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“When Rafa arrives at Rancho Espanto, or Terror Ranch, he forms new friendships with Korean American Jennie Kim, the librarian’s daughter, and Black barn manager Marcus Coleman, an army veteran. …Together, Rafa and Jennie work to uncover the strange (possibly paranormal) happenings at Rancho Espanto. While the mystery lies at the core of this novel, the exploration of themes of loss, grief, and identity add complexity. Readers familiar with these subjects will see themselves in Rafa as he struggles to come to terms with and understand his mother’s condition and build his own identity.”

– Kirkus Reviews

Los Fantasmas de Rancho Espanto (The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto)

Written by Adrianna Cuevas
Published by Square Fish

A new contemporary middle-grade fantasy novel about a Cuban American boy who’s sent to work on a ranch as punishment for a school prank gone wrong where he is confronted with a troubling supernatural mystery.

Sometimes parents are creative when they punish you. But not Rafael’s dad. He doesn’t bother with a traditional punishment when he finds out Rafael and his friends tried to steal a slushie machine from the school cafeteria. He skips right over creative, too. He blasts all the way to completely unhinged and bonkers.

That’s how Rafael ends up on a ranch in Middle of Nowhere, New Mexico, thousands of miles from home in Miami. He’s content to keep his head down and do as he’s told, but his work is inexplicably sabotaged by a strangely familiar man, one with the same floppy brown hair and anxious tics as Rafa. Who is he, and why is he trying so hard to get Rafa kicked off the ranch? Meanwhile, rafa can’t help but notice that his mom looks weaker with every video chat. With the help of the ranch manager and Rafa’s new friends, he gets to the bottom of the mystery, and confronts his grief along the way.

Look for the English version, The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto.

Primary ISBN:
Publication Date: September 2025
Available As: Paperback, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 08 or older

Community Represented: ,

Themes: , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: United States (Miami FL), United States (New Mexico)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey:

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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Engagement Projects & Resources:

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Engagement Materials:

Book Trailer (Spanish)

Make Quesitos with Adrianna Cuevas

Discover the setting of The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto

The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto Playlist (Spotify)

Teacher Guide

Source: www.adriannacuevas.com