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Lowriders in Space #2
Lowriders to the Center of the Earth
The trio from Lowriders in Space are back! Lupe Impala, Elirio Malaria, and El Chavo Octopus are living their dream at last. They're the proud owners of their very own garage. But when their beloved cat Genie goes missing, they need to do everything they can to find him. Little do they know the trail will lead them to the realm of Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec god of the Underworld, who is keeping Genie prisoner!
128 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2016
About the author
Cathy Camper
15 books68 followersCathy Camper is the author of the award-winning Lowriders in Space graphic novel series, the picture book Ten Ways to Hear Snow (2020), Bugs Before Time, and a forthcoming 2021 picture book, Arab Arab All Year Long. Lowriders to the Center of the Earth won the Pura Belpre Award for Latino Illustration in 2017. Her art work has been featured in Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People, by Amy Sedaris. She is a graduate of VONA/Voices writing workshops for people of color in Berkeley, California. Cathy’s a librarian in Portland, Oregon, where she does outreach to schools and kids in grades K-12.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
April 2, 2025
WOW! What a ride! If Disney and Dali had decided to work on a project I don't think they could top this! I have become a big fan! This is a fun book that will help you forget your problems for a little while. The core part of the story is on friendship - friendship in good and bad times - and how we are always there for our friends.
July 5, 2016
I had the privilege to read the beta version of this, since Cathy is a friend of mine, but like with the first comic it doesn't affect my review. I'm a comics presenter and it's always a challenge to find good comics for kids (aka meaningful comics). For this reason and others too, I absolutely adore Lowriders in Space. It has all the elements that are sadly so absent in many other comics, a strong female lead that is a mechanic, POC characters, the possibility to learn both English and Spanish and it teaches cultural history of Aztecs and Mexico altogether not to forget it's funny and well constructed to boot. A perfect blend of everything and still light.
In this second part our heroes notice that their cat Genie has gone missing and they need to find it from the underworld. The underworld is ruled by Mictlantecuhtli and our trio needs to outsmart him only to find that Genie isn't just a cat! An awesome story and the best part is that there's an introduction of the characters and creatures at the back. I love the friendship that is the base for the whole series, the characters are awesome and have personas, they grow along their way, which is great. The car keeps hipping and hopping too, so stuff from the first comic aren't forgotten.
The art is phenomenal once again. I'm just baffled how Raúl uses the colors and how amazing his lineart is. The whole comic is like a set of perfect tattoos! There's so much fun stuff hidden in the panels and I found myself inspecting them carefully for that reason. The skeletons are extremely cute, which is great, so the comic isn't scary. The only ting that slightly bothered me was that there was no mentioning that the weeping woman was a ghost, which surely made sense afterwards. Perhaps trying to depict that with these colors and art is a bit hard, I don't know. What was awesome though was the cover under the jacket, I wish more illustrators would do the same as Raúl! Lowriders to the Center of the Earth is just pure awesome and suited for everyone, I do hope Cathy continues with this series so we'd get more - I want more! I will be presenting this comic surely!
In this second part our heroes notice that their cat Genie has gone missing and they need to find it from the underworld. The underworld is ruled by Mictlantecuhtli and our trio needs to outsmart him only to find that Genie isn't just a cat! An awesome story and the best part is that there's an introduction of the characters and creatures at the back. I love the friendship that is the base for the whole series, the characters are awesome and have personas, they grow along their way, which is great. The car keeps hipping and hopping too, so stuff from the first comic aren't forgotten.
The art is phenomenal once again. I'm just baffled how Raúl uses the colors and how amazing his lineart is. The whole comic is like a set of perfect tattoos! There's so much fun stuff hidden in the panels and I found myself inspecting them carefully for that reason. The skeletons are extremely cute, which is great, so the comic isn't scary. The only ting that slightly bothered me was that there was no mentioning that the weeping woman was a ghost, which surely made sense afterwards. Perhaps trying to depict that with these colors and art is a bit hard, I don't know. What was awesome though was the cover under the jacket, I wish more illustrators would do the same as Raúl! Lowriders to the Center of the Earth is just pure awesome and suited for everyone, I do hope Cathy continues with this series so we'd get more - I want more! I will be presenting this comic surely!
