The Midnight War of Mateo Martinez

Life is confusing for Mateo Martinez. He and Johnny Ramirez don't hang out anymore, even though they used to be best friends. He and his new friend Ashwin try to act like brave, old-time knights, but it only gets them in trouble. And last night, two skunks stole Mateo's old trike. Wait two skunks stole his trike? Mateo is too big for that rusty kid toy. He has a cool, shiny new bike anyway. But Mateo also has a neighborhood to protect. And he's about to begin a big, stinky quest to catch the thieves in the middle of the night! As Mateo protects his neighborhood, he also learns a few things about growing up and letting go.

Kirkus Best Middle-Grade Books of the Year New York Public Library Best Books for Kids Moonbeam Children's Book Award Gold Medal

“"What stinks worse than having his parents suspect him of hiding his little sister's tricycle is knowing they will never believe the truth: a pair of skunks stole it in the night. Mateo Martinez knows what he saw, and he is determined to prove it. After a disastrous attempt to ambush the varmints ends with Mateo getting sprayed in the face, he learns something else incredible: the skunks can talk. He enlists the help of his friend Ashwin and begrudgingly lets kid sister Mila join the quest to retrieve the trike. What ensues is an imaginative backyard adventure with light touches of fantasy. The first few chapters leading up to the nighttime escapades are slowed by repetitive writing, but those who persevere will find much to like. Mateo is an admirable character striving to live by a knight's code of honor, while struggling with a lost friendship and school bullies. His gallantry, developing relationship with Mila, and antics with the neighborhood wildlife make for quite the charming tale."Booklist”

"Utilizing a gentle sense of humor and incisive insight, the author negotiates Mateo's developing identity with aplomb, especially his Mexican-American heritage. . . . A magnificent novel that defines what it is to be an older brother, a friend, and, yes, even a knight."—starred, Kirkus Reviews

"This is an odd but satisfying little story with an endearing hero and perhaps even more endearing skunks. . . . Yardi deftly reins in some of the goofiness in exchange for dramatic tension and emotional heft."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"[A]n imaginative backyard adventure with light touches of fantasy. . . . Mateo is an admirable character striving to live by a knight's code of honor. . . . His gallantry . . . and antics with the neighborhood wildlife make for quite the charming tale."—Booklist

"In this debut novel, Yardi draws parallels between the fantasy world of talking animals and Mateo's reality of growing up and finding himself. . . . A fun, action-filled tale whose protagonist has a distinct and sincere young voice. Recommended for collections and libraries that serve a lower middle grade population."—School Library Journal

"Picture book author Yardi . . . in her first novel, delivers an entertaining story of sibling loyalty, friendship struggles, and the sometimes vexing passage into adolescence."—Publishers Weekly

Robin Yardi is a children's book author and a California credentialed teacher. She lives in the hills of Santa Barbara with too many pets and just the right number of children.

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