"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 "Author Juan Vidal has done the impossible: Crafted a touching exploration of grief with Colombia and the legendary Gabriel Garcia Marquez as his guide. Poetic and raw, readers will fall for the basketball-loving romantic Marcus. A Second Chance on Earth marks Vidal's debut as a defining new literary force to be reckoned with.

" --Lilliam Rivera, award-winning author of Never Look Back " A tremendous piece of literature. Marcos is probably one of the most fully-realized kids I've ever come across in YA literature. Juan has captured that teenaged maelstrom of yearning and fronting and wanting to belong and occasional rootlessness and competitiveness and desire to be desired and love of family, all of it like a diamond in this kid I love more than life itself. And the Colombia he enters is freakin' kaleidoscopic. Like a fever dream, but compassionate. Folks are not ready for this book." --Tochi Onyebuchi, award-winning author of Beasts Made of Night.