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.