Sal and Gabi Break the Universe

Key to the tone of Sal and Gabi Break the Universe is Culeco Academy of the Arts, a fictional middle-school magnet program in Miami, Florida. With this setting, Carlos Hernandez departs from the standard trope in middle-grade fiction of adults as antagonists. In particular, in middle-grade fiction, adults typically pose significant challenges for young protagonists. Adults often create conflicts, whether as outright villains or as figures opposing the protagonists’ goals of freedom and adventure in favor of safety and order. In contrast, in this academy and the world surrounding it, adults are not the adversaries of the protagonists but supportive sidekicks. Culeco Academy stands out as a well-funded institution with dedicated teachers and administrators. It fosters an environment where adults actively respect and listen to students, taking responsibility for their failures and working to rectify them.

The theme of The Foundations of Friendship is evident in the first scene that brings together the novel’s main characters. This scene unfolds like many opening scenes in the genre, with the protagonist and narrator, Sal, finding himself in the principal’s office after confronting Yasmany, a bully. However, at this point, the narrative takes a distinctive turn from the norm. First, when Principal Torres questions Sal about his third consecutive visit in three days, Sal responds boldly, calling out the injustice of blaming him for these incidents: in fact, he was in the office “[b]ecause the students and faculty of Culeco have a lot to learn about how to make school safe for diabetics” (17). His response does not lead to immediate chastisement. Instead, Principal Torres acknowledges the issue, apologizes, and promptly lays out steps to address the oversight. This initial interaction sets the tone for a story that showcases how schools should be, shifting the emphasis toward the young characters’ emotional growth. Second, rather than delighting in his bully receiving just punishment, Sal shows compassion, stepping in to support Gabi’s plea for leniency. This small show of kindness is the first brick laid in the development of the three students’ new relationships.

These chapters also start to hint at The Implications of the Multiverse by emphasizing the humanity of each character, especially the adults. A major lesson of the novel is that all humans make mistakes, even adults, and those mistakes have consequences that can ripple out; it’s therefore important at all ages to address those mistakes openly and with emotional honesty. The adult characters in these chapters, in addition to demonstrating that behavior themselves, encourage the younger characters toward this realization. Principal Torres, for example, spent a year mentoring Yasmany to improve his behavior. She also allows Gabi to step into her private meeting with Sal and Yasmany so Gabi can serve as Yasmany’s attorney, illustrating Principal Torres’s respect for students who advocate for others. Yasmany struggles to articulate his feelings, particularly when those feelings are not related to anger. Allowing Gabi to speak for Yasmany allows the boy fair representation, particularly when opposing Sal, who is exceptionally quick-witted.

The narrative consistently presents excellent teaching examples as well. Sal’s Textile Arts teacher, Dr. Doctorpants, embraces a unique and engaging teaching style and wears his handmade costumes daily as an example. Mrs. Waked, Sal’s Intermediate Theater Workshop teacher, believes her students are geniuses and strives to empower them without getting in their way. Even Mr. Lynott, the gym teacher, adjusts his behavior after learning about Sal’s diabetes, demonstrating genuine concern. The school as a whole strives to foster student autonomy. On the one hand, that means the students tend to be independent and strong willed, taking charge of their own narrative; on the other hand, it also means the students must take responsibility for their actions.

Despite this backdrop of supportive adults and well-funded academics, Culeco has many imperfections. Sal faces bullying, insults, and ostracization, portraying the school’s realistic challenges. After the chicken incident, Culeco’s other students press against walls to avoid coming close to Sal. No one talks to him in class; some call him a “brujo.” No adult seems to notice this ostracization, let alone intervene. The adults demonstrate flaws, such as Principal Torres overlooking Sal’s limited lunchtime, contributing to the story’s authenticity. She sends him out of her office with only 10 minutes left for lunch. Principal Torres overlooking Sal’s need to eat is another marker of her lack of understanding about Sal’s unique challenges. Similarly, Mr. Lynott’s initial effort to support Sal is clumsy, based on limiting Sal’s access to student activities.

Additionally, it is concerning that all the adults expect Sal to be in complete control of his diabetes without their intervention. There is no mention of a school nurse who should be helping Sal manage his diabetes. Although part of this may be to illustrate the freedom offered by Culeco Academy, Sal is still young, and diabetes is challenging for even adults to manage. He should have far more support at the school to manage his diabetes than he does. That said, the adults genuinely try their best, and the students’ prejudices seem surmountable. The independence that Sal enjoys also plays into the theme of The Importance of Dealing with Grief, emphasizing the maturity necessary to manage and process one’s emotions. Overall, these chapters show Sal navigating the challenges of gaining control over his supernatural powers in an imperfect yet supportive setting.