I’m Ok
By Patti Kim
Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9781534419292
Age Range: 10+

Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat

A work of heavy, realistic fiction told with oddball humor, honesty, and heart.  —Kirkus Reviews

Description
Ok Lee knows it’s his responsibility to help pay the bills. With his father gone and his mother working three jobs and still barely making ends meet, there’s really no other choice. If only he could win the cash prize at the school talent contest! But he can’t sing or dance, and has no magic up his sleeves, so he tries the next best thing: a hair braiding business.

It’s too bad the girls at school can’t pay him much, and he’s being befriended against his will by Mickey McDonald, an unusual girl with a larger-than-life personality. Then there’s Asa Banks, the most popular boy in their grade, who’s got it out for Ok.

But when the pushy deacon at their Korean church starts wooing Ok’s mom, it’s the last straw. Ok has to come up with an exit strategy—fast.

Reviews & Accolades
“In the wake of his father’s unexpected death, sixth-grade Korean immigrant Ok Lee (“No one at school says my name right… Say “pork.” Drop the p sound. Now drop the r sound”) is determined to earn money to help his mom, who works three jobs, and “keep alive father’s plan for success in the USA.” Unfortunately, Ok’s money-making schemes—braiding his classmates’ hair, tutoring the most popular kid in class, and learning how to roller skate to win the school talent contest prize—prove less profitable than he had hoped, and in addition, he is often bullied over his name, his appearance, and his traditional Korean food. As Ok and his mother are forced to move into a smaller apartment, Ok feels like he’s failing, and his desperation leads him to lie, steal, blackmail, and betray newfound friends. Debut author Kim, also a Korean immigrant, tells a moving story of family, culture, and growing up, through the eyes of a boy who struggles to fulfill his father’s American dream and maintain his own sense of pride. Ok’s anger and frustration about his father’s death and his mother’s burgeoning relationship with a deacon from their church ring particularly true, as do his ethical and emotional growth.”
—Publishers Weekly

“When Ok’s beloved father dies in a construction accident, his mother works several jobs but can’t make ends meet. Determined to help pay their bills, Ok writes a business plan for a braiding business. He doesn’t make much at first, but he gets the attention of lots of girls, including the retro-fashion obsessed Mickey McDonald. Ok thinks things are under control until the suspiciously nice Deacon Kohl from the First Korean Full Gospel Church begins courting his mom. Ok becomes convinced that no one needs him anymore and he hatches a plan to run away. Ultimately, Ok learns he’s not alone, friendless, or unwanted. Things might not go the way he wants them to, but he’s going to be fine. Ok’s hilarious observations shine in this realistic fiction title about conformity, individuality, and loving people for who they are, not who you want them to be. The Korean American characters stand out as the most nuanced and compelling throughout. The culturally authentic details Ok shares in his first-person narration bring his relationship with his parents into sharp focus. Unfortunately, Ok’s friends Mickey and Asa speak in pronounced dialects, perhaps to indicate their belonging to uneducated families. Consequently, their dialogue seems exaggerated and their character development suffers. Although the plot has a few logistical holes and the character development is uneven, Ok’s sincerity will hook many young readers. The compelling, funny protagonist makes this a solid general purchase for school and public libraries.”
—School Library Journal

“When Korean-American Ok Lee loses his father in a construction accident, he and his mom must fend for themselves financially while quietly grieving. Middle schooler Ok watches as his mother takes on multiple jobs with long hours trying to make ends meet. Determined to help, he sets his sights on his school’s talent show. The winner takes home $100 in cash, enough to pay the utilities before they get cut off. His search to find a bankable talent is complicated by unwanted attention from bully Asa, who’s African-American, and blackmail at the hands of a strange classmate named Mickey, who’s white. To make matters worse, his mother starts dating Deacon Koh, “the lonely widower” of the First Korean Full Gospel Church, who seems to have dubious motives and “tries too hard.” Narrator Ok navigates this full plot with quirky humor that borders on dark at times. His feelings and actions dealing with his grief are authentic. Most of the characters take a surprising turn, in one way or another helping Ok despite initial, somewhat stereotypical introductions and abundant teasing with racial jokes. Although most of the characters go through a transformation, Ok’s father in comparison is not as fleshed-out, and Asa’s African-American Vernacular English occasionally feels repetitive and forced. A work of heavy, realistic fiction told with oddball humor, honesty, and heart.”
—Kirkus Reviews

Groups Represented
Korean American
African American

Themes
#OwnVoices
Bi-racial Identity
Community
Cross-Group Friendship
Cultural Differences
Cultural Identity
Family Death
Migrant Life
Racial Discrimination
Survival

Setting
United States

Engagement Projects & Resources
Share with us how you use the book! Leave a comment!

