The Magical Closet Mystery: A Puerto Rican Adventure

AWARD WINNER: 2023 Independent Book Publishers Association Silver Award for Best Multicultural Book!

In this enchanting, middle-grade novel by María Pérez-Gómez, three siblings are transported from their closet in Buffalo, New York to their homeland of Puerto Rico where they must uncover their family’s secret past and save the rainforest from desolation by harnessing the magic that sent them.

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All Luca wants is to go back to Puerto Rico where everything was perfect, and their dad was still with them.

After their Papi passes away, siblings Luca, Magia, and Mateo move with their Mami from their beloved Puerto Rico to Buffalo, NY. They miss both their Papi and their homeland. So when a mysterious song from home calls from their closet, they follow it. Within moments, they find themselves in the middle of the mystical El Yunque rainforest—not as kids, but as a rooster, a frog, and a pig! And nothing is the way they expected.

Before long the siblings realize that they weren’t transported by accident—they were brought to help Puerto Rico after it was hit by not one but two hurricanes. But to do so, they must discover their own magical powers and get the help of the Sleeping Giant, a folk legend most don’t believe exists.

Along with Pito the Parrot, Guanito the Iguana and other rainforest creatures, Luca and his siblings must solve the secret to renew the hope of healing for everyone on the island.

Bonuses included:

Two original songs that readers can access through scannable QR codes.

Translations of Spanish words, phrases, and cultural concepts.

María is a proudly Puerto Rican author, vocalist, playwright, and performer. She is the Managing Director for Raíces Theatre Company, the only Latino theatre company in western New York, and she is Assistant Director at Vive, a shelter for asylum seekers. Her greatest goals are to craft stories Latino children can see themselves in and help children of all backgrounds develop resilience. She and her big family live in Buffalo, NY.