evidence and it’s bothersome how frequently they accuse and dismiss different suspects. They run through four or five different characters and always seem to end up back at square one. It especially feels out of character for Liza since she’s supposed to be the brainiac in the group.

The Final Verdict:

This book shares a humorous, fun mystery that should appeal to readers with a love for quirky characters. Jorge’s friends know all about Carter in this second book so he’s treated more like one of the gang than a shocking, fearsome mythical creature. Overall, it’s an enjoyable, amusing adventure with frequent twists and turns and I recommend you give it a shot.