Marcus Vega Doesnt Speak Spanish, Pablo Cartaya
Marcus Vega Doesnt Speak Spanish, Pablo Cartaya
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Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish

Author: Pablo Cartaya

Narrator: Pablo Cartaya

Unabridged: 4 hr 35 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/21/2018

Categories: Children's Fiction


Synopsis

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.

About The Author

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 and is a 2018 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book. 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.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Betsy on October 11, 2018

The other day a woman contacted me and wondered if I could offer any picture book/middle grade/ YA suggestions for a list of various topics. The list consisted of things like “OCD”, “death/grieving”, “trauma”, etc. Some of the subjects were difficult and others too easy (that “death/grieving” catego......more

Goodreads review by Annie ⚜️ on January 20, 2020

My son and I enjoyed this very much. Marcus is a serious boy who doesn’t have it easy with a single mom, little brother with Down syndrome, being 6 feet tall at 14, etc. After getting into a bit of trouble, he goes on a little odyssey around Puerto Rico to find his dad and finds so much more along t......more

Goodreads review by Amy-Jo on May 13, 2019

The audio production of this book is amazing! Truly fantastic! If you have a chance to listen to the audio I highly suggest it. You WILL fall in love with MARCUS, CHARLIE, and his whole family. This book has great characters, great setting, tons of themes to work through. It's really the total packa......more

Goodreads review by Janna on July 23, 2018

Very well written - reads somewhat like a love-story to Puerto Rico and rightfully so. The author beautifully captures the things that make La Isla del Encanta so special! I was married to a PR man and have visited the island many times and reading Marcus' story reminded me of being a gringa seeing......more

Goodreads review by Flynn on September 05, 2018

this book is so good.......more


Quotes

PRAISE FOR MARCUS VEGA DOESN'T SPEAK SPANISH:

Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award 2019-2020 Master List
Sequoyah Intermediate Book Award 2020 Nominees (OKLAHOMA)


*"Excellent." --School Library Journal, starred review

*"An ideal read for boys or reluctant readers." --School Library Connection, starred review

"A compelling read about the meaning of family, identity, and culture." --Kirkus Reviews

"Thoughtful and thought provoking." --Booklist

"Cartaya's follow-up to 2018 Pura Belpré Honor Book The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora (rev. 7/17) shines." --Horn Book

PRAISE FOR THE EPIC FAIL OF ARTURO ZAMORA:

*"Irresistibly exquisite."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*"At turns funny, beautiful, and heartbreaking."--Booklist, starred review

*"A vibrant debut novel about family, friendship, and community."--Publishers Weekly, starred review