NIGHT OF THE CHUPACABRAS

by Marie G. Lee ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1998

Lee (Necessary Roughness, 1996, etc.) presents a nice blend of cultures in this lightweight mystery set in Mexico. Korean-American Mi-Sun, just out of sixth grade, and her younger brother, Ju-Won, spend the summer with their friend Lupe at Lupe's uncle's ranch in provincial, remote Tierralinda. Mi-Sun embraces the food, culture, and language immediately, while Ju-Won takes a little longer to warm up to the new surroundings. Obsessed with horror novels, Ju-Won is frightened of everything, especially when a local tells him about the mysterious chupacabras--vampire-like ""goat suckers"" that ostensibly roam the town at night. Mi-Sun and Lupe are more skeptical, but when one of T'o HÆ’ctor's goats dies unexpectedly, and they find fruits that look as if they have been sucked dry, they, too, begin to fear that there is a monster in their midst. Lee includes some formula horror scares to keep readers turning pages; although the pat ending is predictable, the fast pace, short chapters, and sights and sounds of the small Mexican town will entertain.

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1998

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 120

Publisher: Camelot/Avon

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1998

Categories: CHILDREN'S