Doña Quixote

July 10, 2023
Set in contemporary Texas, this Don Quixote retelling by Terciero (Northranger) and debut creator Magaña follows Mexican American tween Lucia embarking on an adventure to become a monster-hunting knight. Lucia grew up listening to her abuelo tell stories of his noble quests fighting paranormal creatures that only he could see in their Laredo, Tex., town. But his behaviors earned him the moniker “Abuelo Loco” from fellow residents. After his death, Lucia determines to follow in his footsteps, and her pursuits land Lucia and her tan-skinned, redheaded best friend Sandro in hot water with the mayor. When Lucia dons Abuelo’s suit of armor, which she finds in the attic, the outfit grants her the ability to see monsters. Guided by a ghostly woman known as La Mujer de Blanco, Lucia mistakes benign creatures for villains and wreaks havoc in her town, unintentionally unleashing a powerful evil that threatens their community and the world. The occasionally choppy plot teems with visually distinct characters and myriad supernatural creatures from Mexican lore. Vivid hues depict energetic action sequences that strike a skillful balance between fantastical scares and madcap adventure. Ages 8–12.

November 1, 2023

Gr 4-8-The tale of Don Quixote gets a modern twist in this adventurous graphic novel. Lucia has struggled to grow up without the grandfather she trusted to save the day, who everyone else thought was Abuelo Loco. When she discovers her grandfather's magical helmet in the attic, her life heads for major chaos. Now that she can see supernatural creatures, she's got a ghost lady telling her what to do, flying creatures to tackle, and a mysterious arch being built by the mayor to unlock. A coming-of-age tale that's all about adventure and learning to be proud of yourself, this middle grade novel features an eager, relatable character. Terciero's love for adaptation and bringing the classics to new audiences is well-matched by Maga�a's illustration style, especially in the more fantastical scenes. No Quixotic knowledge required to enjoy. VERDICT For fans of adaptations, fantasy-adjacent graphic novels, and authors like Kat Leyh, Terry Catas�s Jennings, and Colleen AF Venable.-Aryssa Damron

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 20, 2023
Grades 3-7 Lucia Castillo dreams of being a knight like her abuelo, but everyone believes he was just a crazy old man. Years after his death, Lucia and her best friend, Sandro, continue to train and follow the knight's code. However, being a knight doesn't always go as planned: when a water tower crunches the mayor's car, Lucia is to blame. She soon finds herself in the attic of her house, where she uncovers abuelo's helmet, and when she puts it on, she realizes not only that the world her abuelo spoke about is real but also that there is something evil trying to take over the town, and it's up to her to save the day. This playful take on Cervantes' classic novel plunges readers into the fantastic world of Aztec mythology and provides a peek into various duendes, or magical creatures, living among people. The illustrations are crisp with vivid colors and exhibit excellent movement-to-movement panel transitions, and the frequent use of Spanish throughout the dialogue nicely reflects Lucia's Mexican heritage and the Texas setting.

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