Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish

Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish
Pablo Cartaya
Viking, 2018 272 pages
Grades 5-8
Realistic Fiction

Marcus is the tallest boy in his middle school. He has a little side business to help out the finances in his single parent home; charging younger kids to protect them from bullies and fining kids who litter. When the school’s meanest bully calls Marcus' younger special needs brother the "R" word, he loses his cool and punches the guy, which leads to big trouble. To get the small family back on track Mom takes Marcus and his brother, Charlie, to Puerto Rico for a change of scenery and a much needed vacation, as well as to connect with family on Marcus' dad's side. The family welcomes the northern Vegas warmly and it is wonderful for all of them to belong to a large, loving extended family. Only, where is Marcus' dad? Marcus thought that they would connect with him and he would become a soulmate and help with the family's problems, but Dad isn't responding to e-mails and is nowhere to be found. Eventually the traveling crew tracks Dad down, only the reunion is not as Marcus expects and he discovers who the real heroes in his life are and his proper place in the world among them.

The sophomore effort of Cartaya following The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora is just as solid as the first. As with Arturo Zamora, this new offering features an extended Latino family and delivers a message of the importance of living within this supportive and nurturing unit. Also, as seen in the first book, Cartaya includes humor, a dastardly villain that readers will love to hate, and enduring quirky characters. I love that this story features Latino culture (even if Marcus is new to it), a character with Down’s syndrome, a single parent family, and a relatable male protagonist to lure boys into reading. Marcus may be big and scary looking, but the reader sees that he's a puppy dog inside; kind to his family and younger kids, helpful in school, and fearful of flying. The father proves realistically disappointing, yet Marcus learns to appreciate some of the other positive adult influences in his life, both within the newly acquainted family and the Mom who has always been there. This book reads quickly and would be a great choice for a reluctant reader, especially one who feels like an outsider much like Marcus. Kids will benefit from tracing Marcus' progression and, perhaps, learn not to jump to conclusions about that kid in the next desk who seems scary because he looks different.