Sal and Gabi Break the Universe

Sal Vidon just misses his mom.

It’s a timeless story of a kid healing, but with a twist where Sal can pull things out of alternate dimensions.

He navigates the weirdness of his abilities with a grace and humor that is as refreshing as it is endearing. It’s hard not to root for this troublemaker with a heart of gold.

Not to mention, the book has a seriously great main character counterpart to Sal in Gabi Real. 

This one made me laugh again and again and then pretty much break up into tears on the next page. Sal is a smart kid and an excellent magician, but he’s starting at a new school while dealing with the loss of his mother and the discovery he can open portals to other universes where his mom still exists. Gabi is the most brilliant and driven girl in the school, but her family is coping with some heavy things too. The two don’t get along at first, but once both of them stop being defensive, their vulnerability gives them what… show more.

This delightfully strange sci-fi romp opens with Cuban-American budding magician Sal Vidon fending off a bully by summoning a raw chicken from another universe, and things only get wackier from there. Among the multi-dimensional hijinks and unusual characters (including a sentient and sarcastic entropy sweeper), Sal stands out as a memorable middle-grade protagonist who’s comfortable and secure in all his weird glory.