Click to receive personalized book recommendations daily.
Before you go...
Check Out These
21 Books You’ve Been Meaning to Read
See the List
Best Seller
Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish by Pablo Cartaya

Look Inside

Read An Excerpt

Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish

By Pablo Cartaya

By Pablo Cartaya

By Pablo Cartaya

By Pablo Cartaya

By Pablo Cartaya

By Pablo Cartaya

By Pablo Cartaya
Read by Pablo Cartaya

By Pablo Cartaya
Read by Pablo Cartaya

Paperback $8.99

Jul 09, 2019 | 256 Pages | Middle Grade (10 and up)

Hardcover $16.99

Aug 21, 2018 | 272 Pages | Middle Grade (10 and up)

Ebook $9.99

Aug 21, 2018 | 256 Pages | Middle Grade (10 and up)

Audiobook Download $15.00

Aug 21, 2018 | 276 Minutes | Middle Grade (10 and up)

All Formats
+
    Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish by Pablo Cartaya
    Hardcover
    Aug 21, 2018 | 272 Pages
    See All Formats (3) +

    Paperback
    +

    • Paperback $8.99

      Jul 09, 2019 | 256 Pages | Middle Grade (10 and up)

    Hardcover
    –

    • Hardcover $16.99

      Aug 21, 2018 | 272 Pages | Middle Grade (10 and up)

    Ebook
    +

    • Ebook $9.99

      Aug 21, 2018 | 256 Pages | Middle Grade (10 and up)

    Audio
    +

    Buy the Audiobook Download:

    About Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish

    One boy’s search for his father leads him to Puerto Rico in this moving middle-grade novel, for fans of Ghost and See You in the Cosmos.

    Marcus Vega is six feet tall, 180 pounds, and the owner of a premature mustache. When you look like this and you’re only in the eighth grade, you’re both a threat and a target.

    After a fight at school leaves Marcus facing suspension, Marcus’s mom decides it’s time for a change of environment. She takes Marcus and his younger brother to Puerto Rico to spend a week with relatives they don’t remember or have never met. But Marcus can’t focus knowing that his father–who walked out of their lives ten years ago–is somewhere on the island.

    So begins Marcus’s incredible journey, a series of misadventures that take him all over Puerto Rico in search of his elusive namesake. Marcus doesn’t know if he’ll ever find his father, but what he ultimately discovers changes his life. And he even learns a bit of Spanish along the way.

    About Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish

    One boy’s search for his father leads him to Puerto Rico in this moving middle-grade novel, for fans of Ghost and See You in the Cosmos.

    Marcus Vega is six feet tall, 180 pounds, and the owner of a premature mustache. When you look like this and you’re only in the eighth grade, you’re both a threat and a target.

    After a fight at school leaves Marcus facing suspension, Marcus’s mom decides it’s time for a change of environment. She takes Marcus and his younger brother to Puerto Rico to spend a week with relatives they don’t remember or have never met. But Marcus can’t focus knowing that his father–who walked out of their lives ten years ago–is somewhere on the island.

    So begins Marcus’s incredible journey, a series of misadventures that take him all over Puerto Rico in search of his elusive namesake. Marcus doesn’t know if he’ll ever find his father, but what he ultimately discovers changes his life. And he even learns a bit of Spanish along the way.

    About Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish

    One boy’s search for his father leads him to Puerto Rico in this moving middle-grade novel, for fans of Ghost and See You in the Cosmos.

    Marcus Vega is six feet tall, 180 pounds, and the owner of a premature mustache. When you look like this and you’re only in the eighth grade, you’re both a threat and a target.

    After a fight at school leaves Marcus facing suspension, Marcus’s mom decides it’s time for a change of environment. She takes Marcus and his younger brother to Puerto Rico to spend a week with relatives they don’t remember or have never met. But Marcus can’t focus knowing that his father–who walked out of their lives ten years ago–is somewhere on the island.

    So begins Marcus’s incredible journey, a series of misadventures that take him all over Puerto Rico in search of his elusive namesake. Marcus doesn’t know if he’ll ever find his father, but what he ultimately discovers changes his life. And he even learns a bit of Spanish along the way.

    About Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish

    One boy’s search for his father leads him to Puerto Rico in this moving middle-grade novel, for fans of Ghost and See You in the Cosmos.

    Marcus Vega is six feet tall, 180 pounds, and the owner of a premature mustache. When you look like this and you’re only in the eighth grade, you’re both a threat and a target.

    After a fight at school leaves Marcus facing suspension, Marcus’s mom decides it’s time for a change of environment. She takes Marcus and his younger brother to Puerto Rico to spend a week with relatives they don’t remember or have never met. But Marcus can’t focus knowing that his father–who walked out of their lives ten years ago–is somewhere on the island.

    So begins Marcus’s incredible journey, a series of misadventures that take him all over Puerto Rico in search of his elusive namesake. Marcus doesn’t know if he’ll ever find his father, but what he ultimately discovers changes his life. And he even learns a bit of Spanish along the way.

