A Second Chance on Earth

by Juan Vidal

★ "Heartfelt, moving, and beautifully written."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

★ "Through affecting verse, Vidal (Rap Dad, for adults) deftly examines themes of friendship, masculinity, grief, and redemption. The richly detailed Colombian background of this poignant exploration of the death of a parent is as alive and vibrant as its narrator."—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

★ "An ode to literature in Vidal’s profound YA debut. An introspective coming-of-age novel in verse that is a must-have for young adult collections."—School Library Journal, Starred Review

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A father, a friend, and a favorite book help a teen boy understand love and loss in this moving and vivid YA novel in verse...

For sixteen-year-old poet and b-baller Marcos Cadena, that book is the beat-up copy of One Hundred Years of Solitude he finds among his late father’s possessions after Papi is killed in an accident.

Marcos’ papi has always loomed large in his eyes. So, when Marcos travels to his parents’ childhood home of Cartagena, Colombia to spread Papi’s ashes, he brings his father’s book with him, convinced that Gabriel García Márquez’s masterpiece holds the key to understanding Papi’s life and accepting his death.

In Cartagena, Marcos befriends eighteen-year-old Camilo, a taxi driver and fellow García Márquez fan who appoints himself Marcos’ unofficial tour guide. Together, the two boys explore the landscape of Cartagena, from the picturesque streets of Old Town to the poor neighborhood where Camilo grew up. But when Camilo reveals a troubling secret from his past, Marcos must ask himself whether everyone deserves a second chance.

Woven through with themes of friendship, family, and forgiveness, this poignant novel in verse is also a love letter to Colombia and to the books of Gabriel García Márquez.

Genres: Young Adult, Poetry, Contemporary, Grief, Novel In Verse, Realistic Fiction, Family

224 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2024

About the author

Juan Vidal is the author of the memoir Rap Dad — which explores father-son dynamics and Latino masculinity through the lens of hip-hop culture — and the novel A Second Chance on Earth.

Reviews

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Second Chance on Earth is a book in verse about teenager Marcos, whose father has just passed away. Marcos and his family take a trip back to Columbia where his father was raised so they can connect to him and give him a proper send off. Marcos spends the novel connecting to his father in a way he's never felt before, especially with the help of his fathers favorite book, One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Marcos also meets Camilo, a kind but troubled teenager who helps show Marcos around the city and shares the same enthusiasm over the book and it's author, who was a local to the area. The friendship between the two teenagers was nice to read about, and I enjoyed how the book weaves in the personal, locational and historical storylines into an easy-to-read verse style story. This book isn't a 'get your tissues' out read, but still had a lot of depth and emotions in regards to grief and connection.

[Morton Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving | Dealing with grief | Setting: Colombia (Appeal terms from NoveList) - Hilary

[Clay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story in verse and that it concerns grieving teen who, with his family, takes his late father's ashes home to Cartagena, also the resting place of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, his favorite author and one of mine. Beautifully done. Recommended.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was just ok for me. I don't know if it's just that I wasn't in the right head space for it (very likely)...but I wasn't able to lose myself in this one.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Holiday House/Peachtree/Pixel+Ink, and Juan Vidal for the opportunity to read A Second Chance of Earth in exchange for an honest review.

A Second Chance on Earth is a Hi-Lo novel written in a poetic verse style. While it makes for a quicker read, the themes and messages within this young adult novel are on a high literary level.

Marcos and His Father's Legacy
Sixteen-year-old Marcos Cadena discovers a well-worn copy of One Hundred Years of Solitude among his late father's belongings after Papi's tragic accidental death. Based on its condition, Marcos figures it was an important literary work to his father, and he too wants to explore this novel that seemed so impactful to the man he most cared about. This book, written by Gabriel García Márquez, symbolizes Marcos' connection to his father and his quest for understanding. Traveling to Cartagena, Colombia, to scatter Papi's ashes, Marcos believes the novel holds insights into his father's life and his own process of grieving. Visiting sites that the author describes or where he lived and wrote are an inspiration to Marcos' journey forward.

Friendship and Redemption in Cartagena
In Cartagena, Marcos encounters eighteen-year-old Camilo, a taxi driver who shares a passion for García Márquez's work and becomes his tour guide. The duo explore the vibrant and contrasting landscapes of the city, from the charming streets of Old Town to Camilo's impoverished neighborhood. However, their friendship is tested when Camilo discloses a troubling secret from his past that could potentially lead to jail time, leading Marcos to contemplate the concept of redemption and whether everyone deserves a second chance.

Final Thoughts
While I have not read One Hundred Years of Solitude, this novel inspires me to do so. It is basically an homage to the author, Gabriel Márquez. It is nice to see a young person so inspired by a literary work and using said work to find his next path in life. While family plays a major role in the novel, as Marcos and his family are in Cartagena to spread his father's ashes, it demonstrates the bonds a family shares and the love one has for their spouse, children, siblings, and parents, and how grieving can be solitary, but also experienced together. It also explores friendship as Marcos finds something in Camilo that he wasn't expecting, and that chance encounter and newfound friendship has the kind of power to change both of their lives.

