Skeletina and the In-Between World

October 1, 2020

K-Gr 2-Skeletina is a self-sufficient skeleton girl who lives in the in-between: a place of the dreams of sleeping children, the realm of the deceased with unfinished business, and home to all sorts of weird creatures and manifestations. "But, nothing scares Skeletina, although many of the odd creatures in the in-between world have definitely tried! And speaking of odd creatures, some of them are even her best friends." Skeletina is meant to be seen as a guide or comforting character for children to seek out when they are in the in-between, which is presented not as a scary place, but one where they can have their own agency. However, this idea barely comes through in the disorganized text, which doesn't immediately place Skeletina in the role of guide. Overuse of run-on sentences create a disjointed feel: "She knows that when she fears that someone is trying to sneak into her house, it is usually the shadow Creepers, who is just lonely and needs attention. Skeletina plays music for him and his eyes grow wide in surprise as he listens. Then he usually smiles and disappears as fast as he comes." Asibikaashi or Spider Woman, here presented as Skeletina's Spider Grandma, inspires the child to create beautiful webs-dream catchers. Spider Grandma embodies a sort of Native wise-woman stereotype, wearing fringed moccasins, chunky rings, bracelets, and a feathered dream catcher necklace. VERDICT Charming pen-and-ink illustrations are comic, but can't rescue the story from veering from a celebration of Latinx culture into appropriation of the Ojibwe. Not recommended for purchase.-Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Lib., MN

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2022
"The in-between world is the one place where the dead and the living come together," and Skeletina is the mistress of that universe. As the friendly, playful skeleton provides a tour of this space, which evokes the vibrant images of el D�a de los Muertos, she explains that the living come here when they dream and describes several of its residents. Fludz, a smiling blue ocean wave, for example, helps children overcome their fear of water. Skeletina serves as a guide through dreams, helping with anxieties and warding off nightmares. Jaramillo's artwork is captivating, with details, bold colors, and intricate use of delicate grays and blacks that result in an ethereal look. The endpapers preview inhabitants of the in-between world; however, confusingly, not all of them appear in the book, and some who are featured in the book are not included there. The story reads like wisdom from ghosts ("This is a strange place indeed, but always remember you get to decide what happens next!") but also contains suggestions for pacifying spirits and taking control of dreams. While all of the pieces are connected, there isn't a tight hold on the various threads. Most characters are nonhuman, though their world is infused with references to Latinx folklore; human characters are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Unique characters and rich illustrations anchor a multifaceted but scattered story. (Picture book. 4-6)

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September 10, 2023
Grades K-3 The following review is for the Spanish edition of this title, Skeletina y el entremundo. In this lovely picture book, Skeletina introduces her lively cast of friends in the world of in-between, where the living visit while they are asleep. Skeletina enjoys meeting children who are visiting and helps them get over their fears or reunites them with loved ones who have passed away. Helped along by full-color cartoon illustrations drawn with pencils, the Spanish text invitingly introduces the dreamer to creatures that are happy to teach different skills, which will help them face fears, harness creativity, or find comfort. Despite the ghosts and skeletons, this isn't scary, as the story is presented in a positive way, bursting with color and an emphasis on the fact that the world in-between can be shaped and molded however the dreamer wishes. A playful story full of Latinx cultural touchstones.

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