Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish
By Maria Peña,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Boy searches for dad, finds cultural roots in moving tale.
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What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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What's the Story?
In MARCUS VEGA DOESN'T SPEAK SPANISH, 14-year-old eighth grader Marcus gets in trouble for hitting the school bully after he called his younger brother, Charlie, the "R" word. Marcus gets suspended from school for a week, and Marcus' mom decides to take him and Charlie to the island of Puerto Rico to take a break from the stresses back home and to reconnect with family. But Marcus has another plan in mind: He's obsessed with finding his father, whom he hasn't seen in 10 years. How will he track him down? What truths will he learn along the way? Will he find the answers he's been looking for? How will this trip change his life?
Is It Any Good?
This emotional roller coaster of a story about a teen boy's unexpected quest to find the father who abandoned his family hooks readers from the start. The narration is vivid, the dialogue between the characters very genuine: You can almost hear the conversations as you read them. Author Pablo Cartaya includes colorful descriptions of Puerto Rico along with insightful details of the island's culture, folklore, people, and traditions. Yes, Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish, but in the end, he completely understands it all.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the effects of bullying in Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish. How does it make Marcus feel? What should you do if you're bullied or if you see other kids being bullied?
Persons with disabilities and special needs are as important as anyone else. How can people that have such differences help us see the world in many other ways we may not have thought of?
Have you ever felt like you don't fully understand who you are or how you fit in? What role does cultural diversity play in your life? What can you do to learn more about your heritage? Talk about fun things you can do as a family to gain new perspectives.
Book Details
- Author: Pablo Cartaya
- Illustrator: Jorge Lacera
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Adventures, Brothers and Sisters, Great Boy Role Models, History, Middle School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Viking; Penguin Random House LLC
- Publication date: August 21, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 15
- Number of pages: 272
- Available on: Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: April 9, 2019
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