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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Yes
Community Read 2022 Middle Grades selection. Theme: "finding home." A delightful middle grades book. I didn't feel like I was reading a kids book; nothing was "dumbed down" or overly simplified. A great story with good pacing. And I liked that the ending didn't feel guaranteed, adding a real page-turner element to the story.
Arturo is a terrific character, well-rounded and authentic. The strength of this book is the portrayal of Arturo's relationship with his large, extended family, particularly his grandparents. The plot at times feels a little too easily resolved--like the way a situational comedy solves everything in a half an hour, but overall this is a well-written book featuring a diverse cast of characters.
*Digital review copy from Net Galley
*Digital review copy from Net Galley
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-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
This was a good MG book about one family's fight to expand and save their restaurant from a sleazy developer and his flashy expansion plans, told from the viewpoint of the preteen son. As someone who has watched high rise after high rise, innumerable "luxury" multifamily housing complexes, and tons of multiuse retail/dining areas built in her city in just 10 years, I feel for the Zamora family's plight. I thought Cartaya did an excellent job of balancing the story of the restaurant and its impact on the community, with the thoughts & feelings of the protagonist as he deals with new feelings for a girl and the stress a child feels when adults are going through big things. I really enjoyed this.
Another excellent audiobook (I've been on a good streak lately) and a charming tale of a middle schooler learning to find his voice and be brave. This would pair very nicely with Front Desk by Kelly Yang.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
There is a Mexican Restaurant in my town called Muy Bueno(very good). The restaurant was originally run by the family members and a few other people. There was an older woman who only spoke Spanish and her daughters who worked as servers. My family knew every single person who worked in the restaurant and they knew us. We went there once a week for a long time. They had, what I thought to be, the best Mexican food in town. Now while this restaurant sounds like the one in the book, Muy Bueno never had to deal with a rampant business mogul trying to take over the town.
La Cocina de Isla or Island Kitchen is a true example of what family-run businesses look like. It was so much like Muy Bueno that it could have been real. I think that's what makes this book so good and so open. Especially the way Abuela talks to Arturo in Spanish and he responds in English. You don't have to know Spanish to read this book because of the context in which it is said. And underneath all that fighting Wilfrido Pipo, there is a little of a love story between Arturo and Carmen. I have never seen a 13-year-old kiss someone in real life but apparently, it's possible.
La Cocina de Isla or Island Kitchen is a true example of what family-run businesses look like. It was so much like Muy Bueno that it could have been real. I think that's what makes this book so good and so open. Especially the way Abuela talks to Arturo in Spanish and he responds in English. You don't have to know Spanish to read this book because of the context in which it is said. And underneath all that fighting Wilfrido Pipo, there is a little of a love story between Arturo and Carmen. I have never seen a 13-year-old kiss someone in real life but apparently, it's possible.
I liked the closeness of the Zamora family, but I felt like the Jose Marti theme could have been utilized better somehow. This is speculation because I don't know anything about the man or his writing. The city's decision at the end was abruptly glossed over by a time skip in the epilogue.
I'm a sucker for Hispanic culture and big families. Arturo is loyal to his friends, his family, and his family business. When the family restaurant is threatened by a real-estate developer, the fight is on to save what he's known forever.
Though the attempt to save the place his Abuelo and Abuela made into their own, Arturo finds more than friendship with a girl, follows in legacy culinary footsteps, and grows into his own person.
My middle school students would love this. Recommend for grades 5-8.
Though the attempt to save the place his Abuelo and Abuela made into their own, Arturo finds more than friendship with a girl, follows in legacy culinary footsteps, and grows into his own person.
My middle school students would love this. Recommend for grades 5-8.
3.75?? arturo was a great character I like his character, his personality, how he’s a family type person. the restaurant was awesome, the family was great it was cozy, made you feel like you were either in the restaurant or part of the family. the whole does he like his cousin wasn’t a bad thing either, keep in mind that actually wasn’t his cousin just like in hispanic or latino families they call people that aren’t actually their family, family you know what I mean so it’s OK for them to get together because they’re not actually cousins but it all depends on the family so I just want to say it was a great book I love the family and the restaurant. keeping up hope whenever something bad would happen like with the pipo guy and when the grandma died I found that part really sad but it also brought a lotta good things for the family even though they lost a very important person anyways good book recommend it
CW:
This is a great conversation starter about gentrification and the right of communities to self-determine their way forward, but told in a such a way that middle school students could easily access the story. It definitely straddles the line between MG and YA as well, which I'm excited about for my classroom.
I loved: authentic, awkward 13-year-old voice, infusion of Spanish language & Cuban culture into the storyline, the pure family-focused energy & the FOOD.
I didn't love: the overall pacing felt off in places, and I wanted more of the connection between José Martí and abuelo's storylines with the present day narrative.
Rating Breakdown
Storytelling: 6
Characterization: 8
Artistry: 6
Lasting Impact: 8
Emotional Connection: 8
Teachability: +1
Representation: +2
find more of my conversations about books on Instagram!
Spoiler
death of a loved oneThis is a great conversation starter about gentrification and the right of communities to self-determine their way forward, but told in a such a way that middle school students could easily access the story. It definitely straddles the line between MG and YA as well, which I'm excited about for my classroom.
I loved: authentic, awkward 13-year-old voice, infusion of Spanish language & Cuban culture into the storyline, the pure family-focused energy & the FOOD.
I didn't love: the overall pacing felt off in places, and I wanted more of the connection between José Martí and abuelo's storylines with the present day narrative.
Rating Breakdown
Storytelling: 6
Characterization: 8
Artistry: 6
Lasting Impact: 8
Emotional Connection: 8
Teachability: +1
Representation: +2
find more of my conversations about books on Instagram!