Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa: Pilar Ramirez Duology

Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa is a captivating contemporary middle-grade fantasy duology starter by Julian Randall. The story follows twelve-year-old Pilar Violeta “Purp” Ramirez as her world undergoes changes she dislikes. With her Chicago neighborhood gentrifying and her chores increasing, Pilar feels unsettled. Her life becomes even more complicated when she learns about her cousin Natasha, who vanished fifty years ago in the Dominican Republic during the Trujillo dictatorship. Determined to uncover the truth, Pilar travels to her sister's professor's office and discovers a folder about Natasha, which transports her to Zafa, an island filled with magical creatures and dangers. There, Pilar must confront the fearsome El Cuco to rescue her cousin and find her way back home. This thrilling tale is filled with magic, action, and heart.