El fantasma en calcetines. (The Ghost in Socks)
Reviewed by Liliana Barro Zecker, School of Education, DePaul Univ., Chicago, IL -- Críticas, 1/15/2008
Mateos, Pilar.
Spain: Edelvives. 2006. 145p. ISBN 84-263-4847-5. pap. $14.95.
Gr 3 Up–This endearing short story of friendship and everyday adventures features two 10-year-olds living in a small Spanish town. David and Guillermo befriend Goyo, an odd-looking child who knows everything and everybody in town. Real to the two boys, Goyo is actually a ghost, the spirit of a boy who lived long time ago. He sees the youngsters for whom they are but sometimes confuses them with their parents and grandparents. In so doing, he shares with them some important secrets that help them better understand their families and themselves. Mateos adroitly takes readers into the protagonists’ lives and the world they share. With vivid snapshots of their interactions—how they ride their bikes, how they train for the Olympic games that might come soon (or not), and how their tempers boil over in frustration—the author crafts an engaging, fast-moving, and layered tale. Filled with vivid descriptions of places and characters, funny and profound at the same time, El Fantasma is likely to appeal to children and adults alike. Some of the peninsular colloquialisms that bring the story to life might be unfamiliar to some Spanish speakers, but this won’t probably stop them from continuing the read. Recommended for school and public libraries.
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