Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kids fight folklore beings in adventure with lots of chills.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
CHARLIE HERNÁNDEZ & THE LEAGUE OF SHADOWS can barely stay a step ahead of the evil forces that want to destroy the barrier between our world and the underworld. Really, all Charlie wants is to find his parents who disappeared suddenly on the same afternoon their house burned down, and to understand the strange things that are happening to his body like growing horns, feathers, and one arm turning into a lobster claw. But each new clue to what's going on only brings another narrow escape from dark, mythical creatures straight out of his grandmother's folk tales. Can he and his new friend (and secret crush) Violet find Queen Joanna and the answers they need before the forces of darkness close in?
Is It Any Good?
Debut novelist Ryan Calejo brings a refreshing Latino twist to a middle-grade fantasy adventure. And there's lots of appeal for fans of Percy Jackson-type excitement. Charlie Hernández & The League of Shadows move the story along from one close call to the next, until the satisfying ending that leaves the door open for further adventures.
Readers will learn a lot about folklore from both the Old and New Worlds, and tweens will relate to Charlie as he learns to accept himself and his body, and to appreciate his strange, new powers. The structure of the plot gets pretty repetitive, but younger readers likely won't mind as each step along the way features a creepily fascinating figure from ancient folk tales. Dark atmospheres, frequent peril, rare strong language, and many undead or underworld fantasy creatures make it best for tweens and up.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the positive representations in Charlie Hernández & The League of Shadows. Why is it important to read books, watch movies and TV, or play games with diverse characters?
What do you think about the author's use of Spanish words and phrases? If you don't speak Spanish, were you able to figure out the meanings? Does it interupt or enhance the story to use both languages?
What's your favorite myth or story from folklore? Go to the library or try an online search to find lots more, from just about everywhere in the world.
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Aladdin
- Publication date : October 23, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 14
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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