    Read An Excerpt

    Also by Pablo Cartaya

    Each Tiny Spark
    The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
    Tina Cocolina
    See all books by Pablo Cartaya

    Also by Pablo Cartaya

    Each Tiny Spark
    The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
    Tina Cocolina
    See all books by Pablo Cartaya

    Also by Pablo Cartaya

    Each Tiny Spark
    The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
    Tina Cocolina
    See all books by Pablo Cartaya

    Also by Pablo Cartaya

    Each Tiny Spark
    The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
    Tina Cocolina
    See all books by Pablo Cartaya

    About Pablo Cartaya

    Pablo Cartaya is an award-winning author, speaker, actor, and educator. In 2018, he recieved a Pura Belpré Author Honor for his middle grade novel, The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora. His second novel, Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish, is available… More about Pablo Cartaya

    About Pablo Cartaya

    Pablo Cartaya is an award-winning author, speaker, actor, and educator. In 2018, he recieved a Pura Belpré Author Honor for his middle grade novel, The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora. His second novel, Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish, is available… More about Pablo Cartaya

    About Pablo Cartaya

    Pablo Cartaya is an award-winning author, speaker, actor, and educator. In 2018, he recieved a Pura Belpré Author Honor for his middle grade novel, The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora. His second novel, Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish, is available… More about Pablo Cartaya

    About Pablo Cartaya

    Pablo Cartaya is an award-winning author, speaker, actor, and educator. In 2018, he recieved a Pura Belpré Author Honor for his middle grade novel, The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora. His second novel, Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish, is available… More about Pablo Cartaya

    Product Details

    Category: Children’s Middle Grade Books | Children’s Picture Books

    Paperback | $8.99
    Published by Puffin Books
    Jul 09, 2019 | 256 Pages | 5-1/16 x 7-3/4 | Middle Grade (10 and up) | ISBN 9781101997284

    Category: Children’s Middle Grade Books | Children’s Picture Books

    Hardcover | $16.99
    Published by Viking Books for Young Readers
    Aug 21, 2018 | 272 Pages | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 | Middle Grade (10 and up) | ISBN 9781101997260

    Category: Children’s Middle Grade Books | Children’s Picture Books

    Ebook | $9.99
    Published by Viking Books for Young Readers
    Aug 21, 2018 | 256 Pages | Middle Grade (10 and up) | ISBN 9781101997277

    Category: Audiobooks | Children’s Middle Grade Books | Children’s Picture Books

    Audiobook Download | $15.00
    Published by Listening Library (Audio)
    Aug 21, 2018 | 276 Minutes | Middle Grade (10 and up) | ISBN 9780525625568

    People Who Read Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish Also Read

    ‹ ›
    Zoe in Wonderland
    Fish in a Tree
    Soar
    The Best Man
    Matilda
    The War That Saved My Life
    Don't Throw It to Mo!
    Lost in the Sun
    The Green Bicycle
    Visiting Day
    The Secret Hum of a Daisy
    All Four Stars
    Roller Girl
    Waiting for Unicorns
    Counting by 7s
    I Am Jazz
    Anne of Green Gables
    Little Women
    A Little Princess
    Heidi
    Golden Boy
    Black Beauty
    The Very Busy Spider
    Saturday Boy
    Secret Saturdays
    The Batboy
    Junkyard Wonders
    Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel
    Rascal (Puffin Modern Classics)
    Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
    Song and Dance Man
    The Art Lesson
    On the Far Side of the Mountain
    Madeline
    Back Home
    When I Was Young in the Mountains
    Amazing Grace
    Owl Moon
    The Patchwork Quilt
    Ox-Cart Man
    Lentil
    The Snowy Day

    Inspired by Your Browsing History

    Praise

    PRAISE FOR MARCUS VEGA DOESN’T SPEAK SPANISH:

    *”Excellent.” –School Library Journal, starred review

    *”An ideal read for boys or reluctant readers.” –School Library Connection, starred review

    “A compelling read about the meaning of family, identity, and culture.” –Kirkus Reviews

    “Thoughtful and thought provoking.” –Booklist

    “Cartaya’s follow-up to 2018 Pura Belpré Honor Book The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora (rev. 7/17) shines.” –Horn Book

    PRAISE FOR THE EPIC FAIL OF ARTURO ZAMORA:

    *”Irresistibly exquisite.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

    *”At turns funny, beautiful, and heartbreaking.”–Booklist, starred review

    *”A vibrant debut novel about family, friendship, and community.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

    Looking for More Great Reads?
    Download our Spring Fiction Sampler Now
    Back to Top

    Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network

    Brightly

    Raise kids who love to read
    TASTE img

    TASTE

    An online magazine for today’s home cook

    LitFlash

    The eBooks you want at the lowest prices

    Read it Forward

    Read it first. Pass it on!
    First to Read

    First to Read

    Early access to Penguin Random House’s hottest new titles