Scan barcode
bookinitwithahtiya's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
kimmarieb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
popthebutterfly's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa
Author: Julian Randall
Book Series: Pilar Ramirez Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Dominican American MC, Dominican characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, mythology, Dominican Republic
Publication Date: March 1, 2022
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 10+ (parental death, violence, gore, 1 HP reference, war mentioned)
Explanation of Above: There is a parental death mentioned briefly. There is some violence and small blood gore. There are mentioned of war and there is 1 HP reference.
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Pages: 304
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Pilar Violeta “Purp” Ramirez’s world is changing, and she doesn’t care for it one bit. Her Chicago neighborhood is gentrifying and her chores have doubled since her sister, Lorena, left for college. The only constant is Abuela and Mami’s code of silence around her cousin Natasha—who vanished in the Dominican Republic fifty years ago during the Trujillo dictatorship.
When Pilar hears that Lorena’s professor studies such disappearances, she hops on the next train to take matters into her own hands. After snooping around the professor's empty office, she discovers a folder with her cousin’s name on it . . . and gets sucked into the blank page within.
She lands on Zafa, an island swarming with coconut-shaped demons, butterfly shapeshifters, and a sinister magical prison where her cousin is being held captive. Pilar will have to go toe-to-toe with the fearsome Dominican boogeyman, El Cuco, if she has any hope of freeing Natasha and getting back home.
Review: This book revolves around a girl who, after wondering about her missing cousin Natasha, finds herself in Zafa after opening a file on her sister’s professor’s desk. It’s up to her to defeat El Cuco to free Natasha and get back home. For the most part I really loved this book! I loved the Percy Jackson feel to it and I loved the magic system. The book did good to show a lot of action scenes in quick secession and I loved how there wasn’t a down moment since picking up the read. The book did well with the historical aspect, teaching readers about DR leader Rafael Trujilo and his regime.
The only issue I had with the book is that it felt a little too choppy and it was a bit too fast paced for me.
Verdict: It was good! Highly recommend.
Book: Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa
Author: Julian Randall
Book Series: Pilar Ramirez Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Dominican American MC, Dominican characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, mythology, Dominican Republic
Publication Date: March 1, 2022
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 10+ (parental death, violence, gore, 1 HP reference, war mentioned)
Explanation of Above: There is a parental death mentioned briefly. There is some violence and small blood gore. There are mentioned of war and there is 1 HP reference.
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Pages: 304
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Pilar Violeta “Purp” Ramirez’s world is changing, and she doesn’t care for it one bit. Her Chicago neighborhood is gentrifying and her chores have doubled since her sister, Lorena, left for college. The only constant is Abuela and Mami’s code of silence around her cousin Natasha—who vanished in the Dominican Republic fifty years ago during the Trujillo dictatorship.
When Pilar hears that Lorena’s professor studies such disappearances, she hops on the next train to take matters into her own hands. After snooping around the professor's empty office, she discovers a folder with her cousin’s name on it . . . and gets sucked into the blank page within.
She lands on Zafa, an island swarming with coconut-shaped demons, butterfly shapeshifters, and a sinister magical prison where her cousin is being held captive. Pilar will have to go toe-to-toe with the fearsome Dominican boogeyman, El Cuco, if she has any hope of freeing Natasha and getting back home.
Review: This book revolves around a girl who, after wondering about her missing cousin Natasha, finds herself in Zafa after opening a file on her sister’s professor’s desk. It’s up to her to defeat El Cuco to free Natasha and get back home. For the most part I really loved this book! I loved the Percy Jackson feel to it and I loved the magic system. The book did good to show a lot of action scenes in quick secession and I loved how there wasn’t a down moment since picking up the read. The book did well with the historical aspect, teaching readers about DR leader Rafael Trujilo and his regime.
The only issue I had with the book is that it felt a little too choppy and it was a bit too fast paced for me.
Verdict: It was good! Highly recommend.
laurensbookvibes's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
qtpocreads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Violence, Kidnapping, Death, and Racism
shereadytoread's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
4.5
This book is basically a fantasy retelling of the end of Trujillo dictatorship and it is wonderfully written. The elements of Dominican folklore, a great adventure plot as well as a wonderful cast was fun to read. I think this is one of the few MG books where we see the effects of actual violence on the MC but it was very well done.
sanjariti's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa is fast paced and fun while also dealing with the heavy subject of intergenerational trauma. The writing is fast-paced and really embodies the voice of 12 year old Pilar.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Genocide, Grief, Violence, Death, and Kidnapping
Minor: Racism
amandadevoursbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Pilar Ramirez is a 12 year old cracker jack film maker. She's from Chicago, lives with her mother, grandmother and sister, and goes by the name Purp. When chasing down a lead about her mother's cousin who disappeared in Trujillo era Dominican Republic, she's sucked into Zafa.
Zafa is connected to Dominican Republic. It's filled with ciguapos, a Bruja, and dark, black dust that protects them from El Cuco and his minions.
Through the course of the book, Pilar races to save the people of Zafa and solve the mystery of her beloved cousin.
The story is rich. Pilar's spunky voice paints it well. In between the action and the mystery, we learn about the history of Trujillo, the impact of generational grief, and the power of stories.
It was an utterly stunning read, and I cannot wait for the next book.
Zafa is connected to Dominican Republic. It's filled with ciguapos, a Bruja, and dark, black dust that protects them from El Cuco and his minions.
Through the course of the book, Pilar races to save the people of Zafa and solve the mystery of her beloved cousin.
The story is rich. Pilar's spunky voice paints it well. In between the action and the mystery, we learn about the history of Trujillo, the impact of generational grief, and the power of stories.
It was an utterly stunning read, and I cannot wait for the next book.