sguinn13's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
shellysbookcorner's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you Mac Kids Books for my finished copy.
Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa is the first book in a fantasy duology that I really enjoyed. Reading this book taught me about Dominican Republic leader Rafael Trujillo and his brutal regime. I had no idea about this and ended up doing some research on Google. The part of history was broken down easily for kids understand.
I love the way Pilar came into her own while in Zafa. She found her strength and used her voice. I do look forward to the next book in the series. I found the authors note touching as well and it’s so important for these stories to be told authentically!
Trigger: HP references, gentrification.
Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa is the first book in a fantasy duology that I really enjoyed. Reading this book taught me about Dominican Republic leader Rafael Trujillo and his brutal regime. I had no idea about this and ended up doing some research on Google. The part of history was broken down easily for kids understand.
I love the way Pilar came into her own while in Zafa. She found her strength and used her voice. I do look forward to the next book in the series. I found the authors note touching as well and it’s so important for these stories to be told authentically!
Trigger: HP references, gentrification.
krisglomb's review against another edition
4.0
Really really liked this book! I thought, compared to a lot of YA books, there was a strong and meaningful emotional character arc for our lead.
My bookclub and I were surprised to find this book was written by a man because of the strong feminist themes, we also appreciated that fully formed female characters were being highlighted in a way where they weren’t constantly being compared to men. The few male characters (of note) in the book are the bad guys (but again, this is in no way a “men vs women” struggle rather an “evil vs good”). This detail is hardly something you would notice if you weren’t looking for it and that subtlety alone I think is worth applause.
The metaphors the author built to describe cultural memory, displacement, and erasure were really powerful. He managed to bring forward dark and difficult historical topics in a way that is appropriate and approachable to the targeted age group.
My only gripe with the book, and this is coming from someone far outside of the target audience, is that I felt the action and battle sequences distracted and, to a certain extent, detracted from the the really strong story of these characters finding themself, their power, and their worthiness within the worlds they reside. I felt like I got the plot climax the book was leading me to, but not the emotional one that would’ve left me thinking about this for months to come. The world building was ok, but again, this felt like a story more about the emotional arc than about the details of the world. Plus, I think enough was put in to be able to build something on if there are later books in the series.
Overall, I highly recommend!
My bookclub and I were surprised to find this book was written by a man because of the strong feminist themes, we also appreciated that fully formed female characters were being highlighted in a way where they weren’t constantly being compared to men. The few male characters (of note) in the book are the bad guys (but again, this is in no way a “men vs women” struggle rather an “evil vs good”). This detail is hardly something you would notice if you weren’t looking for it and that subtlety alone I think is worth applause.
The metaphors the author built to describe cultural memory, displacement, and erasure were really powerful. He managed to bring forward dark and difficult historical topics in a way that is appropriate and approachable to the targeted age group.
My only gripe with the book, and this is coming from someone far outside of the target audience, is that I felt the action and battle sequences distracted and, to a certain extent, detracted from the the really strong story of these characters finding themself, their power, and their worthiness within the worlds they reside. I felt like I got the plot climax the book was leading me to, but not the emotional one that would’ve left me thinking about this for months to come. The world building was ok, but again, this felt like a story more about the emotional arc than about the details of the world. Plus, I think enough was put in to be able to build something on if there are later books in the series.
Overall, I highly recommend!
starryeved's review against another edition
3.0
How exactly does a girl become thin air? How
exactly does someone’s name become a kind of quiet?
Intriguing story, concept, and characters, with lots of social/historical commentary and Dominican mythology/folklore, all mixed into one. Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa is a quick read, but I do wish it expounded a little upon some of its commentary and themes to stand out more beyond the otherwise cookie-cutter plot.
'Now it is up to you to decide what you want
to do with that danger that lives in you.'
antoinettepowb's review
5.0
Such an amazing read!! Pilar is an awesome character; from the fierce love of her family, the dislike of her gentrifying neighborhood to charging into a fight on a magical island. The storytelling from a 7th grader was truly authentic and I could imagine any one of my students telling it. I loved the mix of the Spanish language and the represented history of events in Dominican Republic. I can't wait to have this book on the classroom shelves of my middle school.
Thanks NetGalley!
Thanks NetGalley!
thebookworm_queen's review against another edition
Love the series but I didn’t have to time to finish it after I read book 2 for a review.
yvonna_reads's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
lorialdenholuta's review against another edition
2.0
While I love Pilar's personality and love of filmmaking, other aspects of this book didn't appeal to me. The decision to blend/mix languages was extremely jolting as I don't speak the second language used. Now, if the digital version had included annotations (clickable) for each instance of that, I could have made a grand start on learning a second language. Instead, I felt like an outsider, not included in the conversation. And since this is a book meant for young readers, that's an issue kids already face far too often.
I give this one two stars for effort and imagination, but can't go higher due to the language barrier issues.
I give this one two stars for effort and imagination, but can't go higher due to the language barrier issues.
gcruz30's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0