BLOG TOUR: MARCUS VEGA DOESN'T SPEAK SPANISH
I'm thrilled to be able to share my excitement for Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish, by Pablo Cartaya, which releases this week! I am participating in the blog tour for this book thanks to the kind folks at Penguin Young Readers, who provided an advance reader's copy for review.
Marcus Vega is big for his age, and although he often intimidates others because of his appearance, he learns to use it to his advantage. He accepts payment from younger students seeking his protection, walking them to and from school to protect them from bullies. He secretly donates his earnings to the family's Cookie Monster Cash jar, which helps the family pay for emergencies. His single mother works hard to support Marcus and his younger brother Charlie, who also has Down’s syndrome. When Marcus gets in trouble at school, the family decides to regroup and reconnect with a family trip to Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico, Marcus gains a clearer idea of who he is and what he wants out of life. I loved this book for multiple reasons. First of all, the novel perfectly captures the identity struggles of a young boy who feels disconnected from his ethnic roots. Although Marcus was born in Puerto Rico and has a Spanish surname, he does not speak Spanish and knows very little about the island. His father lives in Puerto Rico, and has been absent for most of Marcus' life. It is not until Marcus visits Puerto Rico that he learns more about his Puerto Rican heritage and family members. During his trip he faces fear and discomfort, as well as joy and warmth. Readers who are Puerto Rican will see themselves reflected in the family dynamics and language. Non-Puerto Rican readers will come away with a stronger understanding of Puerto Rico and its relation to the US. (Case in point: Marcus corrects a classmate who remarks that Puerto Rico is another country.)
Marcus and Charlie's relationship is heartwarming and humorous. I appreciated the way in which Charlie's Down's syndrome was portrayed as just one part of a boy who also loves dancing and quoting from Willy Wonka. His Down's takes some time for others to adjust to, and Marcus is protective of his younger brother. This is such an important part of this novel, allowing younger readers be able to empathize with people who may be different from them.
I often struggle to fill my classroom library with books that reflect the lived experiences of my Latino males, thus, this book came along at a great time. I highly recommend this book for readers of all ages, and I recommended it to my fellow educators during last night's #ProjectLITchat discussion!
If you happen to be in the LA area, Pablo Cartaya will be speaking at Vroman's in Pasadena this Thursday at 6:30pm! He'll be in conversation with Lilliam Rivera, so you get to enjoy not one, but two Puerto Rican powerhouses!
Lastly, please make sure you check out the rest of the blog tour!
August 13 – The Alexander Times – Review
August 14 – Candid Ceillie – Author Guest Post: What Media (Books, Movies, Tv Shows) inspired him to be a writer and why?
August 15 – RhythmicBooktrovert – Review
August 16 – Serial Bibliophile – Listicle
WEEK TWO
August 20 – LA Bookworm – Review
August 21 – Confessions of a YA Reader – Author Guest Post: 10 Favorite Things about Puerto Rico August 22 – Mundo de Pepita – Review + Quote
August 23 – Ms. Yingling Reads – Review
BOOK DESCRIPTION
One boy's search for his father leads him to Puerto Rico in this moving middle grade novel, for fans of Ghost and See You in the Cosmos.
Marcus Vega is six feet tall, 180 pounds, and the owner of a premature mustache. When you look like this and you're only in the eighth grade, you're both a threat and a target.
After a fight at school leaves Marcus facing suspension, Marcus's mom decides it's time for a change of environment. She takes Marcus and his younger brother to Puerto Rico to spend a week with relatives they don't remember or have never met. But Marcus can't focus knowing that his father--who walked out of their lives ten years ago--is somewhere on the island. So begins Marcus's incredible journey, a series of misadventures that take him all over Puerto Rico in search of his elusive namesake. Marcus doesn't know if he'll ever find his father, but what he ultimately discovers changes his life. And he even learns a bit of Spanish along the way.
AUTHOR BIO:
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. Learn more about Pablo at pablocartaya.com and follow him on Twitter @phcartaya.