The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780374390433)

A new middle grade fantasy full of humor and heart from Adrianna Cuevas--author of the Pura Belpré Honor Book The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez--perfect for fans of Claribel Ortega's The Ghost Squad and Louis Sachar's Holes.
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Rafa would rather live in the world of The Forgotten Age, his favorite fantasy role-playing game, than face his father's increasing restrictions and his mother's fading presence. But when Rafa and his friends decide to take the game out into the real world and steal their school cafeteria's slushie machine, his dad concocts a punishment Rafa never could've imagined--a month working on a ranch in New Mexico, far away from his friends, their game, and his mom's quesitos in Miami.

Life at Rancho Espanto isn't as bad as Rafa initially expected, mostly due to Jennie, a new friend with similarly strong opinions about Cuban and Korean snacks, and Marcus, the veteran barn manager who's not as gruff as he appears. But when Rafa's work at the ranch is inexplicably sabotaged by a man (or a ghost) who may not be what he seems, Rafa and Jennie explore what's behind the strange events at Rancho Espanto--and discover that the greatest mystery may have been with Rafa all along.

2024 Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominee
2025 Rhode Island Middle School Book Award List
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award List

Author: Adrianna Cuevas
ISBN-10: 0374390436
ISBN-13: 9780374390433
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
Language: English
Published: 04/04/2023
Pages: 304
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.83lbs
Size: 8.54h x 5.81w x 1.03d

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.1
Point Value: 8
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 520371 / Ghosts of Rancho Espanto


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 02/01/2023
Booklist 02/15/2023 pg. 65
Publishers Weekly 02/27/2023
Horn Book Magazine 03/01/2023 pg. 65
School Library Journal 10/27/2023 pg. 1
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2023 - Superior,Well Above Average