Review by New York Times Review
How can middle schoolers be themselves, but still find their people? These books search for an answer. of the many strange paradoxes that bedevil our tween years - years that most of us would never, ever wish to relive - few perplex more thoroughly than the tension between wanting to be a confident, competent, standout individual, while at the same time yearning with a desire almost beyond expression to be accepted into a community, a group, a team, a club, a clique - anything. That old American saw about selfreliance may be compelling in an Emerson essay, but it doesn't hold up well when you're in a school cafeteria, holding a tray loaded with soggy burritos, looking for the friendly place to sit without seeming to be looking for the friendly place to sit. And it's this paradox that looms large in these new novels, each of which suggests the extraordinary complexity of negotiating this tension between individuality and community. The journey toward resolution, these authors suggest, is more inward than most middle schoolers might imagine. june harper, the rebel librarian of Allison Varnes's property of the rebel librarian (RANDOM HOUSE, 288 PP., $16.99; AGES 8 TO 12), begins her journey with a growing recognition that the extreme, almost bizarre strictures her parents place on her life are more than abnormal, they are unjust. Her growing anger at being expected to remain under their total domination is matched only by her growing anger at her sister, who has fled to college, abandoning June to their fierce control. When her books are taken away from her and later returned, mangled by censorious black pens and mauled by the removal of pages, and when her parents' influence leads to the censorship of the school library and the development of a cadre of young censors, June is thrust into the role of the "rebel librarian," building an underground library in the locker beside her own, and leading an ever-enlarging group of students into a literary revolution against the school administration and, by proxy, her parents. In our censorious times, that battle and the extremes through which it is depicted are enough to keep the pages turning. But - and I'm so sorry to sound like Dumbledore here - it is the choices that June makes about her own life that give this novel its solidity and meaning. In becoming the "rebel librarian," June is turning away from the groups that defined her in the past, which she had hoped would define her in the future. These include her family - which had planned her entire life - her new (and first) boyfriend, and the close friends she has had for years. It is an act of remarkable courage, no less powerful and no less painful because she comes to it incrementally, as she grows more and more committed to her new identity. Because Allison Varnes is a gentle writer - imagine this same scenario in the hands of, say, Robert Cormier - June finds that her new identity actually leads to a new belonging, to other kids who love books as much as she does. Who knew? If the happy ending is a bit too happy, the conclusion still leads you to the gentle thought that negotiating individuality and communality can lead to a satisfying selfrealization. NEITHER PABLO cartaya nor Antony John leaves things quite so easily. In marcus VEGA DOESN'T SPEAK SPANISH (VIKING, 272 PP., $16.99; AGES 8 TO 12), MarCUS, who tOWers physically over his fellow eighth graders, is defined in his school as a bully - mostly because he looks the part. Outside of his family, he doesn't belong in any group because everyone - including some of his teachers - believe his assigned role is all that he is. Even his family group is fractured, however; his father did not come with the family when they left Puerto Rico for Pennsylvania, and they haven't seen him for a decade. But in that fracture, as his mother works long hours to support her two sons, we see what is most true about Marcus: his devotion to his brother, who lives with Down syndrome. The sweet yet unsentimental scenes between them are some of the novel's most powerful. When his mother finds a way to bring them to Puerto Rico for a week, Marcus is thrilled; he will be able to track down and connect with his long-lost father. What he finds is something much larger: an extended family that has been waiting for them all these years, whose love is grace, whose hospitality is a blessing, whose connection is not strained. So when Marcus finally finds his father, he comes to clarity about what his father has done and what his absence has really meant. Despite the pain of this, Marcus knows that he can still live: "I always thought I wanted to see you. ... To let you meet my brother, who is the coolest kid in the world. But you never answered. You never even tried. I just want you to know that you're not the hero in this story." And so, "I put my father away forever." Marcus can say this only out of the strength he has found from a new belonging with his larger family. Cartaya's is a leisurely novel; the pace will not be rushed. In the era of superhero films, this is wonderful - and entirely appropriate for what is, in the end, a love song to the people of Puerto Rico, whose own love and hospitality and acceptance is so vividly portrayed here. It is also a realistic novel. Not all endings are happy. Not all breakage is healed. this realism is what Antony John uses to begin MASCOT (HARPER/HARPERCOLLINS, 336 pp., $16.99; ages 8 to 12). A car accident has paralyzed Noah Savino, and his father, who died in the crash, was at fault.He has lost his sense of self, and he resents the endless therapy sessions that seem to lead nowhere. He fears that the only identity he now has is that of the pathetic kid in the wheelchair. Perhaps worse, he no longer belongs to his St. Louis Little League team. Noah was the star catcher who made the star pitcher so capable. Now, his old teammates mock him, and the pain of that is not particularly lessened by the fact that the new kid to whom Noah seems to have been attached is nicknamed "Double-Wide." Thus Noah begins his journey, knowing that he has lost himself and lost his team and lost his father. Everything, he thinks, is gone, and in his anger and hurt and despair, he embraces that loss. His bitterness will be his new identity. When a teacher rearranges an assignment toward Noah's interests, a lot more suddenly "becomes clear: today's baseball-themed work sheet wasn't for everyone. It was for me. A gift. An attempt to cheer me up. To get me talking again. To remind me of better times. And what did I do? Like a Cardinals fan catching an opponent's home-run ball, I threw it right back at him." The strength and beauty of this novel lie in the ways in which a community gathers around Noah, despite his bitterness. And here, Antony John is relentless in his honesty, for this is a community of broken people: his mother, who is already dealing with the grief of losing her husband; his neighbor, who has lost his spouse, and whom Noah resents for loving his mother; Alyssa, who sees past the wheelchair, but whom Noah had treated badly; DoubleWide, whose honesty and forthrightness bring startling clarity; and his coach's family, for whom Noah will become an instrument of forgiveness. You'll bawl at the ending, because it is so very real. The answer to the middle-grade question of whether we should be self-reliant individuals or part of a larger community is that, in the end, we become both. These three novels shine a light on how difficult it is for a middle-grade kiddo - for any of us - to come to that answer, and how much more difficult it is to embark on the journey that leads to that becoming. gary D. SCHMIDT'S latest book, "So Tall Within: Sojourner Truth's Long Walk Toward Freedom," will be published in September.
