Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish

Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish is set in the 2000s and, therefore, reflects contemporary social and political issues, including diversity and inclusivity in the American public school system. Specifically, the novel explores issues related to the social acceptance of students with learning difficulties. Charlie has Down syndrome, a genetic disorder in which the individual is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21. This extra chromosome alters the course of development. In the narrative, Melissa, Charlie’s mother, has to fight to get him admitted to Montgomery Middle School, not because the principal or school system opposes it but because some “parents [...] weren’t thrilled about having a kid with Down syndrome in classes with other kids” (16). Eventually, Charlie is allowed to attend after his mother contacts a “large national association.”

During the first half of the 20th century, most children with Down syndrome were placed in institutions soon after birth. In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142), providing federal protection for the education of all children with disabilities. Despite the progress that has been made toward protecting the rights of and meeting the individual needs of children with Down syndrome, Cartaya’s book highlights the bias and bigotry that continue to exist and the misconception that Down syndrome children would do better in specialized schools.