Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask

by Xavier Garza, Luis Humberto Crosthwaite (Translator)

Do you know what lucha libre is? Have you ever been to a lucha libre match and seen los technicos and los rudos―the good guys and the bad guys―dressed up in their wild costumes and crazy masks? How would you feel if the most famous luchador of all time actually stopped and smiled at you? Find out what happens to Carlitos when The Man in the Silver Mask―a man he’s never seen before in his whole life―turns and does that very thing to him. Kids―of all ages―are drawn to the allure of lucha libre and its masked men and women. In Lucha Libre, young fans will see this fascinating world come alive: favorite heroes and much-feared villains, dressed in dazzling and outrageous costumes, strut and prance across the mat and bounce against the ropes, daring anyone to take them to the floor! ¿Sabes que es la lucha libre? ¿Alguna vez has ido a un combate de lucha libre y visto los técnicos y los rudos―los buenos y los malos―vestidos con sus disfraces llamativos y sus máscaras locas? ¿Cómo te sentirías si el luchador más famoso de todos los tiempos se detuviera y te sonriera? Descubre qué le sucede a Carlitos cuando El Hombre de la Máscara de Plata, un hombre que nunca antes había visto en toda su vida, se da vuelta y le hace eso. Niños, de todas edades, se sienten atraídos por el atractivo de la lucha libre y sus hombres y mujeres enmascarados En Lucha Libre, los jóvenes fanáticos verán este mundo fascinante ven a la vida: héroes favoritos y villanos muy temidos, vestidos con trajes deslumbrantes e indignantes, pavoneándose y brincando sobre el tapete y rebotando contra las cuerdas, ¡desafiando a cualquiera a llevarlos al piso!

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Spanish Literature, Sports, Cultural, Fiction

40 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2005

About the author

Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, author and luche libre aficionado Xavier Garza is a prolific author, artist, and storyteller whose work focuses primarily on his experiences growing up in the small border town of Rio Grande City. Garza has exhibited his art and performed his stories in venues throughout Texas, Arizona and the state of Washington. Garza lives in San Antonio, Texas with his wife Irma and their young son Vincent.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Que Maravilloso! A really fun book that really takes you into the world of Lucha Libre! Complex and ritualistic - all of my friends from Mexico tell me that the influence of LL on their culture is impossible to explain to those who look at it from the 'outside'. The illustrations are bright and vibrant!

[Seri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro divertido con ilustraciones maravillosas y coloridas, este libro es una buena introducción para niños a la cultura de lucha libre.

[Elizabeth]

This book does a nice job of introducing lucha libre, though I was possibly more interested by the history at the back than the book itself.

I was frustrated that the note at the back explains that El Enmascarado de Plata was a real famous luchador -- whose name was Rodolfo, when the story has clearly suggested that he is the protagonist's Tío Vicente. Shouldn't it be Tío Rodolfo then?

[Eliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great that hispanic students will especially love. They're arent enough books out there that feature our culture. The students can really relate to what is happening in the story. A must have. The artwork is great too.

[Dora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucha Libra: The Man in the Silver Mask is a 2005 Americas Commended Title. It is about a boy, Carlitos who becomes immersed in the culture of lucha libra. His father and other family members take Carlitos to his first match. The luchadores are described in great detail and the story is full of action!The watercolor illustrations add to the story and the bilingual text. Personally, my favorite luchador was “El Cucuy”. His name made me reminisce of when I was afraid of ‘el cucuy’. At the end, there is also an informational article that adds to the story and its background. Great title for kids, especially your boys.

[FaAdrian]

first lucha libre starts when Carlos and hes dad when to see the lucha librebut sens hes uncle did not get there in time they when to see the mask to see if he bud showed up but he did not get there so they whet to see the lucha. when all the luchadores went in to the ring silver mask appeared and recognized Carlos. then at the end when the fight finished Carlos uncle pears interpreting that Carlos uncle is silver mask lucha libre the man in the silver mask i think that this book is a good book because it showed the old Mexican lucha libre. and haw they oust to fight using acrobatics i realy enjoy reading this book.

