You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
jennybeastie 's review for:
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
by Pablo Cartaya
As expected, it wasn't much of an Epic Fail -- I have to admit that was one of my small disappointments in the book, that the Epic Fail was really almost nonexistent. In fact, the part that Arturo seemed to think was an epic fail was a total anticlimax.
However, it was a great book, and I get that the naming is meant to pull kids in. Wonderful centering on the importance of family and embracing family traditions -- I particularly love the cousins who aren't really cousins (chosen family is important!) Beautiful portrayal of a close relationship between Arturo and his Abuela. Cool José Martà tie-in (yay poetry and activism). Excellent message of activism and holding onto hope, even when you feel like big changes are inevitable. Hooray for food celebrations, and latinx culture and sections of dialogue in Spanish that aren't necessarily translated.
Set in Miami. There are a couple of chapters that are suddenly set in play-dialogue, which is a little unexpected, but does help move the pacing along. The first one was confusing, because I wasn't sure if it was meant to be a real scene or a dream sequence. There are bits in verse, in letters, and in tweet conversations, too -- nice format changes, keep readers on their toes. Very boy-crush romance focused, be warned (if you don't like romance in your book at all). Main characters seem like they are high twelves/low thirteens, so solidly middle grade.
Another small thing that confused me is that there's a persistent rosebush theme, and they are always referred to as floribunda bushes -- is this a cultural thing? a Miami thing? It took me a while to figure out that they were talking about rose bushes at all. There's also a weird moment when Carmen brings a floribunda to the restaurant and Arturo focuses on one white rose, but something about the writing makes it sound like there is one white rose on a bush that is otherwise not white roses, which would be incredibly weird, and probably I am overthinking this. Sorry, gardening nerd.
However, it was a great book, and I get that the naming is meant to pull kids in. Wonderful centering on the importance of family and embracing family traditions -- I particularly love the cousins who aren't really cousins (chosen family is important!) Beautiful portrayal of a close relationship between Arturo and his Abuela. Cool José Martà tie-in (yay poetry and activism). Excellent message of activism and holding onto hope, even when you feel like big changes are inevitable. Hooray for food celebrations, and latinx culture and sections of dialogue in Spanish that aren't necessarily translated.
Set in Miami. There are a couple of chapters that are suddenly set in play-dialogue, which is a little unexpected, but does help move the pacing along. The first one was confusing, because I wasn't sure if it was meant to be a real scene or a dream sequence. There are bits in verse, in letters, and in tweet conversations, too -- nice format changes, keep readers on their toes. Very boy-crush romance focused, be warned (if you don't like romance in your book at all). Main characters seem like they are high twelves/low thirteens, so solidly middle grade.
Another small thing that confused me is that there's a persistent rosebush theme, and they are always referred to as floribunda bushes -- is this a cultural thing? a Miami thing? It took me a while to figure out that they were talking about rose bushes at all. There's also a weird moment when Carmen brings a floribunda to the restaurant and Arturo focuses on one white rose, but something about the writing makes it sound like there is one white rose on a bush that is otherwise not white roses, which would be incredibly weird, and probably I am overthinking this. Sorry, gardening nerd.