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la_ravenreader's review
3.0
A story about Pilar, a 12 year old Dominican girl from Chicago. She is a documentary film maker who is interested in doing a film about what really happened to her mother's cousin, who disappeared in the 1950s in the Dominican Republic. While meeting a college professor that her older sister told her could help her with the documentary she is transported to the land of Zafa. There is much face a war and the truth about herself to get home. A nice story that is more of a 3.5 stars. My minor complaint is that if you couldn't read Spanish some of the story would be confusing.
Thanks to the publisher and Goodreads for sending me this book. It was an enjoyable read
Thanks to the publisher and Goodreads for sending me this book. It was an enjoyable read
magicalbooks's review
4.0
Combining historical events with fantasy elements to help educate middle graders.
I absolutely loved to see the Spanish language mixed into the story in a natural way.
While this story is inspired by true events, it was fun to read how the author incorporated these events into a fantasy world with the idea that it would make it digestible for the targeted age range.
Highly recommended for all readers!
Thank you to #netgalley and #macmillan for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
I absolutely loved to see the Spanish language mixed into the story in a natural way.
While this story is inspired by true events, it was fun to read how the author incorporated these events into a fantasy world with the idea that it would make it digestible for the targeted age range.
Highly recommended for all readers!
Thank you to #netgalley and #macmillan for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
manaledi's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this. It's an interesting mix of Dominican history and culture and Spanglish while also addressing universal themes of family and responsibility.
Admittedly, I'm not the target age for this book, but I do hope that eventually my friends' kids are old enough I can give this to them to read. And, also, I know Julian from college so was biased towards liking this book to begin with, but I would have enjoyed it even if the author were a stranger.
Admittedly, I'm not the target age for this book, but I do hope that eventually my friends' kids are old enough I can give this to them to read. And, also, I know Julian from college so was biased towards liking this book to begin with, but I would have enjoyed it even if the author were a stranger.
greenm29's review
3.0
This book was fun! I really like Pilar. I’ve never read about Dominican mythology and I loved the bits and pieces I learned. I just wish there was more character development. I felt like I barely knew each character. But overall, it was a fun adventure!
sguinn13's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
shellysbookcorner's review
4.0
Thank you Mac Kids Books for my finished copy.
Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa is the first book in a fantasy duology that I really enjoyed. Reading this book taught me about Dominican Republic leader Rafael Trujillo and his brutal regime. I had no idea about this and ended up doing some research on Google. The part of history was broken down easily for kids understand.
I love the way Pilar came into her own while in Zafa. She found her strength and used her voice. I do look forward to the next book in the series. I found the authors note touching as well and it’s so important for these stories to be told authentically!
Trigger: HP references, gentrification.
Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa is the first book in a fantasy duology that I really enjoyed. Reading this book taught me about Dominican Republic leader Rafael Trujillo and his brutal regime. I had no idea about this and ended up doing some research on Google. The part of history was broken down easily for kids understand.
I love the way Pilar came into her own while in Zafa. She found her strength and used her voice. I do look forward to the next book in the series. I found the authors note touching as well and it’s so important for these stories to be told authentically!
Trigger: HP references, gentrification.
krisglomb's review
4.0
Really really liked this book! I thought, compared to a lot of YA books, there was a strong and meaningful emotional character arc for our lead.
My bookclub and I were surprised to find this book was written by a man because of the strong feminist themes, we also appreciated that fully formed female characters were being highlighted in a way where they weren’t constantly being compared to men. The few male characters (of note) in the book are the bad guys (but again, this is in no way a “men vs women” struggle rather an “evil vs good”). This detail is hardly something you would notice if you weren’t looking for it and that subtlety alone I think is worth applause.
The metaphors the author built to describe cultural memory, displacement, and erasure were really powerful. He managed to bring forward dark and difficult historical topics in a way that is appropriate and approachable to the targeted age group.
My only gripe with the book, and this is coming from someone far outside of the target audience, is that I felt the action and battle sequences distracted and, to a certain extent, detracted from the the really strong story of these characters finding themself, their power, and their worthiness within the worlds they reside. I felt like I got the plot climax the book was leading me to, but not the emotional one that would’ve left me thinking about this for months to come. The world building was ok, but again, this felt like a story more about the emotional arc than about the details of the world. Plus, I think enough was put in to be able to build something on if there are later books in the series.
Overall, I highly recommend!
My bookclub and I were surprised to find this book was written by a man because of the strong feminist themes, we also appreciated that fully formed female characters were being highlighted in a way where they weren’t constantly being compared to men. The few male characters (of note) in the book are the bad guys (but again, this is in no way a “men vs women” struggle rather an “evil vs good”). This detail is hardly something you would notice if you weren’t looking for it and that subtlety alone I think is worth applause.
The metaphors the author built to describe cultural memory, displacement, and erasure were really powerful. He managed to bring forward dark and difficult historical topics in a way that is appropriate and approachable to the targeted age group.
My only gripe with the book, and this is coming from someone far outside of the target audience, is that I felt the action and battle sequences distracted and, to a certain extent, detracted from the the really strong story of these characters finding themself, their power, and their worthiness within the worlds they reside. I felt like I got the plot climax the book was leading me to, but not the emotional one that would’ve left me thinking about this for months to come. The world building was ok, but again, this felt like a story more about the emotional arc than about the details of the world. Plus, I think enough was put in to be able to build something on if there are later books in the series.
Overall, I highly recommend!
starryeved's review
3.0
How exactly does a girl become thin air? How
exactly does someone’s name become a kind of quiet?
Intriguing story, concept, and characters, with lots of social/historical commentary and Dominican mythology/folklore, all mixed into one. Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa is a quick read, but I do wish it expounded a little upon some of its commentary and themes to stand out more beyond the otherwise cookie-cutter plot.
'Now it is up to you to decide what you want
to do with that danger that lives in you.'