Chupacabra

Roland Smith, 1951-

Book - 2013

Searching faraway world regions for Grace, who has been kidnapped by a ruthless grandfather who has also stolen two dinosaur hatchlings, Marty and his cryptozoologist uncle, Travis Wolfe, are distracted by a sighting of an elusive blood-drinking cryptid.

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Subjects
Published
New York : Scholastic Press 2013.
Language
English
Main Author
Roland Smith, 1951- (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
xv, 285 pages : illustration ; 22 cm
ISBN
9780545178174
Contents unavailable.
Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 5-8-Plunging readers in where Tentacles (Scholastic, 2009) left off, this fast-paced novel opens right after Grace discovers that her twin brother, Marty, is in fact her cousin, and that her father's unscrupulous enemy, Noah Blackwood, is actually her grandfather. She is forced to join the mad scientist's household, located in a wildlife preserve. Kept under close observation at all times, the girl is held captive until Marty and his best friend, Luther, infiltrate the compound in an attempt to spirit her away. Mayhem ensues and their efforts are hampered by guards, security cameras, and Blackwood's vicious henchman. The trio face a genetically engineered chupacabra, a mythical beast from South and Central America with a nasty habit of sucking blood from goats. Though this sequel suffers in comparison to the previous books in the series, Smith adeptly adds enough new characters, dangers, and cool science to reel in reluctant readers and keep them turning pages long after their lights should have been turned off.-Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review

Immediately following the events of Tentacles, this sequel centers on Marty and his friends' attempt to rescue Grace from the clutches of the malevolent Dr. Blackwood. Similar to the prior novel, the titular creature provides a backdrop for the story but plays only a brief role. Elements of action, science fiction, and adventure keep the plot moving, occasionally in absurd directions. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

Marty and Grace return for their third rare-animal adventure (Tentacles, 2009, etc.). Thirteen-year-old cousins Grace and Marty were separated at the end of their last adventure. Grace agreed to leave with her grandfather, Dr. Noah Blackwood, even though she knows he is not the wildlife conservationist he pretends to be on his television show. Marty stayed with Grace's father (and his uncle), Dr. Travis Wolfe, world-renowned cryptozoologist. When Wolfe leaves them alone, Marty and his best friend, Luther, decide to try to find Grace at Dr. Blackwood's Seattle Ark, one of his chain of zoos. With the help of a new friend, Luther and Marty sneak into the Ark and begin searching for Grace. Blackwood discovers that the boys are on the property, but he can't pinpoint them; likewise, the boys find the secret research lab beneath the Ark, but they can't get to it. Everything is complicated by Blackwood's genetically created chupacabra, a legendary cryptid and voracious monster loose in the lab's ductwork. Smith's third in a series of four adventures stands alone well enough, but it works best as part of the series (a helpful recap of the series thus far orients readers to its labyrinthine twists). The adventure sequences are entertaining, but some of the humor may strike kids as rather lame; the ever-hungry Luther's antics especially ring false. A decent-enough adventure, but not one for the ages. (Adventure. 9-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

From CHUPACABRAThe man with the white coat and shining mirror eyes opened the door. The chupacabra moved farther back into his den, his powerful hind legs pressed into the corner. "Hungry?" the man said. The chupacabra did not move. He stared at the man's hand. It was wrapped in cloth as bright as the man's coat. He had tasted the man's blood and wanted more. But he stayed where he was . . . still, silent. "I have something that will get you out of that box," the man said. The chupacabra knew what was coming. He felt liquid dripping from his jaw. His belly rattled like the doors. But he stayed where he was. Watching. Waiting. Excerpted from Chupacabra by Roland Smith All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.