PULDIO, Pamela. El misterioso aire azul. illus. by Pepe Ávalos. 64p. Uranito. Jan. 2017. pap. $7.95. ISBN 9786079344849.

Gr 3-6 –Erick and his Abuelo and Abuela love Halloween and Día de los Muertos, which they celebrate together as “Hellomuertos.” When Erick falls off a ladder while trying to place his mummy, Dracula, and zombie figurines on their altar, he awakes to find he is able to see a mysterious blue air that seems to float out of the body of a butterfly. He realizes he has gained the ability to see almas, or souls, but why? When Abuelo falls and doesn’t get back up, Erick thinks it is just another of his bromas, but the news from the doctor at the hospital is very grave. Erick realizes why he has been given the gift to see the souls of others: it must be because he, like Victor Frankenstein, must perform his own experiments to make sure Abuelo’s soul stays inside his body, and that Abuelo stays with Erick forever. Beautifully written with breathtaking observations about life, those we love, and the things around us, this story is sure to make readers young and old pause to consider Erick’s predicament–and their own lives. VERDICT Perfect for young lovers of science, science fiction, monsters, Halloween, and the Day of the Dead; recommended for those who have experienced the loss of a treasured loved one, no matter what age.–Selenia Paz, Helen Hall Library, League City, TX This review was published in the School Library Journal October 2017 issue.