Pablo Cartaya has always been a hopeless romantic. In middle school he secretly loved reading Shakespeare’s sonnets (don’t tell anyone), and he once spent his allowance on roses for a girl he liked. He also wrote her eight poems. Bad ones. He’s been writing ever since. Pablo has worked in Cuban restaurants and the entertainment industry, and he graduated with an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. All of these experiences have helped him write stories that reflect his family, culture, and love of words. Pablo lives in Miami with his wife and two kids, surrounded by tías, tíos, cousins, and people who he calls cousins (but aren’t really his cousins). Learn more about Pablo at pablocartaya.com.

A 2018 Pura Belpré Author Honor BookAn E.B. White Read-Aloud Middle Reader Award finalistA 2018 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the YearAmazon Best Children's Books of 2017Publishers Weekly Flying StartKirkus Reviews Best Fiction of 2017Chicago Public Library Best Book on 2017NYPL Best Books for Kids 20172017 Nerdy Book Award Winner2018 Texas Lone Star Reading List Selection2018-2019 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award Nominee2018-2019 Sunshine State Young Readers Award NomineeCharlotte Observer Best Books of 2017 for Young ReadersNews & Observer Best Books for Young ReadersPraise for The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya:"Irresistibly exquisite."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review"At turns funny, beautiful, and heartbreaking... engrossing."—Booklist, starred review"A vibrant debut novel about family, friendship, and community."—Publishers Weekly, starred review"Pablo Cartaya's sensational debut is a love letter to boyhood, poetry, and family. Quite simply, this is the book I've been waiting for."—Matt de la Peña, New York Times bestselling and Newbery Medal–winning author of The Last Stop on Market Street "This story of hope will make you laugh, cry, sigh, and cheer for brave Arturo and his whole cool familia. Along the way, you'll end up hungry for Cuban food, ravenous for poetry, and determined to stand up to bullies who try to destroy communities. ¡Bravo!"—Margarita Engle, Newbery Honor–winning author of The Surrender Tree“In this story of family and community and the first blush of love, Pablo Cartaya weaves together a tenderness of poetry, food, and home.  Our young hero Arturo reminds us of what counts in this life, and his story is a heart-song.”—Kathi Appelt, Newbery Honor winner, National Book Award finalist, and New York Times bestselling author“Arturo Zamora proves that words have the power to win some of the biggest fights. The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora is an epic success!” —Christina Diaz Gonzalez, award-winning author of The Red Umbrella

Pablo Cartaya has always been a hopeless romantic. In middle school he secretly loved reading Shakespeare’s sonnets (don’t tell anyone), and he once spent his allowance on roses for a girl he liked. He also wrote her eight poems. Bad ones. He’s been writing ever since. Pablo has worked in Cuban restaurants and the entertainment industry, and he graduated with an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. All of these experiences have helped him write stories that reflect his family, culture, and love of words. Pablo lives in Miami with his wife and two kids, surrounded by tías, tíos, cousins, and people who he calls cousins (but aren’t really his cousins). Learn more about Pablo at pablocartaya.com.

A 2018 Pura Belpré Author Honor BookAn E.B. White Read-Aloud Middle Reader Award finalistA 2018 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the YearAmazon Best Children's Books of 2017Publishers Weekly Flying StartKirkus Reviews Best Fiction of 2017Chicago Public Library Best Book on 2017NYPL Best Books for Kids 20172017 Nerdy Book Award Winner2018 Texas Lone Star Reading List Selection2018-2019 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award Nominee2018-2019 Sunshine State Young Readers Award NomineeCharlotte Observer Best Books of 2017 for Young ReadersNews & Observer Best Books for Young ReadersPraise for The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya:"Irresistibly exquisite."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review"At turns funny, beautiful, and heartbreaking... engrossing."—Booklist, starred review"A vibrant debut novel about family, friendship, and community."—Publishers Weekly, starred review"Pablo Cartaya's sensational debut is a love letter to boyhood, poetry, and family. Quite simply, this is the book I've been waiting for."—Matt de la Peña, New York Times bestselling and Newbery Medal–winning author of The Last Stop on Market Street "This story of hope will make you laugh, cry, sigh, and cheer for brave Arturo and his whole cool familia. Along the way, you'll end up hungry for Cuban food, ravenous for poetry, and determined to stand up to bullies who try to destroy communities. ¡Bravo!"—Margarita Engle, Newbery Honor–winning author of The Surrender Tree“In this story of family and community and the first blush of love, Pablo Cartaya weaves together a tenderness of poetry, food, and home.  Our young hero Arturo reminds us of what counts in this life, and his story is a heart-song.”—Kathi Appelt, Newbery Honor winner, National Book Award finalist, and New York Times bestselling author“Arturo Zamora proves that words have the power to win some of the biggest fights. The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora is an epic success!” —Christina Diaz Gonzalez, award-winning author of The Red Umbrella