Review by Booklist Review
Friends Eddie and MJ embark on an adventure through Mexico, thanks to a magical dictionary (aka "The Awesome Enchanted Book"), during which they help Rosa solve the mystery of her missing abuela (and her molé recipe!). The children have arrived a day before Dia de Los Muertos, and they travel to various cities, like Mexico City and San Miguel, learning about their culture, food, and people. The children also visit important landmarks, such as the Palacio Post Office, La Casa Azul, the home and studio of Frida Kahlo, the Canals of Xochimilco, and finally la Isla de las Muñecas (The Island of the Dolls). Following clues Rosa's abuela leaves behind, the kid detectives use skills of deduction and their knowledge of vocabulary and geography to crack the case. This fun mystery-adventure moves at a nice clip, featuring short chapters filled with trivia, grayscale illustrations, and bolded vocabulary that is defined in a glossary that also gives each word's origin. An illustrated map of the places the children will visit appears at the beginning of the book.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
What begins as curiosity about the meaning of a word--thanks to a chocolate bar with the word CHOCOLATL imprinted on it--becomes a journey of a lifetime. Intrigued by the chocolate bar, MJ and Eddie rush to grab the Awesome Enchanted Book (AEB, as they call it) to look up the word's origin. They learn that chocolatl is an ancient Aztec word, and soon enough the AEB spins its magic, transporting the duo away. MJ and Eddie wind up in vibrant Mexico, where a young girl named Rosa recruits them on a mission to help find her missing Abuelita. Only Abuelita knows the recipe for the special molé that will help Rosa's family restaurant during Dia de los Muertos. The three young detectives, however, must move quickly. After all, the owner of a competing restaurant covets the molé recipe for himself. Following a series of riddles left behind by Abuelita, MJ, Eddie, and Rosa travel across Mexico--from Frida Kahlo's La Casa Azul to the rainforests of Jalapa--to find Abuelita and obtain the secret recipe. A candy-flavored etymological romp through a kaleidoscope version of Mexico, this latest episode in the series keeps the word-happy spirit of its predecessor and manages to infuse a sunny strand of humor. Cultural exploration and lively artwork continue this series' dedication to knowledge-seeking in the name of fun, with a small, diverse cast. (MJ appears Black and Eddie, White.) Heart and molé. (glossary) (Fiction. 6-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