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [August 23, 2019]
Review by Booklist Review
Marcus Vega uses his size to his advantage, collecting fees from fellow students who hire him to walk them to and from school, keeping them off of bully Stephen Hobert's radar. The money goes in his mom's emergency stash, which comes in handy when bills pile up. Then Stephen insults Marcus' younger brother, Charlie, with a derogatory term and Marcus gets in serious trouble. For a reprieve, his mom takes Marcus and Charlie on a trip to Puerto Rico to spend time with family; but instead of seeing it as a break, Marcus thinks it's the perfect chance to find the father who abandoned them. There, he meets a supportive community of family, who give him space and encouragement and see him for who he really is. Cartaya does a nice job of portraying Marcus' growth, as well as the importance of his family. In a vivid, frank voice and a rich cast of characters, this warm coming-of-age story offers a loving portrayal of Puerto Rico through the eyes of a relatable boy. Thoughtful and thought provoking.--Selenia Paz Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In Springfield, Pa., Marcus, a six-foot tall, 180-pound, mustache-sporting 14-year-old, exploits his appearance to run a bullying protection business, secretly contributing his earnings to his single mom's cash jar. When a conniving school bully calls Marcus's brother, Charlie, who has Down syndrome, the "R" word, Marcus gets suspended for punching him. In an effort to "spend time together as a team," Marcus's mother takes the boys to visit their absent father's relatives in vibrant pre-Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico. Cartaya (The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora) poignantly sketches Marcus's desire to meet his father ("How do you start an email to a father you haven't seen in ten years?"), and clues about his dad's mercurial, irresponsible character build to a devastating realization. The loneliness of the family's Pennsylvania life contrasts starkly with the community they find in Puerto Rico; the events spark for Marcus a new understanding of his overworked mother and appreciation for his family and heritage, offering hope for deeper connections going forward. Ages 10-up. Agent: Jess Regel, Foundry Literary + Media. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-7-This middle grade story, set in Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico, pulls together important themes of family, identity, bilingualism, friends, and bullying. Marcus Vega navigates his six-foot-tall, 180-pound frame through middle school while also caring for his younger sibling, Charlie, who has Down Syndrome. Because of his large size, some of his peers consider him to be a monster, or even a bully. When a real bully uses the "R" word in reference to Charlie, Marcus punches him in the jaw. This begins a series of events in which he is expelled from school before spring break, causing his mother to take the boys to Puerto Rico where they are introduced to their father's extended family for the first time. Marcus decides to locate his long-absent father and over the course of five days, readers travel the island with him as he is introduced to its rich flora and fauna, foods, community life, music, and friendliness. Marcus eventually comes to terms with his life challenges, including his own identity. VERDICT An excellent choice for upper elementary and middle grade libraries given its multiple, age-appropriate themes and the window it provides to life in a Puerto Rico before Hurricane María.-Ruth Quiroa, National Louis University, Lisle, IL © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Fourteen-year-old gentle giant Marcus Vega is devoted to his mom and younger brother, Charlie, who has Down syndrome. One of the ways he helps out is earning extra cash by charging schoolmates protection money to keep them safe from the real bullies. But when one of those bullies calls Charlie retarded, Marcus uses his immense strength to put the bully in his place. The fallout from Marcuss violent act leads to his suspension from school and a family crisis. Marcuss mother decides the family needs a week in Puerto Rico, where Marcus was born and where his absentee fathers relatives still live, to figure things out. Spending time with his extended family and traveling across the Puerto Rican countryside (pre2017s devastating hurricanes, per an introductory authors note) open the young mans eyes to his heritage. As his cultural bonds tighten, Marcus gains a new understanding of his mothers struggles and his own important roles as both son and older brother. Cartayas follow-up to his 2018 Pura Belpr Honor Book The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora (rev. 7/17) shines in its small moments examining Puerto Ricos unique locales through the eyes of the Vegas. A middle-grade/middle-school travelogue and heartfelt intergenerational story with wide appeal. eric carpenter (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In searching for his absentee father, a biracial boy gets closer to his Puerto Rican roots.Though Marcus Vega was born in Puerto Rico, the 14-year-old hasn't been back since he was 2. Marcus lives outside of Philadelphia with his mom, a white woman, and his little brother, Charlie, who has Down syndrome. Marcus towers over the other kids, and he uses his size to his advantage, walking kids to and from school and stashing their phones in his locker (out of the principal's reach) for cash. After a school bully calls Charlie "the one word that sends [him] into a blind rage," Marcus punches him in the mouth and is suspended. Marcus' mom decides that the three of them should go on a trip to regroup, which is how they find themselves in Puerto Rico looking for the dad Marcus hasn't seen in 10 years, a search that takes them and readers all over the island. Immigrant and first-generation readers will relate to Marcus' feelings of not belonging in Puerto Rico. Marcus' eagerness to reconnect with the father who abandoned him is believably nave and allows him to overlook his relatives' criticisms of his dad, but both they and Cartaya allow him the space to come to his own conclusions. Readers familiar with Puerto Rico may find Marcus' extended family's ease with English a little hard to believe, but it does assist with the narrative flow.A compelling read about the meaning of family, identity, and culture, set in pre-Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico. (Historical fiction. 10-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
