ParentsPick

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora — Content Guide for Parents

By Pablo CartayaPenguin2018-04-03ISBN 9781101997253272 pages
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora

Themes present

Religious themes
Racial/cultural content

Not found

ViolenceScary contentProfanityClimate changeSexual identityGender rolesLGBTQ+ themes

Content themes

Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.

Get the full theme breakdown in the app

Detailed evidence, confidence ratings, and source citations for every theme.

Download for iOS

Example theme card

Religious themes

PRESENT

Contains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.

About this book

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.

Frequently asked questions

  • Is The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora appropriate for a 7-year-old?

    There are no indications of violence in the book. The narrative focuses on Arturo's challenges related to community and family rather than physical conflict. The content does not include any frightening elements. The story is described as funny and poignant, focusing on Arturo's quest rather than any scary themes.

  • Does The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora have violence?

    There are no indications of violence in the book. The narrative focuses on Arturo's challenges related to community and family rather than physical conflict.

  • Does The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora have scary content?

    The content does not include any frightening elements. The story is described as funny and poignant, focusing on Arturo's quest rather than any scary themes.

  • Does The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora have religious themes?

    The book references themes of faith and family, particularly through the influence of Arturo's late grandfather, who imparts lessons on courage and love. This suggests a connection to spiritual or familial values, though it does not delve deeply into specific religious practices.

  • Does The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora have racial/cultural content?

    The book is set within a Cuban-American community and addresses themes of gentrification and cultural identity, highlighting the impact of these issues on the community and family dynamics.

  • Does The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora have profanity?

    The book is noted for having no profanity, making it suitable for its target audience.

  • Does The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora have climate change?

    There are no explicit climate themes in the book. The focus is on identity and community rather than environmental issues.

  • Does The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora have sexual identity?

    No sexual content is present in the book. The narrative includes themes of young love but does not depict any sexual situations.

  • Does The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora have gender roles?

    While the book features a young male protagonist and explores themes of family and community, it does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. The narrative is more focused on Arturo's personal growth and community issues.

  • Does The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora have lgbtq+ themes?

    No LGBTQ+ themes are explicitly mentioned in the book's narrative. The focus is primarily on Arturo's identity, family, and community, without reference to LGBTQ+ topics.