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A Review of Pablo Cartaya's Book Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish Blog Tour August 2018

I AM ALWAYS ON THE LOOK OUT FOR BOOKS ON HISPANIC THEMES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN & TEENS... each year I write a blog post with summer reading suggestions based on the many great books I find. I love having my students include these books in their reading, and I feel as a Spanish teacher, it's really important for me to plant those seeds of interest wherever and whenever I can! This year, a colleague of mine, Emily, suggested Pablo Cartaya, author of The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora. Particularly appealing because Cartaya's protagonists are boys (it is so challenging to find books that feature boys as the main character in this genre right now!), I was thrilled to include him in my 2018 recommendations list. (Psst! You can win a copy! After you read my review, enter OUR RAFFLE BELOW! Winner will be announced on Twitter, Thursday, Aug 23 :)

Penguin Books Blog Tour Pablo Cartaya

FLASH FORWARD to the end of July- contacted by Penguin books, I was graciously sent an advanced copy of Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish, set to come out in August and invited to participate in Cartaya's BLOG TOUR, a great way to get the word out about a fantastic book! A HUGE thank you to Penguin Books for this invitation! Written for young teens, Marcus Vega is perfect for middle and high school students- and adults!

Book Review of Cartaya's Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish

MARCUS VEGA starts out at Marcus' school in Philadelphia, and instantly pulls you into the trials and tribulations so familiar to many middle schoolers... feeling like an outcast, unsuccessfully navigating the social mores of school, being different. Oh, and having a non traditional family situation where you, as the kid, need to take on more responsibilities in order to help out. The kicker for me personally came when it was revealed that Marcus hadn't seen his father in over 10 years, and wanted desperately to know more about him.... this emotional need to know more is very, very familiar to me. My father died in a car accident three months before I born, so I've spent my entire life wanting to know more. I connected immediately with Marcus, but you will, too. He's just so real.

THE MEAT OF THE BOOK takes place in PUERTO RICO, where Marcus, his younger brother Charlie, and his mother head after Marcus is suspended for hitting a fellow student in defense of his brother, who has Down syndrome. Ostensibly to get away from the challenges of life and do a reset, the trip to Puerto Rico becomes a mission for Marcus to discover a family he didn't know he had, an island and a language that are part of his heritage but about which he knows next to nothing, and of course, his father, who is supposedly somewhere on the island. It is this process of discovery which highlights what constitutes our identity- and as much as the emotional power of Marcus' search for his father resonated with me on a very personal level, it was the evolving and burgeoning sense of identity that Marcus found that ultimately captured me as a language teacher.

Pablo Cartaya
CARTAYA MASTERFULLY COMBINES THIS SEARCH FOR IDENTITY with vivid scenes from Puerto Rico- sounds, smells, and views that come right off the page as you are reading them. Couple this with Spanish phrases sprinkled throughout, the reader gets an immediate sense of the culture Marcus is slowly coming to know and appreciate. As a Spanish teacher, I am particularly thrilled with how accessible and tangible these cultural elements are-I imagine one of my students (a non heritage speaker) reading this book and getting an authentic taste of Puerto Rico, a key component when I am recommending a book. Cartaya skillfully highlights how these elements are part of one's identity, and how language, food, sights, sounds, memories and more are all key to who we are.

THIS IS THE PIECE I LEAVE YOU WITH,  because I think this book is a fantastic read for any child, but most specifically those kiddos who straddle two worlds, whatever two those may be. I have had many students over my 25+ year teaching career who have tried to hide their home language, whether it be Spanish, Russian, Czech, Vietnamese, you name it. Marcus' journey sends a strong message to the reader that being a blend of languages and cultures is A GOOD THING.... there are so many kids who need to hear this, particularly in these times!

Book Review of Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish

Pablo Cartaya's novels explore identity, place, and the spaces in between. His debut novel about a boy standing up for his community, The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora, received three starred reviews. When Pablo isn't writing, he's spending time with his family or dreaming of his next visit to Puerto Rico. You can learn more about him at pablocartaya.com and follow him on Twitter @phcartaya. You can find Cartaya's books at your local book store, or through Amazon- grab it today!


:) Julie

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipMk0RMH8MFmOB_yJMuvVMH7xBx_qfLl8oqOQXbA

15 comments

  1. Sounds like a great book! I will check it out for my 5th/6th graders this year! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. It is! And it would be a great addition for any middle school library! :)

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  2. I loved this review. The book sounds like a perfect addition to my school library. I am going to Amazon to order it now! I hope preorder is available!

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    1. Yay! I am sooooo happy! It really is fantastic, and you're right, perfect for any school library!

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    2. Oh, and please do follow me as I have another blog tour book review coming up September 5th... Sonia Sotomayor's new book! :)

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  3. I am excited to share this book with my co-workers. Thank you!

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    1. I am thrilled to hear this! I know they will like it, too! :) Julie

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  4. What a fantastic review! Thank you so much! This sounds like an amazing book, and I think my high school students would easily make connections to their own lives, too! I teach Spanish I, and today was our 3rd day back to school after a relaxing summer break. Starting in September our daily schedule will change to include Advisory four days a week. Being that we have 15 minutes a day set aside for reading, this book would be the perfect choice to read as a class. The content, while being relevant and engaging, sounds like it leaves readers begging for more (or at least looking forward to continuing it the next day)! I'm definitely headed to Amazon after posting this...thank you, again! :-)

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    1. Hello! I am so incredibly glad to hear this, and you are right! Cartaya writes in a very accessible, real manner, it will no doubt resonate with your students- let me know how it goes! :) Julie

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  5. What a great event!! sounds like a fun book!!!

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  6. I love this review- it is so important for all of our stydents to have representation. glad that th s one discusses cultural identity!

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  7. Sounds fantastic. Off to purchase for my niece going into 6th grade with a passion for Puerto Rico.

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