August 6, 2017
Meant to read book one first, but things didn't pan out that way. Anywho, this was a much cooler than I could have imagined. The writing was fun and told a solid story for how a missing cat results in the team having to go to the center of the earth. Lowriders in Space #2 has a great balance of being fun for kids while still entertaining for adults. And if you're a fan of puns, there are some to make you smile or laugh.
I especially loved how Camper and Raúl the Third chose to blend aspects of Lowrider and Aztec culture and the cameos from other Mexican/Latin American folklore. The interspersing of Spanish phrasing and expressions with English conversation was a nice touch, and not only did they have footnotes of translation, there's a glossary in the back. So, no matter your level of familiarity you'd be able to easily understand what was said. And even if they left out the footnotes the illustrations provided helpful context.
Speaking of illustrations I found them wonderful. They made me think of when I used to doodle in notebooks in school because of the line work and prevalent hatching style, but obviously of higher quality and done beautifully. The whole book makes for a great graphic novel, even the page quality and coloring which complimented Raúl's color scheme perfectly. His style just really fit the vibe of the story and also reminded me of some of the older cartoons I used to watch. I definitely plan on reading the first book, and hope that more books are in the works because this is a good series for kids and I'd love to see where the Lowriders go next.
I especially loved how Camper and Raúl the Third chose to blend aspects of Lowrider and Aztec culture and the cameos from other Mexican/Latin American folklore. The interspersing of Spanish phrasing and expressions with English conversation was a nice touch, and not only did they have footnotes of translation, there's a glossary in the back. So, no matter your level of familiarity you'd be able to easily understand what was said. And even if they left out the footnotes the illustrations provided helpful context.
Speaking of illustrations I found them wonderful. They made me think of when I used to doodle in notebooks in school because of the line work and prevalent hatching style, but obviously of higher quality and done beautifully. The whole book makes for a great graphic novel, even the page quality and coloring which complimented Raúl's color scheme perfectly. His style just really fit the vibe of the story and also reminded me of some of the older cartoons I used to watch. I definitely plan on reading the first book, and hope that more books are in the works because this is a good series for kids and I'd love to see where the Lowriders go next.
May 27, 2017
Once again, Raúl the Third's ballpoint pen artwork is phenomenal:
Like before, I enjoyed learning some Spanish words and phrases scattered (and translated) throughout the text. Also, the punny jokes were delightfully silly. However, although I appreciate when the main characters, who are Mexican-American, speak in English with some Spanish words and phrases mixed in, it is a little bit strange that the Aztec gods and goddesses use some Spanish words and phrases as well because, as far as I know, Spanish is not the language of their culture but the language of their Spanish conquerors.
Also, the author's note at the end of the book usefully explains all the references to Mexican, Latin American, ancient Aztec, and native Southwest American cultures. However, I wish that some of these references were explained earlier in the text (some of them were, but not all) because, for example, I was not familiar with the legend of La Llorona, "a ghostly woman who wanders the Mexican countryside looking for her lost children," and thus didn't understand the point of the crying blue cat-woman, and didn't even realize that she was supposed to be a ghost.
Like before, I enjoyed learning some Spanish words and phrases scattered (and translated) throughout the text. Also, the punny jokes were delightfully silly. However, although I appreciate when the main characters, who are Mexican-American, speak in English with some Spanish words and phrases mixed in, it is a little bit strange that the Aztec gods and goddesses use some Spanish words and phrases as well because, as far as I know, Spanish is not the language of their culture but the language of their Spanish conquerors.
Also, the author's note at the end of the book usefully explains all the references to Mexican, Latin American, ancient Aztec, and native Southwest American cultures. However, I wish that some of these references were explained earlier in the text (some of them were, but not all) because, for example, I was not familiar with the legend of La Llorona, "a ghostly woman who wanders the Mexican countryside looking for her lost children," and thus didn't understand the point of the crying blue cat-woman, and didn't even realize that she was supposed to be a ghost.
May 4, 2016
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC!
I am a huge fan of Lowriders in Space and I was so excited to discover a second book was being released!
