Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel

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A Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller

by Xavier Garza
illustrated by Xavier Garza

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Price: $12.95

ALA Notable Children's Books, 2012

2012 Pura Belpré Award Honor Book

Maximillian's summer vacation resembles one of his beloved lucha libre movies: grudge matches, fantastic villains and the Guardian Angel.

Product Details

10-digit ISBN	1-933693-98-3
13-digit ISBN	978-1-933693-98-9
Format	Paperback
Language	Bilingual - English & Spanish
Page Count	160
Product Dimensions	6 x 9
Publication Date	October 1, 2011
Rights	All Rights Available

A Pura Belpré-winning bilingual cuento. Maximillian is just another 11 year-old lucha libre fan. He goes to the matches, watches the movies and collects the masks of his favorite wrestlers, especially the Guardian Angel. But when he tumbles over the railing at a lucha libre match in San Antonio Max makes a connection to the world of Mexican wrestling that will ultimately link him—maybe by blood!—to the greatest hero of all time: the Guardian Angel. What was shaping up to be one boring summer before 6^th grade now seems like a story straight out of Max's beloved lucha libre movies!

Booklist

The plot unfolds, in both English and Spanish, as Maximilian comes face-to-face with El Àngel, and what develops is a rapid sequence of holds and high-flying adventures. Garza—an author, artist, and storyteller—paints larger-than-life portraits of the luchadores and offers readers authentic insights into the exciting world of lucha libre...Bold, black-and-white comic-style art opens each chapter and gives readers a sense of what the luchadores look like. With its quick pace, humor, and endearing characters, this title—like Garza’s picture book Lucha Libre (2005)—is sure to turn more kids into lucha libre fans.

- February 7, 2012

The Monitor

“Garza’s masterful illustrations and the many well-written action scenes make this a must-read for middle-grade boys.”

- David Bowles, July 6, 2012 Visit Website

full review >>

All Brown All Around

"Garza has done it again...a unique middle grade novel that pays homage to the Mexican tradition of masked wrestlers...We don't often see middle grade novels that are bilingual and that include male Latino protagonists. Garza and Cinco Puntos Press have really outdone themselves in hitting on all of these areas that are lacking in the world of children's books...Here's to more books like this in the near future!

- February 9, 2012

Language Arts

Garza captures the excitement of the wrestling matches with energetically descriptive passages… This action-packed winner of a 2012 Pura Belpré Author Honor Award is sure to be a favorite.

- Jonda C. McNair, September 1, 2012 Visit Website

full review >>

Reading Matters

"[An] engaging bilingual novel...Garza’s writing captures the excitement of the wrestling matches."

- May 9, 2013 Visit Website

full review >>

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