Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya - ADVISABLE

Each Tiny Spark Pablo Cartaya, 315 pages. Kokila (Penguin), 2019. $17.00

Content: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

12yo Emilia Rosa Torres is easily distracted. Besides her ADHD, she has a lot going on - her father is recently returned from deployment, her mother is working out of town, and her homework is tricky - especially her social studies assignment: to make a travel guide of her town Merryville. Emilia's abuela is from Cuba, so she decides to focus on the local grocery store and Spanish speaking members of the community - where they work and what brought them there. Her choices put a strain on her friendship with Clarissa, her dad just isn't the same anymore - and he won't talk about it. 

Full of lots of current issues - immigration, school boundary changes, culture differences, post deployment syndrome, and family dynamics, there's a lot going on. This is a great opportunity for the hispanic child to see herself in Emilia. Cartaya has interspersed the dialogue with Spanish, which, in context doesn't need to be translated - it contributed to the multicultural feel of this book. I would have liked to see more welding, it wasn't really that important to the plot. Includes an author's note which contains a list of resources for more information about the topics covered, and a challenge to be the spark that makes a difference.

Lisa Librarian

Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish by Pablo Cartaya - ADVISABLE

Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish by Pablo Cartaya 249 pages. Viking Books for Young readers 2018 $17

Language: G (0 swears, 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Marcus Vega is the biggest kid at school, but he isn't a bully - in fact, he uses his size to start a business protecting the other students from the bully, Stephen, by walking them home (for $10 a week). He also enforces the school rules, charging kids a "tax" when he see them violating the trash rule or the cell phone rule. He's helping out - his dad left the family for Puerto Rico years ago, and mom is struggling to make ends meet. He's a nice guy, but when Stephen calls Marcus' brother Charlie, who has Downs Syndrome, the "R" word, Marcus loses his temper and punches Stephen, getting himself suspended. Since mom works for the airlines, and the suspension coincides with spring break, she packs up the two boys and takes them to Puerto Rico to visit with family, and possibly find their elusive father.

Cartaya weaves in a lot of Spanish, but it's all in context and translated by the characters when necessary, so it feels natural and it's ok that I don't understand everything, neither did Marcus. The look at beautiful Puerto Rico, it's culture and people was marvelous! I really like the sense of family being more than just your parents and siblings - Marcus found so many welcoming relatives, even distant ones. A great read for kids whose culture may be different from their parents, and I know my Spanish speakers with love it!

Lisa Librarian

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya - ESSENTIAL

Cartaya, Pablo The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora, 236 pages. Viking (Penguin), 2017. $17.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (teen kiss);  Violence: G.

MS - ESSENTIAL

Arturo's mother is the head chef in a family restaurant owned by his abuela. It is a very popular place, so when the property next door comes up for lease, the family starts making plans for expansion. But when a slick land developer comes into town and wants to use the property to build a high rise apartment (and his plans include demolishing the restaurant) Arturo must rally his friends, family and even the community. It's more than the restaurant - community is family. 

Several sub plots - Arturo's growing interest in poetry and his mother's god daughter Carmen, plus the health challenges of his abuela make this a sweet and poignant read . But it's also very funny. Lots of Spanish thrown in, I thought it would bother me that there wasn't a glossary - but the context is great and it didn't confuse. Looking forward to recommending this.

Lisa Librarian

Tina Cocolina: Queen of the Cupcakes by Pablo Cartaya

Cartaya, Pablo & Howard, Martin. Tina Cocolina: Queen of the Cupcakes, illustrated by Kirsten Richards. Random House, 2010. $16.99. PICTURE BOOK. Tina Cocolina was a cupcake without a topping and she couldn’t compete in the Cream of the Top Cupcake contest without one. Most of her classmates already had toppings like spicy buttercream and triple berry fudge swirl. Tina looked everywhere—a peanut butter brownie patch, fudge sauce stream, caramel tree, but no toppings would stick, no matter how sticky. Discouraged she came home and tried to create a fake topping. It failed. Her parents told Tina not to worry and that at the right time she would find her topping. She went to the contest, where Candyce was rude and handed her a banana peel and strawberry leaves. It was just the inspiration she needed to find her own topping and win. The story’s ending is too sugary sweet, but the concept that different children find talents at different times is an important one. The illustrations are bright and tasty. Chef Howard Martin shares cupcake and topping recipes that correspond with characters; parental assistance and supervision needed. Pre-K, EL – ADVISABLE. Samantha, Public Librarian.

A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation by Pablo Cartaya - OPTIONAL

A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation by Pablo Cataya, 270 pages. Kokila (Penguin), 2025. $19.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The summer before 8th grade is nothing 13yo Gonzalo hoped it would be.  Worst - his father recently passed away. Also elderly grandfather may be the author of a beloved children’s fantasy book series and movie franchise, but he hasn’t ever given Gonzalo an autographed copy of his books, nor come to visit his school - now Gonzalo is stuck with him on his latest book tour?  And Ganzalo’s mother heads up the entire book/movie empire and is in high gear because the final book comes out this week and then the newest movie two days after. Now Gonzalo is stuck in an ancient car, driving from California to Miami.  How can the two find any common ground? 

I was expecting a fantasy book, and that is completely not what this is - I am afraid kids who pick this up will be disappointed, like I was. Ganzalo, his grandfather, and his mom are so dysfunctional and uncommunicative that I was angry more often than I was interested.  All of them needed a good scolding to pull their heads out of their butts - though I have more sympathy for Gonzalo - he is a child - the other two just act like children. Adults who don’t think this was going to be a fantasy will probably like it more.  Only your best realistic fiction readers will enjoy it.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS