Charlie Hernández & the Castle of Bones (Charlie Hernández #2)

by Ryan Calejo (Author)

Reading Level: 6th − 7th Grade

Inspired by Hispanic folklore, legends, and myths from the Iberian Peninsula and Central and South America, this bold sequel to Charlie Hernández & the League of Shadows follows Charlie as he continues on his quest to embrace his morphling identity.

Charlie Hernandez still likes to think of himself as a normal kid. But what's normal about being a demon-slaying preteen with an encyclopedic knowledge of Hispanic and Latino mythology who can partially manifest nearly any animal trait found in nature? Well, not much. But, Charlie believes he can get used to this new "normal," because being able to sprout wings or morph fins is pretty cool.

But there is a downside: it means having to constantly watch his back for La Mano Peluda's sinister schemes. And when the leader of La Liga, the Witch Queen Jo herself, is suddenly kidnapped, Charlie's sure they're at it again. Determined to save the queen and keep La Liga's alliances intact, Charlie and his good friend Violet Rey embark on a perilous journey to track down her captors. As Charlie and Violet are drawn deeper into a world of monstruos and magia they are soon left with more questions than answers--like, why do they keep hearing rumors of dead men walking, and why is Charlie suddenly having visions of an ancient evil: a necromancer priest who's been dead for more than five centuries? Charlie's abuela once told him that when dead men walk, the living run in fear. And Charlie's about to learn the truth of that--the hard way.

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ALA/Booklist

Starred Review
Filled with action with fast-paced chapters, Calejo's novel is sure to draw in readers and introduce them to the magic, beauty, and history of Hispanic myths and legends (many of which are elaborated on further in a glossary for those unfamiliar with the stories).

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8—Floridian and animal mage Charlie Hernández is back for adventures across Latin America with his friend Violet. In this second installment, Charlie's friend Joanna, the witch queen of Toledo, has been kidnapped, and Charlie and Violet follow clues in South and Central American countries to find her. The entire catalogue of mythological creatures chase them including Brazilian lobisomem (werewolves) and the mischievous red-capped Saci Pererê, who ends up an unwilling ally on their quest. Most disturbing to Charlie are the castells, or towers of bones, that crop up, indications that an undead necromancer may seek to raise the dead and enslave the living. A dramatic battle ends this episode on a cliff-hanger. It's never boring around Charlie. He encounters one enemy after another. Despite being the chosen morphling, Charlie stays grounded in friendship and morality, as does his super-smart friend Violet. Spanish is peppered throughout the book with subtle or direct translations, adding to Calejo's rich cultural adventure. Calejo's phrasing takes getting used to, as his longer sentences use numerous dependent phrases. He hits his rhythm as the action heats up, and readers will become more engaged. The adventures do seem to follow patterns—Charlie loses consciousness so often that it feels like a plot device. VERDICT A highly recommended adventure series, though readers should be familiar with the first book before picking up this latest installment.—Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Library Association, CT

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes



Ryan Calejo
Ryan Calejo is the author of the Charlie Hernández series. He was born and raised in south Florida, where he graduated from the University of Miami with a BA. He teaches swimming to elementary school students, chess to middle school students, and writing to high school students. Having been born into a family of immigrants and growing up in the so-called "Capital of Latin America," Ryan knows the importance of diversity in our communities and is passionate about writing books that children of all ethnicities can relate to.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781534426610
Lexile Measure
870
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Aladdin Paperbacks
Publication date
November 12, 2019
Series
Charlie Hernández
BISAC categories
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV011030 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - Hispanic & Latino
JUV012070 - Juvenile Fiction | Legends, Myths, Fables | Caribbean & Latin American
Library of Congress categories
Folklore
JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / United S
Kidnapping
Kings, queens, rulers, etc
Good and evil
Shapeshifting
Hispanic Americans
JUVENILE FICTION / Fantasy & Magic
Secret societies
Latin America

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