Kids fight folklore beings in adventure with lots of chills.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
Charlie and Violet are often in danger of injury or death from scary, creepy, supernatural and mythical beings from a wide range of folklore traditions. Lots of dark, creepy settings. Blood's mentioned a few times but not described in detail; pain is described with some detail. Charlie and one of his friends are bullied at school with shoving, theft, punching in the stomach, locking in a locker, slamming against walls, and racist verbal hostility. Lots of other fights and confrontations involve fantasy creatures and magical abilities.
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A few specific movies, video games, fashion, and food products specifically mentioned to establish character or location. Violet, who's 12, quotes from and takes for granted that Charlie has seen the movie Taken. Charlie, also 12, says he's seen it.
Sex, Romance & Nudity
very little
Charlie's had a crush on Violet for a few years and occasionally mentions romantic feelings. They hug a few times. Mention that eighth graders making out in the hallways is a common sight at school.
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The kids eat tequila worms that haven't yet been soaked in tequila. Speculation that the bully has taken performance-enhancing drugs. Grandpa's tobacco smoke mentioned in a negative context.
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Charlie's a good role model for bravery and for using his vast knowledge of folklore to solve problems and defeat the bad guys. He makes some mistakes but ultimately learns to embrace his strange, new powers and accept himself as he is, which makes him a better friend. Violet is smart, driven, brave, stands up to bullies, works at building physical and mental talents and skills, especially those of an investigative reporter. Lots of strong, positive representations of Latino people, folklore, and culture.
Educational Value
some
Lots of Spanish vocabulary, some is translated but mostly context clues are given. Lots of folklore from all over Latin America, Spain, and Portugal featuring mythical creatures and supernatural beings, along with some information about the origins and most-told stories for many. A glossary in the back provides a few more details for each.
Positive Messages
some
You may be afraid that your changing body and emotions are turning you into something different and weird, but in the end those changes are what make you you. You can't run away from yourself. Accepting yourself for who and what you truly are makes you powerful and free from worrying about what others think.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Ryan Calejo's Charlie Hernández & The League of Shadows is a fantasy-adventure for tweens that draws heavily on folklore from many Spanish-speaking countries around the world. Charlie's parents are missing so dealing with parental loss is a theme, along with remembering a past destructive house fire and going back to what remains. Lots of positive Latino role models and representations in the characters and in the frequent use of Spanish words and phrases. Lots of peril and fights with fantasy and supernatural beings from folklore, and lots of dark, creepy locations, too. Except for a school bully, all other violence is in the realm of fantasy, but blood's mentioned a few times and pain is described. Youngest readers may need help clarifying the calaca's argument about why folklore and its creatures are real. Rare strong language includes "jackass" and "damn." Lots of gross-out moments like eating worms, messing your pants, and a slobbery, tentacled tongue add tween appeal. Mild feelings of romantic interest and attraction and a couple of hugs. Explores themes about the links between culture and folklore, as well as about accepting yourself and your body as it changes and becomes something weird and new.
Bought this book for my school age child but also read it and truly enjoyed! I mostly enjoyed how all the Hispanic myths were woven into the story and came to life in a modern setting. Not only was it fun to read but we learned so much about the different Latin American countries and their myths. We frequently looked up the different characters to learn their “back stories” and discussed the similarities and differences between them and the countries of origin. It brought back many childhood memories that I shared with my child! Enjoy reading it with your child(ren)!
Really enjoyed learning about Hispanic myths and legends.
Bought the book for my son who is 10 years old for his birthday. He read it in a week. He really enjoyed the Hispanic myths and legends. He even wants to dress like Charlie for Halloween. He is hoping for a second book. My husband and I also enjoyed reading this book.
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?
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.
Available on:
Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
Last updated:
January 29, 2019
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
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