There's several exciting things going on this year here in the U.S. event wise...and I mean BIG even wise. One of these is the World Cup. So of course, I have a few reads in the next weeks, which celebrate this event. I am happy
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN
WORLD CUP TROPHY
by Angela Cervantes
Henry Holt and Co.
Middle Grade Mystery
240 pages
ages 8 to 12
COMING MAY 5th!!!
From Pura Belpré Honor recipient Angela Cervantes and perfectly timed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, The Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy follows 12-year-old sleuth Diez Espada on a high-stakes case as he tracks down the tournament's stolen trophy in time for the championship match.
“Humor, heart, and fútbol... everything a middle grade mystery should be.” –Chris Grabenstein, New York Times-bestselling author of the Lemoncello series
Diez Espada—named after the jersey number of his soccer-obsessed father’s favorite player, Lionel Messi—would rather be chasing clues than soccer balls. When the World Cup trophy disappears at a glitzy party in Miami, he’s suddenly at the center of the most thrilling match of his life—a race to find the trophy before it’s gone for good.
Teaming up with his crush, Rio, and the world-famous Detective Enzo, Diez dives headfirst into a one-night whirlwind of secret tunnels and a squad of suspicious a spoiled son of a Miami tycoon, a famous sportscaster, and even Rio's two prankster younger brothers.
The clock is ticking, the suspects are slippery, and the stadium lights are ready to shine. Will Diez find the trophy in time for the World Cup championship match?
“Humor, heart, and fútbol... everything a middle grade mystery should be.” –Chris Grabenstein, New York Times-bestselling author of the Lemoncello series
Diez Espada—named after the jersey number of his soccer-obsessed father’s favorite player, Lionel Messi—would rather be chasing clues than soccer balls. When the World Cup trophy disappears at a glitzy party in Miami, he’s suddenly at the center of the most thrilling match of his life—a race to find the trophy before it’s gone for good.
Teaming up with his crush, Rio, and the world-famous Detective Enzo, Diez dives headfirst into a one-night whirlwind of secret tunnels and a squad of suspicious a spoiled son of a Miami tycoon, a famous sportscaster, and even Rio's two prankster younger brothers.
The clock is ticking, the suspects are slippery, and the stadium lights are ready to shine. Will Diez find the trophy in time for the World Cup championship match?
MY TIDBITS
Sleuthing takes on a fun, soccer twist in this entertaining read.
Diez enjoys two things...well, mostly one since his father is, actually, the soccer fan: sleuthing. Diez is great at seeing details and connections others miss, and he's about to prove how talented he is by revealing the thief of the school's mascot costume. Unfortunately, the big reveal isn't what he'd hoped, and he ends up tricked by the true culprit, a rich girl name Rio. Since this leads him to more trouble than he deserves, Rio's guilt gets the better of her. To make up for it, she invites him to attend a World Cup Party with her, where his dad's favorite player is said to make an appearance right along with the real World Cup trophy. Unexpectedly, the trophy goes missing. Diez is ready to take on this new case with Rio at his side, but it might be more than he can handle.
This is a quick-paced read with lots of surprises, some quirky moments, and clues galore. Diez makes mention of Scooby-Doo, which fits thanks to the characters involved. After all, Diez has to deal with a bird and a poodle, too. In other words, the author mixes in light-hearted moments to keep everything interesting and boredom far away. The clues aren't easy to piece together but make sense, and it's fun to see Diez catch things the police overlook. His insights are clever and, yet, very fitting to the age group. Add friendship and whispers of first crushes, and there's heart as well. On the family end, Diez and his father still suffer a bit after the loss of the mother several years before...something I'm not a huge fan of, at the moment, due to the large amount of reads using that plot direction during the last year or so. But it works fine and isn't overplayed, either.
It's a fun read, especially with the World Cup sneaking up on us soon, and soccer fans are sure to enjoy it at anytime. The author does weave in some facts on this end, which adds a little knowledge richness as well. All in all, it's a fun mystery with many surprises and twists, and keeps the pages turning until the end.
And here she is...
Angela Cervantes is the award-winning author of several beloved children’s novels including Lety Out Loud, which won a Pura Belpré Honor Award. Angela’s other children’s novels include Anomalies 53: Into the Shadows; The Cursed Moon; Maritza: Lead With Your Heart, an American Girl book; Gaby, Lost and Found; Allie, First at Last; and the Frida Kahlo-inspired mystery, Me, Frida and the Secret of the Peacock Ring. In addition to her original work, Angela adapted Coco: The Junior Novelization and Encanto: The Junior Novelization. Angela began writing stories featuring Latina main characters when she was nine years old because she wanted books that reflected her friends and her community.