Product Description

The popularity of lucha libre, Mexico's version of professional wrestling, is exploding in the United States, thanks to the television show Mucha Lucha. In Xavier Garza's bilingual kids' book about this wild and crazy sport, young Carlitos attends a lucha libre match in Mexico City for the first time. He's with his Papá Lupe, but his Tio Rodolfo, who's supposed to join them, doesn't show up. At ringside, Carlitos sees the famous luchador, el Santo-the Man in the Silver Mask, a man whose eyes look terribly familiar. El Santo even smiles at Carlitos! Carlitos is mesmerized as el Santo is pitted against the terrible forces of evil-los rudos, the bad guys of lucha libre. They make the audience boo and hiss! In the end, though, el Santo triumphs and, in the process, gains a lifelong fan.

Kids of all ages are drawn to the allure of lucha libre and its masked men and women. In Lucha Libre, young fans will see this fascinating world come alive: Favorite heroes and much-feared villains, dressed in dazzling and outrageous costumes, strut and prance across the mat and bounce against the ropes, daring anyone to take them to the floor!

Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, lucha libre aficionado Xavier Garza is a prolific author, artist and storyteller whose work focuses primarily on his experiences growing up in the small border town of Rio Grande City. Garza has exhibited his art and performed his stories in venues throughout Texas, Arizona and Washington. Garza and his wife live in San Antonio, Texas. He published his first book, Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys (Arte Público Press), in 2004.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #165079 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05-01
• Original language: Spanish
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 40 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 2-5–Going to a lucha libre in Mexico City with his grandfather is exciting in itself, but the young narrator of this engaging story is thrilled at being allowed to buy a mask like those worn by the luchadores. Carlitos chooses a silver one just like that of his favorite wrestler. From their seats at ringside, the fights are exciting, including a face-to-face encounter with the boy's hero, the Man in the Silver Mask. Astute readers will easily pick up on the identity of the masked man, and all will increase their knowledge of the Mexican version of the World Wrestling Federation. Smoothly integrated information in fluid colloquial English and Spanish combines with grainy graphic-novel-style illustrations executed in acrylic to create an oddly compelling and sophisticated package. An informative endnote, in English only, presents a brief but engrossing history of lucha libre. Certain to be a popular choice.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author
Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, Xavier Garza is a prolific author, artist, and storyteller whose work focuses primarily on his experiences growing up in the small border town of Rio Grande City. Garza has exhibited his art and performed his stories in venues throughout Texas, Arizona and the state of Washington.

Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, Xavier Garza is a prolific author, artist, and storyteller whose work focuses primarily on his experiences growing up in the small border town of Rio Grande City. Garza has exhibited his art and performed his stories in venues throughout Texas, Arizona and the state of Washington.

Customer Reviews

Lucha Libre, Masked and Unmasked
This bilingual Spanish-English book will be enjoyed by all kids, whether Mexican or American, who like pro wrestling. It is centered around young Carlitos' attendance at a wrestling match in Mexico City with his father Papa Lupe. The "bad" group of wrestlers is presented, then the "good" group. The wrestlers have colorful outfits, and what masks! It was the silver mask that Carlitos had purchased at the concession stand, and to his delight he finds it is The Man in the Silver Mask who leads the good group (and there is an interesting twist). But the bad group is more interesting: masks of a shark, a caveman, and a vampire bat! The large-sized color illustrations emphasize those masks along with the formidable bearing of each wrestler. A concluding history of lucha libre in Mexico describes its tradition and the linkage of the ring, comic books, and filmdom in its popular culture. Yes, there was a real-life Man in the Silver Mask! The side-by-side English and Spanish text will be helpful to those seeking to improve their Spanish (o ingles).

Class Reviews
These are comments from my students...

"Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask is a book about fighting or wrestling. 'Lucha Libre...'is a good book for Spanish people that don't know how to read or speak in English. It's also good for people who don't know how to speak or read in Spanish because on each page it has an English part and a Spanish part, too. My opinion about the book is that it is a good book and it has good pictures. Also, on each page there are pictures that are colorful." --Duaa



"I like this book because it's a good book and it's interesting, especially the part about El Vampiro. I like when he stretches and his stomach pops out and his muscles get stronger. You should read this book because is has Spanish and English. It's fun. You should read it!" --Feras



"My opinion about 'Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask' is that it is good because it's bilingual and people who speak Spanish can understand the two different languages, Spanish and English, and learn them a little better. The good thing about this book is that it has two boxes, one in English and one in Spanish. It is a good book, and you should read it. The books was interesting through the whole thing. As I read it, it was getting more and more interesting. You should read this book because it will be a nice book for you!" --Kiara



"I like this book, 'Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask', because it has English and Spanish. However, it has too many pictures. My favorite part is when the Man in the Silver Mask jumps on El Vampiro, and he lands on the ground. That's when the Tecnicos won. " --Daniel

"My opinion of the book 'Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask' is tha this book is a good book to read because this book helps people that speak no Spanish learn to speak some Spanish. Also for people that speak no English, they can learn to speak some English. This is also a good book for little kids because it has a lot of pictures. Another thing I liked about this book is that most of it is understandable, but it does have some hard words to read. This is why I think this is a good book to read." --Victor

"My opinion of the book 'Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask' is that it is a great book to read. I liked reading this book because it is interesting. You read one page, and you want to keep on going. One thing that I don't like about this book is it looks hard to read. I love the pictures because they have action, and they are so creative, the colors and all. One thing I really like is that it is in Spanish and English. I liked the end of the book; it is wonderfully interesting. This book is awesome, very great. You need to read this book. " --Diana

"My opinion about 'Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask' is that it was a really good book. I liked this book because it was really interesting. I was interested to know what would happen at the end of the book. I liked this book because in the beginning it started in an exciting way and ended in an exciting way, too. So, I would like to tell youi to check out this book; it is really interesting. It really has great illustrations and a great story." --Gisela

My opinion of 'Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask' is that I like it because it has pictures and it has Spanish and English words. It is about a man in a silver mask (that's the book title), and they have fun. They have other luchadores, like El Cucuy, El Vampiro, El Carvenicola and more, but the best one is the Man in the Silver Mask. He's the best luchadore, and that's what the boy (Carlitos) said, but he doesn't know if the Man in the Silver Mask is his uncle." --Alondra

A Hero Is Golden
The young narrator has the opportunity of a lifetime; not only does attend the Lucha Libre matches with his grandfather, but a chance to purchase a mask of his favorite luchadore, the Man in the Silver Mask, and the opportunity to meet the legend before he does battle inside the squard-circle.

Though the book is written for ages 9-12, the wonderful artwork - in a classic, graphic-novel style - and endnote on the history of Lucha Libre makes this a collectible for any fan of professional wrestling.

The mask may be silver, but this luchadore is pure gold to the young fan; with the story evoking memories - for those sharing it with children - on real past heroes in the ring.