Five Midnights

Gr 9 Up—When Lupe Dávila arrives in Puerto Rico to spend the summer with her Tío Esteban and Tía Maria, she doesn't imagine that she'll become so closely involved in one of her uncle's investigations. As two murders take place within the first few days of Lupe's arrival, she becomes increasingly concerned for her missing cousin Izzy and suspects that the cases are related. At the same time, Javier Utierre, close friend of the victims, realizes that both were part of Los Cangrejos, the group that he was a part of when he was younger. Soon he and Lupe are working together to try to find Izzy and discover who is behind the murders. As they get closer to the truth, they learn that the legendary El Cuco, embedded into the heart of the island and present in many places with many names, may be the shadow that is following Javier and Izzy, seeking to take them as well. Told from the perspectives of several of the characters, this fast-paced mystery delves into life in Puerto Rico—from the beauty of the island to the troubles that people face every day. Short chapters and events happening within the span of a few days will make this a quick read that teens will not want to put down until they uncover the truth.