The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora

By Pablo Cartaya

A boy fights to save his family's restaurant and town from a developer's threat.

3.9/5 Goodreads · 4,399 ratings

272 pages· 44,906 words· Est. 5 hour read

$8.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Thirteen-year-old Arturo Zamora faces a summer of challenges in Miami. With his family's beloved restaurant under threat from a slick developer, Arturo must rally his community. Teaming up with Carmen, a new neighbor with a passion for poetry, Arturo discovers the power of words and protest. Can he save the restaurant, the town, and win Carmen's heart, all while making his Abuela proud? Dive into a tale of family, courage, and the fight to preserve what matters most.

From the publisher

A 2018 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book Save the restaurant. Save the town. Get the girl. Make Abuela proud. Can thirteen-year-old Arturo Zamora do it all or is he in for a BIG, EPIC FAIL? For Arturo, summertime in Miami means playing basketball until dark, sipping mango smoothies, and keeping cool under banyan trees. And maybe a few shifts as junior lunchtime dishwasher at Abuela’s restaurant. Maybe. But this summer also includes Carmen, a poetry enthusiast who moves into Arturo’s apartment complex and turns his stomach into a deep fryer. He almost doesn’t notice the smarmy land developer who rolls into town and threatens to change it. Arturo refuses to let his family and community go down without a fight, and as he schemes with Carmen, Arturo discovers the power of poetry and protest through untold family stories and the work of José Martí. Funny and poignant, The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora is the vibrant story of a family, a striking portrait of a town, and one boy’s quest to save both, perfect for fans of Rita Williams-Garcia.