Beloved Genie is missing! The trio begins to follow Genie's tracks only to discover all of a sudden his tracks disappear. The second Lowriders book sends friends Lupe Impala, Elirio Malaria, El Chavo, and their stellar ranfla through a maze, a volcano, and into the underworld where they must ask for help from a punny Coyote, learn about Xilonen (Aztec goddess of corn), defeat Mictlantecuhtli (the Aztec god of the underworld) in the ring, and more!
The trio encounters various other characters famous in Mexican folklore such as El Cucuy and La Llorona. Spanish slang and other words are thrown in throughout the story (I am a huge fan of the Spanish puns and the incorporation of Spanish throughout the story!)
The illustrations are gorgeous and the added color this time around only makes Raul's illustrations that much more amazing.
I recommend this graphic novel whenever I can. Highly recommended!
I am a huge fan of Lowriders in Space and I was so excited to discover a second book was being released!
Beloved Genie is missing! The trio begins to follow Genie's tracks only to discover all of a sudden his tracks disappear. The second Lowriders book sends friends Lupe Impala, Elirio Malaria, El Chavo, and their stellar ranfla through a maze, a volcano, and into the underworld where they must ask for help from a punny Coyote, learn about Xilonen (Aztec goddess of corn), defeat Mictlantecuhtli (the Aztec god of the underworld) in the ring, and more!
The trio encounters various other characters famous in Mexican folklore such as El Cucuy and La Llorona. Spanish slang and other words are thrown in throughout the story (I am a huge fan of the Spanish puns and the incorporation of Spanish throughout the story!)
The illustrations are gorgeous and the added color this time around only makes Raul's illustrations that much more amazing.
I recommend this graphic novel whenever I can. Highly recommended!
September 21, 2017
Named like a teenage B film and able to invoke quick, dime-store comparisons as “Aqua Teen Hunger Force on (even more?) Acid” or “David Lynch meets Where’s Waldo”, this like all great books should transcend such reviews. It’s a geologic, Latino graphic novel featuring corn-on-the-cob swords, Aztec god wrestling, and a lost cat named Genie stars a skateboarding octopus, a mosquito who rocks a sombrero, and an antelope in tight jeans. The story is freewheeling and messy and completely absurd— fun to read because it makes no sense how our heroes are getting along a lot of the time. The loathsome puns land at the right time, the visual humor jumps off the page, and Lowriders is seared with cleverness, and as the story gets hotter the drawings get wackier and more complex and take up whole pages and you realize it’s actually a melting pot of culture, language, and mythology; colors, zany expression, and celebration. To read it is less that very effect, more like trying a damn good meal of cuisine you’ve never tried.
April 1, 2018
This graphic novel explores science, geology, and a pantheon of Mexican gods and mythologies. My favorite is La Llorona who mistakes Flappy for her son. Her tears end up being a source of salvation, so her use in this graphic novel is charming and humorous.
There are so many clever pieces to this work, and I can't wait to promote this work amongst the Spanish teachers at ISD. This book, for no other reason than the cultural nuance, should be part of the Spanish language department's curriculum.
I don't know why the ISD library doesn't have book one. To the center of the earth is book two.
In my quest to read all things Latinx for National Hispanic Heritage Month, this one stand out from the pack.
There are so many clever pieces to this work, and I can't wait to promote this work amongst the Spanish teachers at ISD. This book, for no other reason than the cultural nuance, should be part of the Spanish language department's curriculum.
I don't know why the ISD library doesn't have book one. To the center of the earth is book two.
In my quest to read all things Latinx for National Hispanic Heritage Month, this one stand out from the pack.
October 18, 2016
My child is 9 he hates, hates ... to read anything and its always a struggle. The only thing he's interested in are cars and trucks that all he looks and talks about since he was a toddler. When he first looked at Low-riders in Space book he was very interested in the colors and drawings of low-riders he really liked the book and was interested in reading it he cant wait to read the second book. I was almost in tears to see my son for the fist time pic up something to want to read.
May 23, 2017
This time, the gang is out to rescue their cat, Genie, who has been kidnapped by a god of the underworld. Lots of puns and a little focus on geology.
September 24, 2017
Lupe Impala (an impala), Elirio Malaria (a mosquito), and El Chavo Flapjack (an octopus) run a Lowrider shop. Lupe's the mechanic, Elirio does artwork, and Flapjack washes the cars when they're done. When earthquakes start tumbling, and the crew realize their cat Genie is missing, they end up diving down to the center of the Earth.
