Doña Quixote: Rise of the Knight

By Rey Terciero and Monica M. Magaña

Informational Resources:

Author Information:

Rey Terciero's website

https://www.rexogle.com/

Illustrator Information:

Monica Maga͠na

https://www.monicamart.com/

Activities & Resources:

Don Quixote Facts for Kids:

https://kids.kiddle.co/Don_Quixote

Who are Knights?

https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/knight/353343

Texas History and Facts (6:51)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFJnDowokG4

Donkeys

https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/donkey/353062

Ballet Dance Moves (3:43)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcjlZORdMfI&t=36s

Nagual facts for kids

https://kids.kiddle.co/Nagual

How to Draw Cartoon Characters (5:07)

https://www.youtube.com./watch?v=K_u9xXTL_s4

Spanish Lessons

https://spanishmama.com/spanish-for-kids-starter-kit/

Friendship

How to be an awesome friend

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/friend

Create a friendship checklist

https://www.canva.com/worksheets/templates/friendship/

MakerSpace Activities:

Popsicle stick treehouse project (5:14)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnPYjiLqlTQ

Make your no sew dragon mask and cape

https://liagriffith.com/homemade-halloween-costumes-no-sew-dragon-mask-and-cape/

Cardboard Knight Helmet

https://www.instructables.com/Cardboard-Knight-Helmet-1/

Make a Cardboard Shield (2:07)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmTJUjSG_PY

Build a LEGO arch (1:58)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU1xeWxfDHE

Discussion Questions:

Don Quixote is a story about a knight a long time ago who wanted to be a hero much like Lucia in this graphic novel.  How do the graphic illustrations add to the storytelling of Lucia and her desire to be a great hero like her grandpa?

What is the role of humor in the graphic novel? Lucia and Sandro are close friends and there is a lot of humor centered around their connection, the dog and donkey and more.  Does the humor add to the story?

Do you feel this graphic novel format of this powerful superhero story is a great adaptation?

Lucia and her family appear to be very close in the beginning of the story.  How do you think this connection helps the story?

Sandro and Lucia talk about their friendship and you see a friendship list they keep in the treehouse.  Have you and a close friend ever made a friendship list of rules to follow?

How would you describe the relationship between Lucia and Sandro in the beginning of the story? What does loyalty mean to them?

Trust is a big issue with Lucia and Sandro.  How do they work through their differences?  Do you have a friend where you have had to work through a problem or differences that you disagreed on?

Sandro talks about his brothers and you see that they and his family are hard on him for loving dance.  Do you feel they are still a close family like Lucia's even though they have differences?

How does Lucia feel about her family? Her Grandparents? Are they special to her?

What roles do the pets play in the story? Do you feel the story would be the same without them?

Some of the adult characters in this graphic novel seem like they might be trustworthy in the beginning, like the mayor, but we see what happens when Lucia discovers who she really is.  Do you think this makes her cautious when trusting other adults to help her?

Lucia talks with her grandmother about her grandfather's story and how it upsets her that others think he was "loco" or crazy.  Other than her love for her grandfather, what do you see is Lucia's motivation to continue this quest even though many around her are against it and she gets in trouble?

The ghost Lucia befriends in the story seems like someone she can trust in the beginning.  Did you have your doubts about the presence of the ghost or did you trust her as an ally as well?

How do the illustrations by Monica Maga͠na add to the story of Lucia's quest to be more like her grandfather and be a hero?  Do her drawings help you envision how powerful these ghosts can be?  

Do you feel that Lucia is a good friend to help someone stand up to bullies?  Did she stand by Sandro?

Lucia was punished a lot for her heroic adventures.  Do you feel like her family or her mother gave her a chance to explain her thinking behind what she was doing?

Does the graphic novel provide a more empathetic portrayal of Lucia and her relationship with her grandfather? How does the art influence your emotional connection with the character?

Some of the town's parents, Lucia and Sandro's in particular, are forced to work for the Mayor to build his mystery structure.  How did Lucia find out what the tower or arch was for?  Did she believe it?

Throughout the story as Lucia gets in trouble for behaving much like her grandfather, we see many of the characters that are grumpy or people she tries to help, don't want to interact with her or are frustrated by her help.  Once they discover the true intentions of the Mayor and his structure, do you feel this changed their minds and showing Lucia as a true hero will connect them in kindness going forward?

Do you know the original story of Don Quixote? Don Quixote is the story of an aging knight who follows along with ideas of being a hero.  Do you feel this graphic adaptation keeps up with this story?  What makes it more appealing to read?

Book Talk Teasers:

Read the reader’s theater for Doña Quixote: Rise of the Knight by Rey Terciero.

Watch the book trailer on the Texas Bluebonnet Award website.

Read Alikes: 

Aguirre, Jorge Augusto. Monster Locker: Volume 1. For hundreds of years, something in the basement of Glenfield Middle School has waited for its chance to open a portal into the realm of monsters. Now its time has come, and the school is going to need a hero. Pablo Ortiz . . . isn’t that guy. All he wants to do is lie low and get through middle school in one piece. So when Pablo accidentally opens the portal and summons a vengeful Aztec goddess, he’ll need the butt-kicking skills of his new friends and the wisdom passed down by his abuela to take her on. (NoveList Plus)

Chainani, Soman.  The School for good and Evil.Best friends Sophie (princess wannabe) and Agatha (witchy loner) are headed (via kidnapping) to the School for Good and Evil, but their assumed destinies are reversed. (NoveList Plus)

Chantler, Scott. Squire & Knight. Staying behind to catch up on some reading while his inept boss, Sir Kelton, rides off to slay a demonic dragon, Squire soon notices something isn't quite right about this cursed village and seeks to uncover its secrets. (NoveList Plus)

Cuevas, Adrianna. The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez. A Cuban American boy must use his secret ability to communicate with animals to save the inhabitants of his town when they are threatened by a tule vieja, a witch that transforms into animals. (NoveList Plus)

Rioux, Jo-Anne. The Golden Twine. Suri, an orphaned street urchin traveling with a merchant caravan, unwittingly comes into possession of a magical twine that holds powerful abilities, leading her into a world of cat-like shape-shifters and a dangerous quest involving a monstrous creature while navigating a treacherous family with their own beastly secrets and a prince on the hunt for the ultimate monster. (NoveList Plus)

Reviews:

Booklist (November 1, 2023 (Online))

Grades 3-7. Lucia Castillo dreams of being a knight like her abuelo, but everyone believes he was just a crazy old man. Years after his death, Lucia and her best friend, Sandro, continue to train and follow the knight's code. However, being a knight doesn't always go as planned: when a water tower crunches the mayor's car, Lucia is to blame. She soon finds herself in the attic of her house, where she uncovers abuelo's helmet, and when she puts it on, she realizes not only that the world her abuelo spoke about is real but also that there is something evil trying to take over the town, and it's up to her to save the day. This playful take on Cervantes' classic novel plunges readers into the fantastic world of Aztec mythology and provides a peek into various duendes, or magical creatures, living among people. The illustrations are crisp with vivid colors and exhibit excellent movement-to-movement panel transitions, and the frequent use of Spanish throughout the dialogue nicely reflects Lucia's Mexican heritage and the Texas setting.