This is the kind of middle-grade book that reminds you why middle-grade books matter. Carlos Hernandez won the Pura Belpré for a reason—he's woven Cuban culture, quantum physics, grief, friendship, and magic into something that's both wildly entertaining and emotionally substantial.

Sal is dealing with his mother's death by literally ripping holes in the universe to visit alternate versions of her, which is both heartbreaking and inventive. The book doesn't shy away from the weight of loss, but it also doesn't wallow—there's genuine humor (that raw chicken situation is absurd in the best way), warmth, and hope.

Reviewers consistently note this is 'unlike any other book in the middle grade canon,' and they're right. It's weird in the best sense—entropy sweepers, Venetian masks, wedgie documentaries—but grounded in real emotion and cultural specificity. The Cuban family dynamics, food, and language feel lived-in, not performative.

At 400+ pages, it's a chunky read, but kids who can handle chapter books report tearing through it. If your kid loved 'The Last Cuentista' or 'Amari and the Night Brothers,' this is a no-brainer. If they're not ready for grief themes or prefer shorter books, wait a year or two.