This was an unexpected and amazing book. I didn't read the first one, but grabbed this since it had won the Pura Belpré Illustrator Award for 2017 (for a book challenge I am completing). It didn't matter one bit that I hadn't read the first one; I was able to pick up the basics of the characters.
Raul the Third does some AMAZING artwork here. In the beginning it's mostly black and red ballpoint pen with bits of blue ballpoint pen, all over a light tan paper base (almost a light sepia-tone wash? or a thicker version of the oatmeal-colored paper we used to get to draw on in art class?). As the characters get further into their adventures, green ballpoint pen appears. I'm not sure, but it's possible that some marker or watercolor may have been used, because in some spots the color looks less pen-scratchy and more like some sort of fluid coloring substance had been used. The illustrations are inviting, colorful, and active. The rendering of some of the mythological characters is simply stunning. I actually exclaimed "WHOA!" as I turned one page. Just excellent stuff.
The plot is entertaining. The crew have to go beneath the earth, work with and against several different characters, and try to return to the surface once they locate their cat. Along the way, you learn bits of science like the layers of rock beneath the earth, and how magnets and swamp coolers work.
The language is marvelous. The main crew often inject Spanish words and phrases into their dialogue (as do several supporting characters), and many of these words have asterisks bearing definitions at the bottom of the page. Lots of background illustrations contain words in Spanish, untranslated, but I could get the gist of most of them. There are several puns and plays on words, like the corn puzzle being a Maize Maze, or jokes like "What does the fish do? Nada!" Coyote has several of these groaners, but El Chavo Flapjack also conflates things like "Metamorphic" with "Metaphoric" when describing the rocks. It's cute, and it's funny, and it just makes you smile when you read it. I appreciated the dictionary at the back that helped explain most of the words again.
The characters themselves cover a wide variety of cultures. In addition to the Lowrider culture elements, Elirio Malaria wears a broad-brimmed hat, and that plus his wings evoke a Zoot Suit image. Coyote is a friendly trickster, evoking Southwestern Native American culture, and he takes the crew to a corn maze where Aztec goddess of corn & agriculture Xilonen appears. La Llorona of Mexican legend shows up, and thinks Flappy is her long lost child! Miclantecuhlti is an Aztec god, the king of the dead, and he is the main antagonist that the crew have to face, along with a third Aztec god: the jaguar-like Tepeyollotl. It's a Lucha-Libre-style wrestling match between those two, complete with references to "mask vs. hair" Lucha roles and an unexpected licence-plate tattoo, that wraps up the main thrust of the story and allows the characters to make their way back home. Other Central and South American figures such as Chupacabra, El Cucuy, and the spirits of Día de los Muertos are also mentioned.
All in all, this was a fun celebration of Lowrider culture and the various Aztec, Hispanic, and Latinx influences that are part of legend. I will have to seek out the first volume, since I am sure it is just as fun to read.
This was an unexpected and amazing book. I didn't read the first one, but grabbed this since it had won the Pura Belpré Illustrator Award for 2017 (for a book challenge I am completing). It didn't matter one bit that I hadn't read the first one; I was able to pick up the basics of the characters.
Raul the Third does some AMAZING artwork here. In the beginning it's mostly black and red ballpoint pen with bits of blue ballpoint pen, all over a light tan paper base (almost a light sepia-tone wash? or a thicker version of the oatmeal-colored paper we used to get to draw on in art class?). As the characters get further into their adventures, green ballpoint pen appears. I'm not sure, but it's possible that some marker or watercolor may have been used, because in some spots the color looks less pen-scratchy and more like some sort of fluid coloring substance had been used. The illustrations are inviting, colorful, and active. The rendering of some of the mythological characters is simply stunning. I actually exclaimed "WHOA!" as I turned one page. Just excellent stuff.
The plot is entertaining. The crew have to go beneath the earth, work with and against several different characters, and try to return to the surface once they locate their cat. Along the way, you learn bits of science like the layers of rock beneath the earth, and how magnets and swamp coolers work.
