CHARLIE HERNANDEZ AND THE LEAGUE OF SHADOWS
About the Book:
Title: CHARLIE HERNANDEZ AND THE LEAGUE OF SHADOWS (Charlie Hernández #1)
Author: Ryan Calejo
Pub. Date: October 23, 2018
Publisher: Aladdin
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, audiobook
Pages: 330
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD
“This is a perfect pick for kids who love Rick Riordan’s many series, particularly for those eager for mythologies beyond Greek and Roman stories.” —Booklist (starred review)
“A winner for all kids, but it will be especially beloved by Latinx and Hispanic families.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
The Lightning Thief meets the Story Thieves series in this middle grade fantasy inspired by Hispanic folklore, legends, and myths from the Iberian Peninsula and Central and South America.
Charlie Hernández has always been proud of his Latin American heritage. He loves the culture, the art, and especially the myths. Thanks to his abuela’s stories, Charlie possesses an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the monsters and ghouls who have spent the last five hundred years haunting the imaginations of children all across the Iberian Peninsula, as well as Central and South America. And even though his grandmother sometimes hinted that the tales might be more than mere myth, Charlie’s always been a pragmatist. Even barely out of diapers, he knew the stories were just make-believe—nothing more than intricately woven fables meant to keep little kids from misbehaving.
But when Charlie begins to experience freaky bodily manifestations—ones all too similar to those described by his grandma in his favorite legend—he is suddenly swept up in a world where the mythical beings he’s spent his entire life hearing about seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Hispanic folklore and into his life. And even stranger, they seem to know more about him than he knows about himself.
Soon, Charlie finds himself in the middle of an ancient battle between La Liga, a secret society of legendary mythological beings sworn to protect the Land of the Living, and La Mano Negra (a.k.a. the Black Hand), a cabal of evil spirits determined to rule mankind. With only the help of his lifelong crush, Violet Rey, and his grandmother’s stories to guide him, Charlie must navigate a world where monsters and brujas rule and things he couldn’t possibly imagine go bump in the night. That is, if he has any hope of discovering what’s happening to him and saving his missing parents (oh, and maybe even the world).
No pressure, muchacho.
About Ryan:
Ryan Calejo was born and raised in south Florida. He graduated from the University of Miami with a BA. He’s been invited to join both the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the Golden Key International Honour Society. 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. His first novel was Charlie Hernández & the League of Shadows.
Simon & Schuster Webpage | Twitter | Goodreads
INTERVIEW
- What’s on your nightstand?
Not much, actually. I used to keep an alarm clock there, but the darn thing kept waking me up.
- What author would you totally fan?
Mary Pope Osborne!!! Her Magic Tree House series inspired me to build my very first tree house!
- What makes you cringe?
This one’s easy. Peanut butter and Jelly bacon burgers! I don’t know which culinary mad scientist came up with that but . . . WHY???
- Do you obsessively plot out each point or just go with the flow?
I like to go with the flow. I think it makes the writing process more exciting.
- Is there a word you love to use?
Wonky! It’s such a fun word to say. For a while I tried to slip it into every conversation (sometimes multiple times), but people started giving me funny looks so I stopped. Still use it when it fits, though!
Meet Chungy! She’s a ferocious guard dog with a taste for basketball sneakers and the inspiration for one of the characters in my book. Bet you can’t guess which!
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will win a signed hardcover of CHARLIE HERNANDEZ AND THE LEAGUE OF SHADOWS, US ONLY
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
8/19/2019- BookHounds YA– Interview
8/20/2019- Savings in Seconds– Excerpt
8/21/2019- Twirling Book Princess– Excerpt
8/22/2019- Country Road Reviews– Review
8/23/2019- Lifestyle Of Me– Review
Week Two:
8/26/2019- Rhythmicbooktrovert– Review
8/27/2019- Wonder Struck– Review
8/28/2019- Two Chicks on Books– Interview
8/29/2019- Aunt Addie’s Bookshelf– Review
8/30/2019- The Desert Bibliophile– Review
Week Three:
9/2/2019- The Layaway Dragon– Review
9/3/2019- Random Bookish Banter– Review
9/4/2019- Eli to the nth– Review
9/5/2019- Novel Novice– Guest Post
9/6/2019- Fyrekatz Blog– Review
Week Four:
9/9/2019- Nicole’s Novel Reads– Review
9/10/2019- Marshmallow Pudding– Review
9/11/2019- Nerdophiles– Review
9/12/2019- PopTheButterfly Reads– Review
9/13/2019- two points of interest– Review
This book is going to be a blast to read. I love the premise as well as the culture.
Looks like a great book.
I’m super excited for this one. I teach at a middle school that is about 51% Latinx, and I’m always looking for more ownvoices authors to talk up! I’ve had it on my TBR since Deb Nance at Readerbuzz wrote about it in December!
I love this series. Thanks for another chance to add to my school’s library after I read it again!