A locker in a middle school basement leads to world-ending troubleSixth grade isn't looking too good for friendless Pablo Ortiz, who still has no cell phone. Prepping for his sister's quinceañera is no fun, either. "New year, new school,same crap." Then Pablo pries open his locker to discover that Obie the Evil, a blobby, tadpolelike monster, resides inside. Obie wants Pablo's help in unleashing "the world's mostloathsome monsters," who will conquer and enslave all humans. After Pablo (who'd prefer to fly under the radar) refuses repeated requests, the persistent Obie tricks him into opening a portal to the realm of monsters, summoning Coatlicue. The vindictive Aztec Earth goddess releases frightening creatures in her wake that first attack Pablo's school and then head out into Columbus, Ohio, transforming captured people into animals. Joined by his newfound friends and guided by his feisty, wise abuela, Pablo must step up to become an unexpected hero who saves the day in an unanticipated way. Centered on an amusing premise, this tale of ancient monsters and one very irate goddess serves up heaps of goofy humor thanks to its reluctant, pint-size Latine hero, comically antagonistic baddies, and frequent breaking of the fourth wall. A rich cast of culturally diverse characters, seamlessly inserted social commentary, and bustling, snappy artwork contribute greatly to a briskly paced adventure that teases a sequel.A simply smashing monster bash. (visual Nahuatl glossary, character sketches)(Graphic adventure. 10-14)

Gr 4–8— Mesoamerican goddesses and monsters rampage through a middle school when a boy's locker doubles as a portal to another world in this new middle grade series. Pablo Ortiz is a sixth grader who is afraid of ghost stories, which causes him to look silly at his sister's quincea&1;era celebration, and in front of his former friend-turned-bully. But when he accidentally summons an Aztec goddess bent on destruction to the halls of Glenfield Middle School, he has to face his fears and save the world. Luckily, he has two friends by his side: new kid Takashi Rosenberg and field hockey outcast Maggie Murphy, who find themselves dragged into Pablo's crisis. He also has his abuela, who has more experience with monsters than one may think. Filled with Mesoamerican cultural references and history, Aguirre and Mart&7;nez blend history and fantasy into an exciting story with a message on being good stewards to our planet. Back matter includes a pronunciation guide for the mythical creatures featured in the story. VERDICT With laugh-out-loud humor, rich cultural details, and eye-catching illustration, this series opener will have readers clamoring for the next installment. An essential first purchase.— Rosemary Kiladitis

A locker in a middle school basement leads to world-ending troubleSixth grade isn't looking too good for friendless Pablo Ortiz, who still has no cell phone. Prepping for his sister's quinceañera is no fun, either. "New year, new school,same crap." Then Pablo pries open his locker to discover that Obie the Evil, a blobby, tadpolelike monster, resides inside. Obie wants Pablo's help in unleashing "the world's mostloathsome monsters," who will conquer and enslave all humans. After Pablo (who'd prefer to fly under the radar) refuses repeated requests, the persistent Obie tricks him into opening a portal to the realm of monsters, summoning Coatlicue. The vindictive Aztec Earth goddess releases frightening creatures in her wake that first attack Pablo's school and then head out into Columbus, Ohio, transforming captured people into animals. Joined by his newfound friends and guided by his feisty, wise abuela, Pablo must step up to become an unexpected hero who saves the day in an unanticipated way. Centered on an amusing premise, this tale of ancient monsters and one very irate goddess serves up heaps of goofy humor thanks to its reluctant, pint-size Latine hero, comically antagonistic baddies, and frequent breaking of the fourth wall. A rich cast of culturally diverse characters, seamlessly inserted social commentary, and bustling, snappy artwork contribute greatly to a briskly paced adventure that teases a sequel.A simply smashing monster bash. (visual Nahuatl glossary, character sketches)(Graphic adventure. 10-14)