This was such a wonderful book! I'm quickly becoming a big Pablo Cartaya fan, having also recently read The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora. His writing style is so fun and he does an amazing job of creating characters that middle grade/middle school audiences can really relate to.

Marcus Vega gets in trouble for a fight at school, and he, his mom, and his brother Charlie, who has down syndrome, go on holiday to Puerto Rico to regroup and get away from their troubles for a bit. For Marcus, this is in opportunity to satisfy a sudden urge to meet his father, who left when he was young. But, as the story progresses, Marcus learns that perhaps what he needed to feel loved was something different all along.

This is a beautiful book about embracing cultural heritage, and it is a poignant reminder that to feel confident in ourselves, we must surround ourselves with the people who love us most, rather than seeking validation from those who don't care to know us as we are. ( )

Really great story -- Marcus has a lot of heart, for all he feels alienated because of his intimidating size. I was deeply amused by his money making schemes in the school and loved the portrayal of his brother, Charlie. Charlie has down syndrome and is, like most of the people with down syndrome I have known, just an absolute character -- funny, adamant about the things he loves, unafraid to dance in the street and generally joyful to be around. Their trip to Puerto Rico leads to a great adventure, with more family and parts of the country being revealed each day, even though the ultimate meeting with his estranged father isn't what he expected at all. Makes me even sadder to think of the island's devastation, and I appreciate the ways in which Cartaya calls out the completely baffling reality of US territorial laws. ( )

Marcus is carrying a heavy load watching out for his brother, Charlie who has downs syndrome, and picking up the slack at home for his mom that is frequently gone. Marcus is trying to pitch in around the house and has several money making schemes within his school. When he loses his temper with a bully and punches someone, it changes his family's trajectory. His mom thinks they need to get away and books a trip to Puerto Rico. Marcus is obsessed with seeing his dad again. The trip is healing and traumatic. Marcus discovers a connection with family he never knew he even had and tries to figure out his way forward and his identity when he is no longer just a giant, scary monster. ( )

The characters are generally well-drawn and developed, the bully is trope-y but not to distraction. Marcus Vega is a BIG 14-year old, he’s an enterprising protector of his brother and bullied kids, but is driven too far one day and punches the bully, which launches the trip of discovery the family takes to Puerto Rico. Some unfinished, hurried or disconnected aspects hold this book back (take the camera aspect further! Why are the German-speaking girls there? They don’t add to the story in a meaningful way. The ending with the dad is anti-climactic and hurried) but it’s still a solid book I’ll put in my young patron’s hands. ( )

diverse children's middlegrade fiction (Puerto-Rican student who is picked on for his intimidating size makes friends and searches for his absent father while on vacation in pre-hurricane PR; his younger brother has Down Syndrome).

Marcus is such a sweet kid, I really enjoyed spending time with him and his extended PR family. Great characters and many heartfelt moments. ( )