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lorialdenholuta's review
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.
harvestingbooks's review against another edition
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
bookswhitme's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
butterwashere's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
CW: minor blood, gore
I remember picking up the book and reading the quote on the cover in which it said for readers to be prepared since it’s a fast paced book.
It was indeed fast paced.
I love the descriptions and also the descriptions. It feels like I’m there watching it all play out. I also love rooting for Pilar as they navigate their surroundings and also fight.
I also picked up a bit of Spanish. My favorite spanish word is payasa which translates to clown in english. (note: Spanish terms are gendered, so in this case, this is used to describe a feminine person)
I love the idea of what inspires the plot, especially with the ideas of the sisters as the butterflies and how someone’s unfinished story is demonstrated in a blank piece of paper that is hidden. I read the story of the Mirabal sisters and how they fought against the Trujillo regime back when I was in 10th grade.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Gore and Blood
lit_with_lauren's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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
4.0
thebooktender's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bookinitwithahtiya's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
kimmarieb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
popthebutterfly's review
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa
Author: Julian Randall
Book Series: Pilar Ramirez Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Dominican American MC, Dominican characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, mythology, Dominican Republic
Publication Date: March 1, 2022
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 10+ (parental death, violence, gore, 1 HP reference, war mentioned)
Explanation of Above: There is a parental death mentioned briefly. There is some violence and small blood gore. There are mentioned of war and there is 1 HP reference.
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Pages: 304
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Pilar Violeta “Purp” Ramirez’s world is changing, and she doesn’t care for it one bit. Her Chicago neighborhood is gentrifying and her chores have doubled since her sister, Lorena, left for college. The only constant is Abuela and Mami’s code of silence around her cousin Natasha—who vanished in the Dominican Republic fifty years ago during the Trujillo dictatorship.
When Pilar hears that Lorena’s professor studies such disappearances, she hops on the next train to take matters into her own hands. After snooping around the professor's empty office, she discovers a folder with her cousin’s name on it . . . and gets sucked into the blank page within.
She lands on Zafa, an island swarming with coconut-shaped demons, butterfly shapeshifters, and a sinister magical prison where her cousin is being held captive. Pilar will have to go toe-to-toe with the fearsome Dominican boogeyman, El Cuco, if she has any hope of freeing Natasha and getting back home.
Review: This book revolves around a girl who, after wondering about her missing cousin Natasha, finds herself in Zafa after opening a file on her sister’s professor’s desk. It’s up to her to defeat El Cuco to free Natasha and get back home. For the most part I really loved this book! I loved the Percy Jackson feel to it and I loved the magic system. The book did good to show a lot of action scenes in quick secession and I loved how there wasn’t a down moment since picking up the read. The book did well with the historical aspect, teaching readers about DR leader Rafael Trujilo and his regime.
The only issue I had with the book is that it felt a little too choppy and it was a bit too fast paced for me.
Verdict: It was good! Highly recommend.
Book: Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa
Author: Julian Randall
Book Series: Pilar Ramirez Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Dominican American MC, Dominican characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, mythology, Dominican Republic
Publication Date: March 1, 2022
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 10+ (parental death, violence, gore, 1 HP reference, war mentioned)
Explanation of Above: There is a parental death mentioned briefly. There is some violence and small blood gore. There are mentioned of war and there is 1 HP reference.
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Pages: 304
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Pilar Violeta “Purp” Ramirez’s world is changing, and she doesn’t care for it one bit. Her Chicago neighborhood is gentrifying and her chores have doubled since her sister, Lorena, left for college. The only constant is Abuela and Mami’s code of silence around her cousin Natasha—who vanished in the Dominican Republic fifty years ago during the Trujillo dictatorship.
When Pilar hears that Lorena’s professor studies such disappearances, she hops on the next train to take matters into her own hands. After snooping around the professor's empty office, she discovers a folder with her cousin’s name on it . . . and gets sucked into the blank page within.
She lands on Zafa, an island swarming with coconut-shaped demons, butterfly shapeshifters, and a sinister magical prison where her cousin is being held captive. Pilar will have to go toe-to-toe with the fearsome Dominican boogeyman, El Cuco, if she has any hope of freeing Natasha and getting back home.
Review: This book revolves around a girl who, after wondering about her missing cousin Natasha, finds herself in Zafa after opening a file on her sister’s professor’s desk. It’s up to her to defeat El Cuco to free Natasha and get back home. For the most part I really loved this book! I loved the Percy Jackson feel to it and I loved the magic system. The book did good to show a lot of action scenes in quick secession and I loved how there wasn’t a down moment since picking up the read. The book did well with the historical aspect, teaching readers about DR leader Rafael Trujilo and his regime.
The only issue I had with the book is that it felt a little too choppy and it was a bit too fast paced for me.
Verdict: It was good! Highly recommend.
laurensbookvibes's review
adventurous
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0