Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask Book

Carlitos worships The Man in the Silver Mask, the most famous of all Mexican wrestlers.

Veronica Betancourt - Children's Literature

Carlitos is on his first trip to Mexico City to see a Mexican wrestling match with his father and his uncle. The adventure begins when Carlitos gets to choose a mask as a souvenir of the event; after careful consideration, he chooses that of the Man in the Silver Mask. Putting on the mask makes Carlitos feel powerful and excited as he learns about the good vs. evil aspects of lucha libre and its roster of characters. But all this excitement makes Carlitos miss his uncle, who has not yet shown up, especially when the Man in the Silver Mask stops ringside and looks very intently at him. After the fight, in which the good guys win, Carlitos comes across his uncle who just happens to have a Silver Mask figurine for him. Though Carlitos does not confirm his uncle's identity as the Man in the Silver Mask, the possibility is awfully likely. This dramatic tension is subtle throughout the book, particularly in contrast to the bold illustrations and poster-style design, which are more exciting than the narrative. Garza includes a valuable addendum regarding the history of lucha libre, which is informative without being inaccessible to children. 2005, Cinco Puntos Press, Ages 4 to 8.