Review by Booklist Review
Cartaya weaves humor, heartbreak, and a host of literary tropes and techniques into this complex tale of three grieving road trippers. Having gone into serious decline since the death of his father, 13-year-old Gonzalo reluctantly agrees to accompany his grumpy, widowed abuelo--a Cuban-born immigrant who is about to publish the seventh and last volume of his phenomenally popular fantasy series--on an impulsive cross-country drive to Miami for the release party. As they make stops along the way (some potentially life-changing), the trip becomes increasingly less anonymous, and Gonzalo learns much about his reclusive grandfather's family and past. They are joined partway through by Gonzalo's mom, the supercharged CEO of the series' marketing empire, and the three make a colorful set of, in turn, antagonists, allies, and wise advisers as each wrestles with feelings of loss and personal issues on the way to reconciliation and a buoyant finish. Meanwhile, until he's firmly banished by his teenage protagonist, the author himself repeatedly breaks in with seemingly guileless reflections about foreshadowing, cliff- hangers, unreliable narrators, POV changes, and the power of stories, which will not only sneakily entice readers into analytical frames of mind but may well leave them thinking about how what characters experience and discover in books can reflect what's happening in their own lives.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Though 12-year-old Cuban American painter Gonzalo Alberto Sánchez García has always been introverted and quiet, his father's death prompts him to retreat further inward. Intending to cheer him up, Gonzalo's mother sends him to Mendocino, Calif., to spend time with his curmudgeonly grandfather, famous author Alberto. She also hopes that Gonzalo's presence will boost Alberto's mood during the press tour for the final book in his beloved children's series, which Gonzalo has never read. As they tour from Mendocino to Miami, they uncover more about what motivates their art as well as their shared pain and grief. Gonzalo also learns he was named after the hero of Alberto's books, prompting him to dive into the series, which helps him better understand his grandfather and his family's history. While Gonzalo's personable first-person POV relays most of the duo's adventure, Cartaya (Curveball) cleverly inserts chapters addressed to the audience in which a confident omniscient narrator explains literary techniques readers can use to analyze the unfolding action. It's a touching intergenerational road trip epic that juxtaposes heavy themes surrounding loss with playful yet sophisticated interpretations of artistic integrity. Ages 8--12. Agent: Jess Regel, Helm Literary. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 6 Up--In this exploration of grief, generational impact, and healing, readers will find a book they can't put down. Gonzalo Alberto Sánchez García is spending summer vacation with his estranged grandfather, author of a popular juvenile fantasy series. The next book in the series is launching, and the pair are supposed to fly cross-country for a book tour. Grandfather Alberto has other plans and friends to see, so they road-trip instead. Along the way, the two bond as Alberto shares snippets of his life and the dangers of his childhood in Cuba. Alberto softens towards Gonzalo and helps his grandson explore his grief. Gonzalo is struggling with the death of his scientist father; he is also distressed because he isn't scientifically inclined and feels like he's carrying the weight of saving the world by lowering carbon emissions. Alberto still grieves his parents and wife. Gonzalo's mom Veronica joins them, and like a geyser, the pressure builds until the three travelers erupt and must deal with the unacknowledged grief, pain, and anger among them. Conversations frequently include Spanish, and context clues assist those who don't read the Spanish. While there are loose ends, the book ends on hopeful notes. VERDICT Purchase where more books on processing grief are needed.--Sarah Sieg
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Review by Horn Book Review
When thirteen-year-old Gonzalo and his famous author abuelo are forced to spend time together over summer break, a rogue road trip helps them bond and heal: Gonzalo from the death of his father and Abuelo from past traumas and loss. Told from several points of view (including an overly involved narrator), the novel is a bit didactic. However, as a teaching tool, this is an enticing entry point to narrative elements for readers ready to delve into literary analysis. (c) Copyright 2025. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A 13-year-old embarks on a cross-country road trip with his famous grandfather. Grief-stricken middle schooler Gonzalo Alberto Sánchez García's summer is off to a rocky start. He feels like he's in a fog, he can't stop drawing monsters against photos of landscapes on his iPad, and he's stuck visiting his cranky, standoffish abuelo in Mendocino, California. Gonzalo's Cuban grandfather is the renowned but reclusive fantasy author behind a "billion-dollar book-and-movie franchise" run by Gonzalo's mother. Though generally reluctant to promote his work, Abuelo agrees to a tour for the release of the last book in the bestselling series. But he turns the tour into a journey to visit old friends and share his own wounds with Gonzalo in an attempt to help them both heal from the traumas they've suffered. Indeed, Abuelo's plan proves poignantly effective as both he and Gonzalo slowly open up to each other and to all the joy still to be found in the world around them. Cartaya peppers Gonzalo's first-person narrative with chapters voiced by an omniscient first-person narrator who breaks the fourth wall, directly addressing readers with plot recaps and commentary. While the narrator's interruptions risk jarring readers out of the story's flow, the shifts in perspective are charmingly and humorously executed, may support reading comprehension, and further the overarching bookish themes, since the story both revolves around a fictional book series and follows main character Gonzalo's transformation into the hero of his own story. Cleverly structured and sweetly engaging. (author's note)(Fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
