Night of the Chupacabras (An Avon Camelot Book)

While visiting Lupe's uncle's Mexican goat ranch, Mi-Sun, her brother Ju-Won, and Lupe investigate a series of mysterious events that lead them to believe that a chupacabra, a blood-sucking night creature, is stalking the region.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-Mi-Sun, a Korean-American girl, and her little brother, Ju-Won, accompany Lupe, Mi-Sun's friend, on her summer visit to her Uncle Hector's goat ranch in Mexico. Soon after they get there, an old abuelo tells them stories about chupacabras, vampirelike monsters that prey on goats. Ju-Won, whose reading diet consists of "Scream Street" books, is sure the stories are true. A dead goat, a mysterious housekeeper who dresses in black, and more stories from the abuelo eventually arouse the suspicions of the girls, too. The mystery doesn't develop much and the narrative meanders around the market, a fiesta, and other venues near the ranch. In what seems like an attempt to produce a multicultural thriller, there are phrases written in Spanish and Korean. The Spanish has errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The repeated use of "Ay" throughout the book is irritating. Ju-Won suddenly speaks a phrase in perfect Spanish, but readers are never told how he learned the language so quickly. There is a glossary of Spanish and Korean words, but pronunciation is not included. Most chapters end with a cliffhanger, but the transitions aren't successful. The only noticeable character growth is in Ju-Won, who decides to read better quality books and whine less. Skip this one.Linda L. Plevak, Alamo Area Library System, San Antonio, TXCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

MARIE G. LEE is a second-generation Korean American who was born and raised in Minnesota. She is a founder of the Asian American Writers' Workshop and the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship to Korea. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Kenyon Review, and several anthologies. She has appeared on PBS's Aisan America. Her books include If It Hadn't Been for Yoon Jun and Necessary Roughness.

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