CHARACTER COUNTS: The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
by Pablo Cartaya
Viking, 2017. Fiction. 236 p.
Arturo and his large extended family live in a small town in Florida. When their family-run restaurant is threatened by a developer who wants to put up high rise apartments, Arturo, his family, and his new found friend, Carmen, find strength from the words of Arturo's grandparents, and the Cuban poet, Jose Marti, to face the threat to their family business.

This is a heart warming story. Arturo's family feels authentic, and Arturo's relationship with his grandmother is touching. Readers who come from a large close family will have much to chuckle over in the story, while those who don't can get a glimpse into the sweet and challenging life of those who do. This is a great addition to literature portraying the Latino experience and I expect to see it on some of the award lists next winter.

Comments

If You Like...KPop Demon Hunters

KPop Demon Hunters has been one of the most talked-about movies of the summer. If you loved this movie as much as I did, you don't want the magic (or the music) to stop. Try reading these books that touch on some of the same topics and themes as the animated hit! Brick Dust and Bones By M. R. Fournet New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2023. Fiction. 247 pages. Orphaned Marius works in the family business--as their cemetery's ghost caretaker. However, Marius also moonlights as a monster hunter in order to earn the costly Mystic currency he needs to bring his mother back from the dead. As the window to bring his mother back begins to close, Marius's exploits get more and more dangerous, and he may have set his sights on a monster too big to handle on his own. Like Mira, Marius longs for familial connection, and his work as a monster hunter will satisfy the thrill of demon hunting for fans the movie. Where's Halmoni? By Julie J. Kim Seattle, WA: Little Bigfoot, 2017. Comics. W...

Dog Man Read Alikes

Dog Man is a popular graphic novel for middle graders all about the adventures of a half-man, half-dog police officer. With 14 books in the series, many readers can't get enough of these hilarious stories! If your child is looking for more books like Dog Man, here are some great options to try out. Dex Dingo: World's Best Greatest Ever... Inventor By Greg Foley Los Angeles: Disney-Hyperion, 2024. Comic. 157 pages. Dex Dingo doesn't know what he wants to do when he grows up. His classmates all seem to know, but he just doesn't feel like he is the BEST at anything. When a class assignment challenges him to figure out what he wants to be, he decides he wants to become the world's best ever inventor! Filled with beautifully drawn spreads and kid-approved humor, this book is sure to please any Dog Man fan. Troubling Tonsils Written by Aaron Reynolds Illustrated by Peter Brown New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. Fiction. 71 pages. ...

Review: The Memory Tree : A Holiday Grief Book

The Memory Tree : A Holiday Grief Book Written by Joanna Rowland Illustrated by Thea Baker Minneapolis, MN : Beaming Books, 2025. Picture book An extremely difficult challenge during the holidays is missing loved ones who have passed away. The Memory Tree: A Holiday Grief Book gently addresses the topic of loss during the holidays. Written as a letter to the deceased loved one, a child explains how they get the idea to make ornaments from things that were loved by them. They also collect things that remind them of their lost loved one. The exciting and heart-warming reaction to this idea is that friends from all over also come to the house to bring ornaments they made for the memory tree too! As someone who has lost a child, I am always interested in books about grief and how it is explained to children. The idea for a memory tree wholly validates the child's sense of loss and with it, brings a healing amount of connection. Remembering the fun times and silly times and happy...

Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Search This Blog