REVIEW Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa (Pilar Ramirez #1) by Julian Randall

Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa (Pilar Ramirez #1) by Julian Randall

Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: March 1, 2022
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co 

I love reading about the mythologies and stories of other cultures from around the world, so the opportunity to learn a bit more about the Dominican Republic in Julian Randall’s Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa was an opportunity too great to pass up. Amanda Alcantara’s narration in the audiobook brings the story to life with the main character Pilar determined to solve the mystery surrounding her family member’s disappearance during the reign of dictator Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic.

As a fan of fantasy and mythology, worldbuilding is very important to me and Julian Randall did a good job with that. I enjoyed the Alice in Wonderland-type journey of Pilar falling into the parallel universe, and getting to see the different creatures straight out of folk stories. Zafa is a unique place, full of demons, witches, shapeshifters, and even a magical prison. The main villain, El Cuco, is essentially the boogeyman and it was interesting to see the differences between this version and other interpretations of the character (also known as ‘El Coco’ or ‘El Cucuy’). 

While the author brings some of the most prominent Dominican folktales to life, he also provides a social commentary on the state of affairs in the Dominican Republic in a way that is very easily understandable and appropriate for younger readers. I really appreciated the way the author handled those more serious topics, and as an adult, I was inspired to do some additional research about the Trujillo era (spoiler alert: it’s a very bloody time in history, and young readers should most definitely not look for the exact details). Pilar’s heritage comes into play with the sporadic use of Spanish words throughout the book; for the most part, I think everything was explained well but there were definitely some instances where there wasn’t enough context to determine what was being said or why it was being said. For example, the overuse of ‘pues’ to start sentences seemed a bit weird; almost like the author was trying to force more of a preteen slang vibe, and I could have done without it. 

Overall, this was an entertaining and fast-paced book. The ideal audience would be somewhere in the children to middle-grade age level. I enjoyed it as an adult, but I’m not sure every adult reader would be able to take something away from the read. If you’re the type of reader (or know a young reader) who enjoys books like J.C. Cervantes’ The Storm Runner, Kwame Mbalia’s Tristan Strong, or who just wants an introduction to Dominican culture and myths, I think this would be a great choice. 

REVIEW The Marvellers (Marvellerverse Book 1) by Dhonielle Clayton

The Marvellers (Marvellerverse Book 1) 
by Dhonielle Clayton

Rating: 4 Stars

Release Date: May 3, 2022

Format:: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co (BYR)

Kids can be cruel, no matter if you’re at a regular school or a magic school situated in the sky. That’s the hard truth that Ella Durand, the main character in Dhonielle Clayton’s The Marvellers, encounters when she becomes the first Conjuror to attend the exclusive school for Marvellers. As one might expect, she encounters a less than warm welcome and Ella must team up with her newfound friends to uncover secrets and unravel mysteries before it’s too late. 

There are two narrators/point-of-view characters in this book, and that allowed for readers to learn things before the main characters did (which was super fun and added to the ‘unraveling the mystery’ element of the read). I don’t want to say who the other point of view is, because that’s a bit of a spoiler but there’s a BIG surprise twist at the end of the book. I’m excited to see how that plays out in the next installment.  

Acceptance is a strong theme throughout the story. Kids of all backgrounds get a chance to see them at this school. When Ella struggles to find a warm welcome due to being the first Conjuror accepted to the Institute, she finds a group of friends who also come from unique backgrounds and help her to maintain her resilient spirit in the face of adversity. The discrimination and harassment that Ella faces in the book mirrors that many African American people face in the U.S. on a daily basis, allowing the book to also function as a kid friendly social commentary in that regard. 

The worldbuilding in The Marvellers was fantastic. I loved how, despite the majority of the worldbuilding being new and unique, there was some inspiration drawn from real-life mythology (such as the inclusion of references to Anansi, an African god of stories). I also wanted to note how some Easter eggs I spotted while reading (I’m not sure if they were intentional or coincidental); for example, some of the names for the professors at the Arcanum seemed inspired by the names of authors in real life. For instance, there is a professor named Kwame Mbalia (possibly inspired by the author of the Tristan Strong series). 

Overall, this was a fantastic story and a fantastic middle-grade debut from Dhonielle Clayton. The narrator, Patryce Williams, did a great job bringing the story to life. As Rick Riordan said in his blurb, “I want to live in this world!” You can forget all the invitations to other magical schools and training programs because the Arcanum is the cream of the crop. Given that this story is listed as a series, I’m eager to learn what happens next for Ella and her friends in the next book, The Memory Thieves (currently due to be out in September 2023). 

About the Book

Author Dhonielle Clayton makes her middle-grade debut with a fantasy adventure set in a global magic school in the sky.

Eleven-year-old Ella Durand is the first Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute, where Marvellers from all around the world come together to practice their cultural arts like brewing Indian spice elixirs, practicing Caribbean steel drum hypnosis, and bartering with fussy Irish faeries. Ella knows some people mistrust her Conjuror magic, often deemed "bad and unnatural," but she's eager to make a good impression—and, hopefully, some friends.

But Ella discovers that being the first isn't easy, and not all of the Marvellers are welcoming. Still, she connects with fellow misfits Brigit, a girl who hates magic, and Jason, who is never found without a magical creature or two. Just as Ella begins to find her way at the A.T.I., a notorious criminal escapes from prison, supposedly with Conjurors’ help. Worse, her favorite teacher Masterji Thakur never returns from a research trip, and only Ella seems concerned about his disappearance.

As tensions grow in the Marvellian world, Ella finds herself the target of vicious rumors and growing suspicions. With the help of her new friends, Ella must find a way to clear her family's name and track down her beloved mentor Masterji Thakur . . . before she loses her place at the A.T.I. forever.

About Dhonielle Clayton:

Dhonielle Clayton is the New York Times best-selling author of the Belles series, The Mirror: Shattered Midnight, and the coauthor of Blackout and the Tiny Pretty Things duology, now a Netflix original series. She hails from the Washington, DC, suburbs on the Maryland side. She taught secondary school for several years, and is a former elementary and middle school librarian. She is COO of the non-profit We Need Diverse Books, and president of Cake Creative, an IP story kitchen dedicated to diverse representation. She’s an avid traveler, and always on the hunt for magic and mischief. Up next: The Marvellers, her middle grade fantasy debut. You can find her on social media @brownbookworm.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub