Doña Quixote: Rise of the knight

Lucia Castillo dreams of being a knight like her abuelo, but everyone believes he was just a crazy old man. Years after his death, Lucia and her best friend, Sandro, continue to train and follow the knight's code. However, being a knight doesn't always go as planned: when a water tower crunches the mayor's car, Lucia is to blame. She soon finds herself in the attic of her house, where she uncovers abuelo's helmet, and when she puts it on, she realizes not only that the world her abuelo spoke about is real but also that there is something evil trying to take over the town, and it's up to her to save the day. This playful take on Cervantes' classic novel plunges readers into the fantastic world of Aztec mythology and provides a peek into various duendes, or magical creatures, living among people. The illustrations are crisp with vivid colors and exhibit excellent movement-to-movement panel transitions, and the frequent use of Spanish throughout the dialogue nicely reflects Lucia's Mexican heritage and the Texas setting.

Set in contemporary Texas, this Don Quixote retelling by Terciero (Northranger) and debut creator Magaña follows Mexican American tween Lucia embarking on an adventure to become a monster-hunting knight. Lucia grew up listening to her abuelo tell stories of his noble quests fighting paranormal creatures that only he could see in their Laredo, Tex., town. But his behaviors earned him the moniker "Abuelo Loco" from fellow residents. After his death, Lucia determines to follow in his footsteps, and her pursuits land Lucia and her tan-skinned, redheaded best friend Sandro in hot water with the mayor. When Lucia dons Abuelo's suit of armor, which she finds in the attic, the outfit grants her the ability to see monsters. Guided by a ghostly woman known as La Mujer de Blanco, Lucia mistakes benign creatures for villains and wreaks havoc in her town, unintentionally unleashing a powerful evil that threatens their community and the world. The occasionally choppy plot teems with visually distinct characters and myriad supernatural creatures from Mexican lore. Vivid hues depict energetic action sequences that strike a skillful balance between fantastical scares and madcap adventure. Ages 8--12. (Sept.)

Gr 4--8--The tale of Don Quixote gets a modern twist in this adventurous graphic novel. Lucia has struggled to grow up without the grandfather she trusted to save the day, who everyone else thought was Abuelo Loco. When she discovers her grandfather's magical helmet in the attic, her life heads for major chaos. Now that she can see supernatural creatures, she's got a ghost lady telling her what to do, flying creatures to tackle, and a mysterious arch being built by the mayor to unlock. A coming-of-age tale that's all about adventure and learning to be proud of yourself, this middle grade novel features an eager, relatable character. Terciero's love for adaptation and bringing the classics to new audiences is well-matched by Magaña's illustration style, especially in the more fantastical scenes. No Quixotic knowledge required to enjoy. VERDICT For fans of adaptations, fantasy-adjacent graphic novels, and authors like Kat Leyh, Terry Catasús Jennings, and Colleen AF Venable.--Aryssa Damron

As a descendant of Don Quixote, Lucia Castillo is ready to follow in the tradition of her ancestors and be a real knight. Abuelo taught Lucia how to "be the champion of right and good, against justice and evil." She trained alongside him since she was a little girl, abiding by her knight's code and learning to help any damsel (or dude) in distress. He was her hero--despite most of the town, including her mother, believing he was fighting invisible monsters and dubbing him Abuelo Loco. After he passes, Mexican American Lucia continues his mission despite receiving judgment from everyone around her apart from her best friend, Sandro, and her trusty steed, Rocky the donkey. When she discovers Abuelo's old helmet in an attic chest and realizes that it allows her to see mythical creatures, Lucia sets out with Sandro to uncover her town's monstrous mayor's evil plot and save the community before it's too late--all while juggling Abuela's and Sandro's secrets. Will her hasty impulse to be helpful turn out to be her downfall? Over the course of Lucia's journey, she grows in empathy and compassion with the help of her family and friends, learning the real meaning of doing good. The cartoonlike illustrations depict a vibrant world of colorful humans and spirits alike, emphasizing the characters' facial expressions and highlighting the narrative's action. An exciting adventure of mythical proportions centering real-life concerns. (author's note) (Graphic adventure. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Lucia Castillo dreams of being a knight like her abuelo, but everyone believes he was just a crazy old man. Years after his death, Lucia and her best friend, Sandro, continue to train and follow the knight's code. However, being a knight doesn't always go as planned: when a water tower crunches the mayor's car, Lucia is to blame. She soon finds herself in the attic of her house, where she uncovers abuelo's helmet, and when she puts it on, she realizes not only that the world her abuelo spoke about is real but also that there is something evil trying to take over the town, and it's up to her to save the day. This playful take on Cervantes' classic novel plunges readers into the fantastic world of Aztec mythology and provides a peek into various duendes, or magical creatures, living among people. The illustrations are crisp with vivid colors and exhibit excellent movement-to-movement panel transitions, and the frequent use of Spanish throughout the dialogue nicely reflects Lucia's Mexican heritage and the Texas setting. Grades 3-7. Copyright 2023 Booklist Reviews.

Set in contemporary Texas, this Don Quixote retelling by Terciero (Northranger) and debut creator Magaña follows Mexican American tween Lucia embarking on an adventure to become a monster-hunting knight. Lucia grew up listening to her abuelo tell stories of his noble quests fighting paranormal creatures that only he could see in their Laredo, Tex., town. But his behaviors earned him the moniker "Abuelo Loco" from fellow residents. After his death, Lucia determines to follow in his footsteps, and her pursuits land Lucia and her tan-skinned, redheaded best friend Sandro in hot water with the mayor. When Lucia dons Abuelo's suit of armor, which she finds in the attic, the outfit grants her the ability to see monsters. Guided by a ghostly woman known as La Mujer de Blanco, Lucia mistakes benign creatures for villains and wreaks havoc in her town, unintentionally unleashing a powerful evil that threatens their community and the world. The occasionally choppy plot teems with visually distinct characters and myriad supernatural creatures from Mexican lore. Vivid hues depict energetic action sequences that strike a skillful balance between fantastical scares and madcap adventure. Ages 8–12. (Sept.)

Gr 4–8—The tale of Don Quixote gets a modern twist in this adventurous graphic novel. Lucia has struggled to grow up without the grandfather she trusted to save the day, who everyone else thought was Abuelo Loco. When she discovers her grandfather's magical helmet in the attic, her life heads for major chaos. Now that she can see supernatural creatures, she's got a ghost lady telling her what to do, flying creatures to tackle, and a mysterious arch being built by the mayor to unlock. A coming-of-age tale that's all about adventure and learning to be proud of yourself, this middle grade novel features an eager, relatable character. Terciero's love for adaptation and bringing the classics to new audiences is well-matched by Magaña's illustration style, especially in the more fantastical scenes. No Quixotic knowledge required to enjoy. VERDICT For fans of adaptations, fantasy-adjacent graphic novels, and authors like Kat Leyh, Terry Catasús Jennings, and Colleen AF Venable.—Aryssa Damron