The language is marvelous. The main crew often inject Spanish words and phrases into their dialogue (as do several supporting characters), and many of these words have asterisks bearing definitions at the bottom of the page. Lots of background illustrations contain words in Spanish, untranslated, but I could get the gist of most of them. There are several puns and plays on words, like the corn puzzle being a Maize Maze, or jokes like "What does the fish do? Nada!" Coyote has several of these groaners, but El Chavo Flapjack also conflates things like "Metamorphic" with "Metaphoric" when describing the rocks. It's cute, and it's funny, and it just makes you smile when you read it. I appreciated the dictionary at the back that helped explain most of the words again.
The characters themselves cover a wide variety of cultures. In addition to the Lowrider culture elements, Elirio Malaria wears a broad-brimmed hat, and that plus his wings evoke a Zoot Suit image. Coyote is a friendly trickster, evoking Southwestern Native American culture, and he takes the crew to a corn maze where Aztec goddess of corn & agriculture Xilonen appears. La Llorona of Mexican legend shows up, and thinks Flappy is her long lost child! Miclantecuhlti is an Aztec god, the king of the dead, and he is the main antagonist that the crew have to face, along with a third Aztec god: the jaguar-like Tepeyollotl. It's a Lucha-Libre-style wrestling match between those two, complete with references to "mask vs. hair" Lucha roles and an unexpected licence-plate tattoo, that wraps up the main thrust of the story and allows the characters to make their way back home. Other Central and South American figures such as Chupacabra, El Cucuy, and the spirits of Día de los Muertos are also mentioned.
All in all, this was a fun celebration of Lowrider culture and the various Aztec, Hispanic, and Latinx influences that are part of legend. I will have to seek out the first volume, since I am sure it is just as fun to read.
December 27, 2016
My original review as it appears on my blog, Boys To Books.
As owners of an awesome garage and an"exquisitely detailed" lowrider car, Lupe Impala, Elirio Malaria the mosquito, and El Chavo Flapjack the octopus, couldn't ask for a better life. Earthquakes literally rock their world and Genie, their beloved cat, winds up missing. Following the cat's trail leads them on an exciting adventure through a corn field and ultimately through a trap that leads to the realm of the Aztec god of the Underworld, Miclantecuhlti.
After the three friends plunge into a cave, they meet up with the legendary La Llorona who thinks Flappy is her long lost child. She is the least of their worries. When they finally find the caged Genie, they come face to face with Miclantecuhlti. Will they be able to rescue their beloved cat from the god of the Underworld? It's not all "pun" and games but the jokes abound and with the endless Spanish vocabulary, the reader gets laughs and learning at the same time. The exquisite illustrations add to the fun. The reader will enjoy figuring out the puns and looking at the pictures so much that the cultural references and Aztec lore will come as a sneaky bonus. A playful graphic novel for the reluctant reader.
As owners of an awesome garage and an"exquisitely detailed" lowrider car, Lupe Impala, Elirio Malaria the mosquito, and El Chavo Flapjack the octopus, couldn't ask for a better life. Earthquakes literally rock their world and Genie, their beloved cat, winds up missing. Following the cat's trail leads them on an exciting adventure through a corn field and ultimately through a trap that leads to the realm of the Aztec god of the Underworld, Miclantecuhlti.
After the three friends plunge into a cave, they meet up with the legendary La Llorona who thinks Flappy is her long lost child. She is the least of their worries. When they finally find the caged Genie, they come face to face with Miclantecuhlti. Will they be able to rescue their beloved cat from the god of the Underworld? It's not all "pun" and games but the jokes abound and with the endless Spanish vocabulary, the reader gets laughs and learning at the same time. The exquisite illustrations add to the fun. The reader will enjoy figuring out the puns and looking at the pictures so much that the cultural references and Aztec lore will come as a sneaky bonus. A playful graphic novel for the reluctant reader.
August 2, 2016
Lowriders in Space, Lupe Impala, Elirio Malaria, and El Chavo Flapjack Octopus, head underground in search of their lost cat Genie. Along the way they encounter the denizens of Mexican and Aztec folklore and legend: Huehuecoyotl, La Llorona, a chupacabra, many many calaveras, and, worst of all, Mictlantecuhti, the Aztec god of the underworld, on their way to the center of the planet.
