Pablo Cartaya is a sought-after speaker, actor, educator, and the award-winning author of
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora, Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish,
Each Tiny Spark,
The Last Beekeeper, and
Curveball. Learn more about Pablo at PabloCartaya.com and follow him online @PHCartaya.
Praise for A Hero's Guide to Summer Vacation by Pablo Cartaya:
A New York Times Bestseller
A 2026 Pura Belpré Children’s Author Honor Book
An ALSC 2026 Notable Children’s Book (Middle Grade Readers category)
A Publishers Weekly Summer Read
A Latinx in Publishing and Common Sense Media BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
2026 Texas Lone Star Reading List
2026 ALSC Summer Reading List (Grades 3-5)
A Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Book Awards (PADIBA) Longlisted MG/YA Book
A 2026-2027 Yellowhammer YA Book Award (Alabama)
★ “A touching intergenerational road trip epic that juxtaposes heavy themes surrounding loss with
playful yet sophisticated interpretations of artistic integrity.”
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Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ “Cartaya weaves
humor, heartbreak, and a host of literary tropes and techniques into this
complex tale of three grieving road trippers.”
—
Booklist, starred review
★ “Wondrous.”
—
Shelf Awareness, starred review
“Cleverly structured and
sweetly engaging.”
—
Kirkus Reviews
“In this exploration of grief, generational impact, and healing,
readers will find a book they can’t put down.”
—
School Library Journal
“This intergenerational book spins each character's grief together and then, gives them a hero.”
—Edith Campbell for
School Library Journal’s Pearl’s & Ruby’s blog
“Con humor, corazón y mucho viaje interior,
esta novela es ideal para tweens que buscan una lectura cálida y emocionante, perfecta para el verano.”
—
People En Español
