"María Pérez-Gómez takes readers on a captivating and magical adventure that intertwines love for family, heritage, and music with a harmony that every person can feel in relation to their personal history, regardless of their ethnic origin. The lessons sprinkled throughout the story bring hope and a renewed sense of the gift of the miraculous that we all carry in the deepest part of our being. The themes that unite us all across the world shine through the characters, revealing that we have much in common as human beings, no matter where in the world we come from."

—Ruth Déborah Casillas, M.S. Ed Bilingual Education Professor Buffalo Public Schools

2023 International Latino Book Awards - Honorable Mention for Best Chapter Fiction Book

As an educator, I recommend the book "The Magical Closet Mystery." María Pérez-Gómez transports us from Buffalo, New York to Puerto Rico and speaks to us about history, culture, music, and customs through an imaginary adventure where three children long for their native island and their father. They are transported to El Yunque in Puerto Rico in the form of three animals. In her book, she teaches us about the history of the Taíno Indians, who were the first inhabitants of Puerto Rico, and how they contributed to our history. She also tells us about the coquí, the rooster, the Puerto Rican parrot, and the flamboyán tree. She describes these animals and this tree in a way that even if you haven't experienced living in Puerto Rico, you can imagine them. She also talks about typical foods, like rice pudding, and describes them so deliciously that you want to taste them. On a more serious note, she talks about how these three children face the reality of losing their father. The book can be used as a point of cultural, social, emotional and psychological well-being discussion."

—Wilda Ramos-Morales Retired Elementary Education Professor President 2007-2008, New York State Association for Bilingual Education (NYSABE)

“A world where everything you imagine is possible. Where music, pride in your roots, your family, your language, and the hope for a better country invite readers to immerse themselves in this magical reality, which is just as achievable for us as it is for the protagonists of the story. “El misterio del clóset mágico” (The Magical Closet Mystery) is a necessary read, rich in culture and imagination, and representative of the challenges that many of us experience when leaving our home country, regardless of age or the circumstances that lead us to it. Thank you, María, for reminding us that we all carry that magic within us."

—Fabiola Méndez Cuatrista/Singer/Composer