Although the Lowriders slogan is bajito y suavecito, low and slow, the action never stops in this fun and informative adventure in Spanglish by Camper and Raúl III. Camper puts painfully bad puns in two languages in Huehuecoyotl’s mouth. And on this trip Senior Gonzalez III dramatically adds green to his black, red, and blue penmanship with the sudden appearance of giant stalks of corn. Another delightful surprise is a manga influenced kawaii La Llorona. Yes, a manga cute Weeping Woman with kitten ears, she must be seen to be fully appreciated.
Although the Lowriders slogan is bajito y suavecito, low and slow, the action never stops in this fun and informative adventure in Spanglish by Camper and Raúl III. Camper puts painfully bad puns in two languages in Huehuecoyotl’s mouth. And on this trip Senior Gonzalez III dramatically adds green to his black, red, and blue penmanship with the sudden appearance of giant stalks of corn. Another delightful surprise is a manga influenced kawaii La Llorona. Yes, a manga cute Weeping Woman with kitten ears, she must be seen to be fully appreciated.
October 12, 2016
I was on the fence about the first Lowriders: I loved the artistry, style and spirit, but found the story too chaotic to draw me in and sustain my interest. I readily admit the fault likely lies with me, a lack of cultural fluency and simply reading too fast to enjoy the fun. This time I got it. Lowriders to the Center of the Earth has the same fantastic visuals- the skull endpapers alone are to die for- and the same madcap pace.
A catnapping by Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec god of the underworld, forces Lupe Impala - a master mechanic, Elirio Malaria - a mosquito who custom paints cars with his bill, and El Chavo Flapjack - a washcloth wielding octopus, to take a roadtrip to the center of the earth in their most mechanically inventive, exquisitely detailed and galactic powered lowrider. Zany plot twists, shameless puns, energetic illustrations, lots of Mexican culture and Spanish vocabulary add up in an impossibly wonderful, madcap adventure.
A catnapping by Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec god of the underworld, forces Lupe Impala - a master mechanic, Elirio Malaria - a mosquito who custom paints cars with his bill, and El Chavo Flapjack - a washcloth wielding octopus, to take a roadtrip to the center of the earth in their most mechanically inventive, exquisitely detailed and galactic powered lowrider. Zany plot twists, shameless puns, energetic illustrations, lots of Mexican culture and Spanish vocabulary add up in an impossibly wonderful, madcap adventure.
May 24, 2017
Another wonderful adventure with Lupe Impala, Elirio Malaria, El Chavo Flapjack, and Genie the cat! This time, Genie goes missing and the group must hit the road to find him. Their journey takes them deep into the underworld where they encounter Aztec gods, help La Llorona (the weeping woman), smash a lot of skeletons, go three-on-one in a wrestling match, and get a big surprise from their beloved cat. As with the previous Lowriders book, I absolutely adore the illustrations. I would plaster my walls with Raul the Third's art if I could afford it! The story doesn't fail either, and I especially loved the aspects of different cultures, the inclusion of Aztec mythology, and the way Cathy Camper weaves it all together so seamlessly, creating a world where multicultural references make perfect sense. If you love comics, amazing illustration, and a good story, you'll probably enjoy this book.
September 15, 2016
The lowriders take on the Aztec god of the underworld for a missing kitten--who turns out to be a decidedly unaverage gatito. The art was a little small on my ipad, and I thought that translating nearly all of the Spanish in footnotes was distracting (if helpful for monolingual readers like yrs truly). Otherwise a fine adventure, with a tart ethnic sabor.
February 6, 2017
Los of fun Tex Mex/Spanglish puns, author's note at end to fill in any cultural background. Love the little bits of green and orange color, and a jackalope sitghting to boot! My students will really enjoy this book. Wonder where the Lowriders gang is going next?
March 15, 2017
I enjoyed this book almost as much as the first. It might be a little creepy for young readers, but the story is fun and the journey that Lupe, Chavo, and Elirio take is just as beautifully illustrated as the first story.
January 26, 2016
Fabulous MG graphics featuring Aztec God facts, Spanish phrases and vocab throughout (with English translations), and fantastic art from Raul the Third.
September 7, 2016
So delightful! I loved the incorporation of all the different gods. I love the art, too. And the inclusion of so much Spanish. Wonderful! Can't wait to see where the Lowriders go next!
