Judy Beckman (The ALAN Review, Fall 1994 (Vol. 22, No. 1))
Hector and Mando travel to Fresno for a weekend visit with Uncle Julio, a photographer who takes aerial shots of neighboring ranches. Accompanying him on a "shoot" in a sneezing, chuffing, sputtering plane filled with rust holes and no parachutes becomes a memorable adventure. Returning home, "Unc" accidentally spots and photographs an armored truck heist. While selling his snaps to the newspaper, Hector and his friend are interviewed and eagerly identify themselves as they recount the details of the robbery. Then two ham-fisted thugs decide to teach these big mouths a lesson. A glossary helps readers with Spanish phrases and words. Like Soto's Taking Sides, Crazy Weekend provides middle schoolers a satisfying, fast-paced read about the unpredictable complications of being an adolescent. This laugh-filled book is also a guaranteed winner for reluctant readers. 1994, Scholastic, 144 pp., $13.95. Ages 12 up.

Elizabeth Bush (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, July/August 1994 (Vol. 47, No. 11))
Hector and Mando escape the boredom of an East L.A. February by spending a few days in Fresno with Hector's hospitable young uncle. Tio Julio, a freelance photographer who ekes a living from aerial vanity shots of prosperous farm spreads, takes the boys along on a shoot. Accidentally capturing frames of an armored car robbery, Julio scents the possibility of earning extra cash by selling the story to the press. Our junior high heroes are carried away by their sudden chance at fame and blurt out too much information to their charming newspaper interviewer. When thugs Freddie Bork and Huey "Crybaby" Walker identify the witnesses, the comic chase is on. The boys ultimately foil their foes in a scene abounding with boobytraps and pratfalls, sure to appeal to Home Alone fans. The contrast between the boys' warmly realistic relationship with Uncle Julio and the slapstick portrayal of the bumbling criminals makes the tone somewhat uneven. Dialogue is peppered with Spanish phrases, and although a comprehensive glossary is appended, some readers may become impatient with frequent flipping to the back pages. Still, this should satisfy the young adolescent who wants something kind of funny, pretty exciting, and not too long. Ad--Additional book of acceptable quality for collections needing more material in the area. Reviewed from galleys (c) Copyright 1994, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 1994, Scholastic, [144p], $13.95. Grades 4-7.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, 1994)
Hoping for a more exotic vacation, Hector and his friend Mando end up spending a weekend in Fresno at the unkempt bachelor apartment of Hector's uncle, a freelance photographer. The boys get more excitement than they bargained for when Uncle Julio accidentally photographs an armed robbery and the boys are featured as eyewitnesses in the local newspaper. The lighthearted and fast-paced style and the use of slang expressions and Spanish words provide an amusing read. Glos. Category: Fiction. 1994, Scholastic, 145pp.. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.