The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
Book - 2017
When his family's restaurant and Cuban American neighborhood in Miami are threatened by a greedy land developer, thirteen-year-old Arturo, joined by Carmen, a cute poetry enthusiast, fight back, discovering the power of poetry and protest through untold family stories and the work of José Martí.
Publisher:
New York : Viking, [2017]
ISBN:
9781101997239
1101997230
1101997230
Characteristics:
236 pages ; 22 cm



Opinion
From Library Staff
Some kids go to camp for the summer but Arturo Zamora has a job. Well, three jobs, actually: save the family restaurant, get the girl and make his abuela proud. What could possibly go wrong?
Chicago Public Library recommends this title as one of the best books published in 2017.
Thirteen year-old Arturo is set for the best summer ever: playing basketball with his friends, cooking with his abuela and starting his first part-time job at the family restaurant. The restaurant, La Cocina de la Isla, is the family’s pride and joy and just about to expand when a local developer... Read More »
From the critics

Community Activity
Age
Add Age Suitabilityb
blue_shark_2181
Jul 17, 2020
blue_shark_2181 thinks this title is suitable for between the ages of 9 and 16

Comment
Add a CommentThis book details the struggles that Arturo faces, how his confidence wavers at the sight of his friend Carmen who lives in Madrid, and how a greedy land developer can ruin the restaurant his family runs, La Concina de la Isla. I loved the suspense at the end of each chapter, and how Arturo fights against the land developer, Wilfrido Pipo, owner of many other high-rise buildings. Find out in this book!
Such a sweet and inspiring book about family and standing up for your community. Arturo is relatable, funny, courageous, and caring. He and his family fight against a developer (a great villain character named Wilfrido Pipo of course) coming into their neighborhood with intentions to change, gentrify, and push out current residents.
This wonderful coming-of-age story chronicles young Arturo Zamora's struggles with love, loss, and finding meaning in the unthinkable. When his family's longstanding, community-cornerstone restaurant is threatened by a developer, and when his friend from youth has blossomed into a beautiful young lady, Arturito must find his inner resolve to face his feelings and take action. As first-generation Cuban-American, this story resonated on many levels, and its authenticity was a breath of fresh ocean air. This middle grades novel will delight readers of all ages.
Can Arturo survive summer working as a dishwasher under the dreadful Martín, get the girl, AND save his family's restaurant from a ruthless (but flashy) developer? In this heartfelt story, the author weaves poetry by Cuban poet José Martí into the lives of Arturo, his Abuela, his friends, and the whole Zamora family as they figure out how to fight not only for their livelihood but also their community.