The Island of Forgotten Gods

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 8

When Nico decides to spend his summer with his abuela and cousins in Puerto Rico, he didn’t expect to be hunted by the legendary chupacabra. But soon he discovers that the only way to save the island is by facing the very gods who created it. From the author of Time Villains comes a new fantastical adventure about family, tradition, and seeing things for what they truly are. 

Nico wants to be a film director. So far his creativity has been limited to short videos he puts out on social media, but he has grand plans to put together a real movie soon. The catch? His parents are sending him to Puerto Rico for the summer, to stay with his iconic (but carless) Abuela Luciana and his cousins, who are Abuela Summer veterans. Still, he wants to make the best of “the boringest summer ever” (as his cousins put it) by filming his masterpiece. But when filming begins they spot a gargoyle-like creature that can only be one thing: the legendary chupacabra. And this creature begins following them, chasing them when they’re alone at night, and seemingly hunting them down. At the same time, a strange cult also seems to have it in for the trio, hoping to capture them first. Soon they are thrown into a horror-tinged adventure that brings them face-to-face with ancient Tainos, even more ancient Taino gods, and the mysterious chupacabra, who is somehow linked to everything—including their enigmatic Abuela. Nico hopes that his documentary capturing all of these mythic characters catapults him to stardom, but it might lead to his island’s downfall. And in the end, it is the island’s fate that hangs in the balance, as the trio faces down the very gods that created Puerto Rico.

About the Author

VICTOR PIÑEIRO heads up content and social media at an ad agency where he’s run @YouTube, some of @Google and launched @Skittles, creating its award-winning zany voice. He’s also designed games and toys for Hasbro, written/produced a popular documentary on virtual worlds and taught third graders. He is also the author of the Time Villains series.