This novel has many relatable elements for teen readers and experiences they might be going through at well. It feels like a guide in its structure, as if it is attempting to be a novel to support the reader's current circumstances and experiences just as One Hundred Years of Solitude is for Marcos. A truly inspiring and powerful must-read for a young adult audience.

[Juliana Niño · Rating 4 out of 5]

This heartfelt story in verse follows Marcos, a Colombian American teenager who has recently lost his beloved father. Marcos begins to navigate through his grief via a copy of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, Colombia’s Nobel Prize winning author. Marcos’ dad always loved Gabo (this is Márquez’s loving nickname), and it is through Gabo that Marcos is able to hold on to his father a little longer.

Marcos’ mom decided that she, Marcos and his little sister need to go to Cartagena, Colombia, the city where Marcos’ dad came from. The city his father not only called his hometown, but adored and missed even after moving to the U.S.

Marcos soon meets a fellow Gabo fan, Camilo, an eighteen year old taxi driver that takes Marcos and his family from the airport to Marcos’ tía’s house, this aunt being the last living relative from Marco’s dad’s side of the family.

As Marcos spends his summer in Cartagena, we follow along his journey in reading and understanding One Hundred Years of Solitude; as well as Marcos’ and Camilo’s budding friendship.

An endearing book with themes of grief, literature, language, culture, and friendship. I think this is perfectly written for its intended audience. A novel written in verse that speaks to a younger generation.

And I may be biased on this next point, because I am in fact Colombian American just like Marcos, so I really enjoyed how the city of Cartagena (that I personally know well and love so much) is a character in itself in this book. As well as Gabriel García Márquez (now passed)—he is brought into the narrative by Marcos.
If you have read and enjoyed One Hundred Years of Solitude, I am sure you will enjoy relating to Marcos’ experience in falling head over heels for Márquez’s writing. I love it when I get to read about foreign-to-me places, so hopefully whoever reads this gets an enchanting image of Colombia.

Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review (:

[Dennis Seese · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mother of my 1o year old son and I split up two years ago or so. My son means everything to me and I feel that I am never enough and a failure after the split. I lost my father, who I was bitterly estranged from, this past spring.
I relay these things here to say that I'm always thinking about Fatherhood. The highs, lows, fears, joys et.al
This book explores many of these things in a very tender, poetic way. I also like how 'Gabo's' immortal text is a rollicking Colombian chorus in the background

I dream and aspire daily to be held by my son in the same regard that Marcos holds Papi
My gratitude to the author.
Thank you brother

[Elijah Zarate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always interested in books focused on themes of grief and friendship, and this book explores both, though never really leans into examining either aspect too much, which I would have preferred, but it doesn't take away from the overall pleasant nature of reading this story. I say it's still very good, especially for a novel of such short length, considering it's a novel-in-verse. There is no doubt that I would read future works from Juan Vidal while hoping for more intricate explorations of central themes, but either way, I'm happy with what we got and am looking forward to what he decides to write going forward. 8/10

[H. Woodward · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 some mixed feelings on this one. The poetry is great, and filled with sensory images, deft allusions, all the things. I wonder, though, if students would be interested having never read Gabo? I’d say you could use passages as a love song to a place, in this case, Columbia. Sinking into the world zooming past the taxi is definitely worthwhile. Students could write their own poetry of place, or loss, of finding yourself. Also, finally a non toxic male friendship is great to see. There’s enough here to be useful, but not widely applicable.

[Katherine Van Halst · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the kind of coming-of-age, slice-of-life story that is so beautifully told in verse. Struggling with the aftermath of his father's death, a young man comes into his own on a trip to Colombia where his father grew up. The poetry is all from his point of view, and does a marvelous job of creating an arc of grief and identity from beginning to end.
You might like this book if you liked The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky by Josh Garza, Saints of the Household by Ari Tison, or even Ruin Road by Lamar Giles.

[Jorgie BooBoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Juan Vidals YA debut was like “Sancocho de pollo for the Latin soul” a love letter to Colombia, GABO, the food, family, loss and friendship. This book made me hungry as hell, but also there are life lessons in these beautifully written passages, weaving its way through time, people, places and things. Whether it’s death, incarceration, mushroom tripping, or a love of books….a second chance is a second dance.”

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Second Chance on Earth is a heartfelt journey that had me hooked from start to finish. The way the author weaves faith, love, and resilience into the narrative feels deeply personal yet relatable. In a refreshing poetic prose style, Vidal shows us that second chances are not just possible, they’re transformative. This book is a powerful reminder that change starts from within. Highly recommend!

[Keara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully Written and So Moving!

The writing flows effortlessly, with a perfect rhythm and pace that made it hard to put down. The format was so creative and fun—it made the whole experience even better.