September 13, 2016
I really enjoyed this story, as much as the first one. Amazing illustrations. Funny, engaging. My students love these books. I'm excited to add it to the classroom library.
January 8, 2017
A quick read and by a local author, which was cool! I love the little culture and language lessons throughout, as well as the graphics. And I haven't even read Book One!
January 20, 2017
A wonderful phantasmagoria of Lationiod pop culture, Mexican legend, and preColumbian mythology. A delight for all ages, and a feast for the eyes.
February 15, 2020
So much fun to read. The illustrations are amazing and the dialogue so funny. Had me laughing out loud. What a winner. I plan to follow the series. Loved it.
March 8, 2017
It was really funny and cute! I enjoyed the storyline much more than the first one, actually - the whimsy of it worked better for me this time around.
February 21, 2018
Lupe Impala, Flappy the Octopus, and Elirio the Mosquito are a tight-knit group of friends who have their own garage and lowrider which they use to go on fantastical adventures. In this installment, the group travels to the center of the Earth in order to find and rescue their friend Genie who is a cat. The group encounters challenges on their way to the center of the planet steeped in modern and traditional Mexican culture and folklore. The main villain in the book who actually imprison Genie is the Aztec god of the underworld, Mictlāntēcutli. In order to get to the center of the Earth and beat him the group has to navigate through a maze of corn, coyote's tricks, swarms of bats and countless skeletons cheering on the underworld deity who happens to be crazy about Lucha-libre style wrestling and insists on wrestling the group. This fantastically illustrated novel is an impressive compendium of Mexican cultural icons as well as modern. The author has done a great job to entertain, teach Spanish phrases and at the same time make nuanced connections to key cultural icons such as Aztec deities and modern Mexican holiday such as the Dia de Los Muertos. This book is a great resource to primary school aged children as well as older students who are learning Spanish.
November 27, 2017
The art and style are as great as the first one! This is one that would have been really scary to me as a kid and honestly I DIDN'T LOVE IT AS AN ADULT, WHAT IF YOUR PET CAT GOT KIDNAPPED TO THE UNDERWORLD AND SKELETONS PUT IT IN A CAGE TO EAT IT
THAT WOULD BE SO UPSETTING
:'(
um but if you or your child don't have an intense visceral reaction to that idea this would be a great read
THAT WOULD BE SO UPSETTING
:'(
um but if you or your child don't have an intense visceral reaction to that idea this would be a great read
January 13, 2025
This graphic novel is eye catching and busy from cover to cover with its red, black, and blue penned illustrations and clever repartee. The story follows the characters Lupe Impala, El Chavo Flapjack, and Elirio Malaria as they depart on a mission to the Center of the Earth to save their cat. Each scene provides post-modern world building that highlights symbolism and characteristics that reflect Chicano, Mexican, and Aztec culture. Though there are many playful elements, the story also provides familiar references to these cultures that feel comforting and familiar. The familiarity brings a chuckle and sense of happiness to see one’s way of life, tropes, and humor reflected in a story that explodes in such a lively manner.
January 19, 2018
But the 8-year-old loves it.
January 19, 2021
Darker than the first book in the series (LR in Space) so it lost some of its whimsy and funny. It’s def a recommend, just be aware that it’s graphic.
March 12, 2019
Just what I hoped for- esos illustraciones excelentes, unique characters, and focus on a specific subculture PLUS an intriguing adventure. Even better than the first! I loved the surprise ending and I can totally see why this won the Pura Belpre award: it is up to its eyeballs in Mexican culture. It's also sufficiently weird and a little bit creepy.
Quest/ Archetype/ Mythology: includes Aztec legend of Mictlantecuhtli and Xilonen and more (might be scary for younger readers/recommended third grade and up)/ reminds me of Theseus and the Minotau/ Odysseus in Hades
Hobbies: owning the Low-rider garage and working on cars, rock collecting and Lucha libre
Holiday: Dia de los muertos
Quest/ Archetype/ Mythology: includes Aztec legend of Mictlantecuhtli and Xilonen and more (might be scary for younger readers/recommended third grade and up)/ reminds me of Theseus and the Minotau/ Odysseus in Hades
Hobbies: owning the Low-rider garage and working on cars, rock collecting and Lucha libre
Holiday: Dia de los muertos
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