Vincent Ventura wakes up one night to the sound of screeching tires outside his bedroom window. He looks out and sees a man and a girl about his age rush into the rent house at 666 Duende Street. Before closing the front door, the man scans the sky as if he’s looking for something. Oddly, they don’t turn on any lights and the house remains pitch black, as if no one were home.
Suddenly, Vincent notices something white in the tree in front of the house. Is it … a blanket? But when it spreads its wings, he realizes it’s an enormous white owl! Two more land in the tree. And when the three owls land on the ground as women dressed in black, he knows there’s another monster mystery to solve!
That week in art class, Vincent meets his mysterious new neighbor, Zulema Ortiz. She’s obsessed with drawing owls. A coincidence? Vincent thinks not. He also notices she has the unusual habit of turning her entire head to look at things, just like owls do. When she tells him they are from a city in Mexico known as the witchcraft capital of the world, Vincent is even more convinced there are witch owls roosting in nearby trees!
Once again enlisting the aid of his cousins Michelle and Bobby, monster fighter extraordinaire Vincent Ventura is determined to get to the bottom of the puzzle surrounding his unusual new friend. The second installment in Garza’s exciting new Monster Fighter Mystery series, this bilingual book for intermediate readers also contains the author’s dramatic black and white illustrations. This spine-tingling short novel introducing Latino creepy creatures to kids ages 8-12 is sure to thrill a new generation of readers!
“This fun, illustrated Spanish/English short chapter book has enough Mexican folklore and American teen angst to keep middle grade and reluctant readers interested in the otherworldly adventures of the monster-fighter extraordinaire.”—School Library Journal on Vincent Ventura and the Mystery of the Witch Owl / Vincent Ventura y el mistero de la bruja lechuza
“Garza’s cool series sequel offers a little mystery, a little action, and a lot of fun. A breezy read, Vincent’s latest adventure packs folkloric elements in a fast-paced tale that’s sure to entice reluctant readers. Similar to its predecessor, this bilingual novel contains both English and Baeza Ventura’s Spanish versions, with the latter being superior in readability. A real hoot.”—Kirkus Reviews on Vincent Ventura and the Mystery of the Witch Owl / Vincent Ventura y el mistero de la bruja lechuza
Praise for Xavier Garza’s Monster Fighter Mystery series:
“Garza successfully continues his thrilling series with his signature humor, kid-centric themes, and quick pace. His illustrations also bring home the scary aspects of the narrative while making the novel more accessible. It will keep readers intrigued for the next entry. Each of the volumes stand alone, but familiarity with the previous books adds to the enjoyment.”—School Library Journal on Vincent Ventura and the Curse of the Dancing Devil / Vincent Ventura y la maldición del diablo bailarín
“This installment in the ‘Vincent Ventura’ series is full of fun and surprises, with fast-paced chapters and a mystery that is sure to intrigue fans of Latin American folklore. The dual English and Spanish format makes this an excellent choice for youth bilingual and Spanish collections, and the bold artwork interspersed among the chapters is eye-catching and provides an intriguing close-up of the characters. VERDICT: Highly recommended for collections for youth and for readers of retellings, adventure, and fantasy.”—School Library Journal on Vincent Ventura and the Curse of the Weeping Woman / Vincent Ventura y la maldición de La Llorona
“Multifaceted portrayals of legendary spirits add depth to a narrative that is enhanced by dramatic black-and-white art… Nuanced folklore shines in this thrilling beginning chapter book.”—Kirkus Reviews on Vincent Ventura and the Curse of the Weeping Woman / Vincent Ventura y la maldición de La Llorona
“Monster fighter extraordinaire Vincent Ventura battles his latest foe: the dreadful duende! Book 3 in Garza’s Monster Fighter Mystery series adds a little psychological horror to Vincent’s newest adventure, and this installment [is] a cohesive story centered on friendship and, more importantly, kicking monster butt. A case of lighthearted fun during the witching hour.”—Kirkus Reviews on Vincent Ventura and the Diabolical Duendes / Vincent Ventura y los duendes diabólicos
“Garza delves into Spanish folklore and adds action, horror, and mystery to create a wonderfully exciting book. This illustrated series-starter is formatted as a bilingual flipbook, with the Spanish text occupying one half of the book, and English the other. The descriptive Spanish and high vocabulary make it a strong addition to both elementary and middle school mystery sections.”—Booklist on Vincent Ventura and the Mystery of the Chupacabras / Vincent Ventura y el misterio del chupacabras
XAVIER GARZA is the author of numerous books for young people, including The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories / La señora Asno se enfrenta a La Llorona y otros cuentos (Piñata Books, 2015) and six volumes in the Monster Fighter Mystery series / Serie Exterminador de monstruos. He lives with his family in San Antonio, Texas.
ATOS Interest Level: Lower/Middle Grades
Category: Intermediate Reader
LEXILE: 700L
LEXILE Spanish: 680L