The story really hit home for me, bringing me back to my teenage self experiencing a loss like Marcos. Highly recommend!

[Lavabearian (Jessica) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this ode to One Hundred Years Of Solitude as a guide to life for Marcos. Within its pages he finds inspiration to continue to emerge from his grief of his father’s accidental death that is also mirrored with Carlos’ hit-and-run. How do you learn to forgive? Marcos figured that out through visiting Columbia and giving his father’s ashes to the sea there.

[Crave Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Really, really good. And now I want to read 100 Years of Solitude.

I loved the setting. I love the relationship between the two boys. I love that Marcos was able to move on, despite the death of his father, and could learn to live.

[Tye Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was different for me to read a story in verse form. I felt a bit sad at the end of it because it was ending but also a feel of relief that the main character has learned to find themselves through loss. Also I’ll be reading 100 years of solitude next!

[Meg Eden]

Was generally here for this book until it started equating Gabriel Garcia Marquez to God??? No thanks!

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

wait, this /wasn't/ a memoir?
Equated Márquez with God which is a bridge too far for me but I forgave it from a 16yrold Colombian boy in a way I don't with grown men.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Novel in verse—easy to read. Different subject matter. Hard to relate to.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost put off by the cover, but this is a gorgeous novel in verse about a teen boy who visits Cartagena with his family while reading Over Hundred Years of Solitude for the first time.

[Daniela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly this was not for me.

[Hannah Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely not a book I would usually read, but I chose it for Teen Club and wanted to read through it before recommending to a bunch of kids. Pretty decent read

[Daisy Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This read was stunning🫶🏻

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A poetic and thoughtful story, but not gripping. Just not my style.

[Paulina M]

It was good especially with all the imagery because it gave more details

[Jonelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Corrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving novel in verse about a boy dealing with the aftermath of his fathers death

[Mariyam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the poetry style of this book, which I usually don't in other books. Wasn't overly flowery or abstract, instead it kept the plot moving while still going in depth and ruminating about the character's emotions and thoughts. I loved the description of Cartagena, it's very evocative of that "idyllic back-home" life that's both sweet and homey, but also dangerous around the edges.
I liked the description of Marcos' life, relationship with friends, sister, mother, and Camilo. Sounded very real and accurate for a 16 y/o boy for the most part. Sometimes the monologues from Camilo were like... ok. very wisdom. But it was still more realistic and grounded than the type of long-winded emotional monologues in some YA fiction books, like say, "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe." Not to be mean to that book. Actually alot of the themes about death, loss, acceptance, emphasis on poetry from ADDSU is similar to this book.
The only part of this book that didn't resound was because I don't know the author Gabriel Garcia Marquez or his book, so I don't really know the cultural significance of him for Colombians and wider Latin America. But I can understand his importance as a folk hero as conveyed in this book, which is nice.
This book also had alot of parallels with the movie "Mi Mejor Amigo" not just bc its Latin American teen boys, but the exporation of friendship btwn adolescents from different lifestyles, how they deal with their emotional and life issues, the "tell me your secret" part, and the end where Camilo has to leave.

[Jordan E. Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't have much to say about this one, except that it was awesome. I loved reading about Marcos' friendship with Camilo and how they bonded over having a favorite author/book (which is the best way to bond with someone). I will definitely be reading it multiple times. I didn't think it would be this good, but thankfully I was proven wrong.

[Ifa Inziati · Rating 3 out of 5]

After losing Papi in a motorcycle accident, Marcos and his family travels to Cartagena, Colombia, to scatter Papi's ashes as well as saying goodbye for the last time. As he tries to navigate the world without his hero in Papi's hometown, he befriends a young taxi driver named Camilo who shows him life in Cartagena and how Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, Papi's favorite book, helps him like it helps Marcos. Will there be a second chance for him to reach his dream alone, and for people like Camilo who just tries his best to survive?

I like that the poems here are creatively composed. Each of them deliberately encapsulates Marcos' experience and thoughts. Of all aspects, I particularly pay more attention to how Marcos views masculinity from his father, his best friends in Florida, and his new buddy Camilo. I think it's refreshing and important to have such representation in YA books; talking about how it feels to be a boy who looks up to other man figures. The MC is a POC too and it brings nuances as a young Colombian-American to define what it is like to grow up, how to man up, how to protect people we love while being gentle to oneself, how to be open with our feelings.

And I want MORE. I want more of Marcos' relationship with women in his family. I want more of Cartagena so I can bask in lovely description of this vibrant melodic town, with its scent and its taste and its footprints. I want more of Camilo's story, of why he keeps his last secrets and what he sees from their friendship. I want more of parallels between Camilo and Papi, as Marcos learns how to accept and forgive. I was kind of hoping this story will also be available in prose, but that would be impossible since it has already been written in verse. But this format is page-turning and easy to read, so it may be more fitting for teen readers alike. And I think they would see themselves in Marcos too.

Thank you NetGalley and Holiday House for providing an eARC of this novel.