Los misterios del camino

Gr 3-6–Manuela Jones loves negotiating her way through adventures as they present themselves, but her family trip to Santiago de Compostela seems an unlikely mystery—at first. As she can’t discover the whereabouts of a sacred antique Spanish sword alone, her twin brother J.J.’s crush on best friend Claudia adds a taste of lovestruck hilarity to their joint escapades on cobbled streets when adults aren’t really looking. Manuela’s queries, J.J.’s retorts, and Claudia’s tourist guides are all vital to piecing together this action-packed tale which brings home that teamwork is crucial and parental influences have their place as kids grow into their sense of self. Illustrated beautifully by Travé, this second series installment introduces a bit of Spanish folklore to enhance learners’ understanding of Catholic tradition and its sacred mysteries. Readers will enjoy following the three teens’ fast-paced twists and turns and, likewise, discover their literary deductive abilities. Mosquera and Seco bring middle graders a Latine perspective on archaeological sleuthing that goes beyond wearing Indiana Jones–like “sombreros.” They also provide touchstones throughout this novel that may prompt future scientific inquiry, encouraging curious minds to brush up on their research skills.