[Sunday · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of "lucha libre" and the author brings this to life for me at a match in Mexico City. A young boy is attending with his father - and I was right there with them - drawn by the illustrations, etc. There is two page author's note at the end about the history of lucha libre - "the poor man's theater." Great read aloud for any of the elementary grades, leading to potentially culturally rich conversations where the teacher can be the learner.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am excited to share this one with my students. I have many, many wrestling fans who love Niño Wrestles the World. I think they will also enjoy this one. I'm so glad I found it. It is also bilingual Spanish/English which is always a plus. The wrestling match itself has lots of information along with the action, but there is an additional nonfiction note at the end to provide the history of lucha libre.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book at a CABE convention and loved the plot and illustrations. I've read it to my class every year since purchasing (K-2), and my students have loved this story as much as I do. It's a great book for making predictions, teaching how to make inferences, and of of course, share the excitement of a lucha libre from a kid's point of view.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un buen libro bilingue para children aged 6-10. I teach bilingual kinder and my studetns love this story! THey're familiar with los luchadores y a ellos les gustan los disenos de las mascaras en el cuento. A must for any Spanish-English children's library.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong, well told story which shares the traditions of Lucha Libre in a way all kids will relate. The first person point of view puts the reader in the center of the action emotionally. The author's notes in the back are great.

[Kathleen Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture Book

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to Mexican wrestling for young boys; a great emphasis on the importance of family, traditions, and mystique.

[Luis Vargas fandiño · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book for reluctant lucha libre crazed boys

[Ms.Gaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colorful and fun. Brief history at the end adds more interest to the book.

[Rolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story that also serves as a good intro to how lucha libre looks and feels to a kid. The bilingual format is well done.

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

My six-year-old *loves* this book. As a bilingual kiddo, it's such a gift to have the side-by-side language options as he's gaining confidence in reading. This year during the elementary school "Spirit Week" this book was selected for "Dress as a Book Character" day and our own lil' luchador marched on to class. As a técnico, of course!

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about lucha libre wrestling. As an adult, part of the story is very obvious, but I loved seeing the wrestling through a child's eyes.

[Lisa Zinkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun story. Reminded me of when my dad and I would go to wrestling matches at the Blaisdale Arena!

[Natalie Salazar]

It was the uncle.

[Niniane]

Cool illustrations. The story at the end (about the unmasking and heart condition) was dramatic.

[Elizabeth StClair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una linda historia. Disfruté aprendiendo más sobre la lucha libre en México.

[Meta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and exciting story for thr young lucha liver fans

[ltcomdata · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little kid visits his uncle in México City, and while there attends a wrestling match. He is captivated by a particular wrestler---apparently the greatest wrestler of all time: The Man in the Silver Mask. Clearly the story was inspired by El Santo, who was, by some accounts, the greatest of all wrestlers and who wore a silver mask. In this illustrated tale it is hinted that The Man in the Silver Mask is none other than the kid's uncle. Clearly fiction, because the name of the kid's uncle is not Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta.

As far as the Spanish: it is clearly written by someone who has been living in the U.S. for a while (if not his whole life), and who might know Spanish, but who is also heavily influenced by English thought. There certainly were a few constructions there which would not be made in native Spanish (at least before all the badly dubbed American movies were introduced south of the border) but which would come naturally to someone living in the U.S., in the midst of these phrases, and who would translate them as closely as possible into Spanish.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carlitos is going to see his first Lucha Libre match with Papa Lupe and Tio Vicente. He learns that los Rudos are the bad guys in the match, who cheat and try to win at any cost. Los technicos are the good guys because they always fight fair and try to win justly.

These wrestlers are like Mexican superheroes to Carlitos and many other fans. In both English and Spanish, this was a cute, innocent story on how anyone could be a hero in the Lucha Libre match since they are always masked and no one knows their true identities.