Count Me In
By Varsha Bajaj
Published by Penguin Young Readers Group
ISBN: 9780525517245
Age Range: 10+

Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat

“…gives readers varied and valuable perspectives of what it means to be first- and third-generation Indian Americans in an increasingly diverse nation.”  —Kirkus Reviews

Description
Karina Chopra would have never imagined becoming friends with the boy next door—after all, they’ve avoided each other for years and she assumes Chris is just like the boys he hangs out with, who she labels a pack of hyenas. Then Karina’s grandfather starts tutoring Chris, and she discovers he’s actually a nice, funny kid. But one afternoon something unimaginable happens—the three of them are assaulted by a stranger who targets Indian-American Karina and her grandfather because of how they look. Her grandfather is gravely injured and Karina and Chris vow not to let hate win. When Karina posts a few photos related to the attack on social media, they quickly attract attention, and before long her #CountMeIn post—”What does an American look like? #immigrants #WeBelong #IamAmerican #HateHasNoHomeHere”—goes viral and a diverse population begin to add their own photos. Then, when Papa is finally on the road to recovery, Karina uses her newfound social media reach to help celebrate both his homecoming and a community coming together.

Reviews & Accolades
“Even though seventh graders Karina and Chris are next-door neighbors, they’ve never shared a class and don’t really know each other. Karina, whose family is Indian, even remembers a few times when Chris, whose ethnicity isn’t specified, sat idly by as his racist friends bullied her. But things begin to change when Karina’s grandfather Papa, bored after moving in with Karina’s family, takes up math tutoring—and Chris is his first student. Karina and Chris become unlikely friends and smooth over past differences. When the kids are walking outside one day with Papa, a white man who decides Papa is a terrorist pulls over and begins slinging hateful speech at the trio, culminating in a physical attack that sends Papa to the hospital. Karina and Chris draw on their friendship, their families, and the unexpectedly unifying power of social media for strength against fear and hatred. Fast-paced first-person narration alternates between Karina and Chris. This accessible read tackles weighty issues like racism and hatred, while the warmth of the growing friendship among Karina, Chris, and Papa carries readers through the book’s stressful conflicts to its satisfying conclusion.  A solid recommendation for fans of books like Hena Khan’s Amina’s Voice and Gita Varadarajan and Sarah Weeks’s Save Me a Seat.”
—School Library Journal

“Seventh graders Karina Chopra and Chris Daniels live in Houston, Texas, and although they are next-door neighbors, they have different interests and their paths rarely cross. In fact, Karina, whose family is Indian, doesn’t want to be friends with Chris, whose family is white, because the boys he hangs out with are mean to her. Things change when Karina’s immigrant paternal grandfather, Papa, moves in with Karina’s family. Papa begins tutoring Chris in math, and, as a result, Chris and Karina begin spending time with each other. Karina even comes to realize that Chris is not at all like the rest of his friends and that she should give him a second chance. One day, when Karina, Papa, and Chris are walking home from school, something terrible happens: They are assaulted by a stranger who calls Papa a Muslim terrorist, and he is badly injured. The children find themselves wanting to speak out for Papa and for other first-generation Americans like him. Narrated by Karina and Chris in alternate chapters, Bajaj’s novel gives readers varied and valuable perspectives of what it means to be first- and third-generation Indian Americans in an increasingly diverse nation. Unfortunately, however, Bajaj’s characters are quite bland, and the present-tense narrative voices of the preteen protagonists lack both distinction and authenticity. The novel’s dryness is mitigated in part by its exploration of immigrant identity, xenophobia, and hate crimes.”
—Kirkus Reviews

Groups Represented
Indian American

Themes
#OwnVoices
Bi-racial Identity
Community
Cross-Group Friendship
Family Relationships
First Generation
Race
Racial Discrimination
Survival
Trauma

Setting
United States

Engagement Projects & Resources
Share with us how you use the book! Leave a comment!

When Wings Expand
By Mehded Maryam Sinclair
Published by Kube Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 9780860374992
Age Range: 10+

Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat

“A 12-year-old Canadian Muslim girl chronicles the death of her terminally ill mother and her slow healing.”  —Kirkus Reviews

Description
She wrapped her arms around me and said, “Nur! I know. I don’t want to go. But all I can do is keep trusting in Allah. Nur, I will always be with you! My love and advice will always be with you to guide you in the right direction.” She patted my heart. “They are forever sealed inside this little place.”

Writing on the pages of her journal, Nur, a teenage girl in Canada, charts the onset and advance of her mother’s cancer. Nur watches her mother’s body begin to shrink and her mood begin to darken. And when family and friends begin to encroach, Nur must face the prospect of her mother’s looming death.

Nur bears the crushing loss and finds her adolescent life more demanding and complex. But with the legacy of her mother’s love, her family’s support, and the guidance of her faith, she manages to overcome the searing pain and use her newfound strength to bring joy to the lives of others, showing them that after death wings can expand.

Mehded Maryam Sinclair is a professional storyteller with twenty-five years of experience. Her career as a touring and teaching artist began with Vermont Council. She lived in Turkey for ten years, teaching language and storytelling, and now resides in Amman, Jordan. Mehded is the author of two picture books, Miraculous Happenings in the Year of the Elephant and A Trust of Treasures (both published by Kube Publishing, Ltd).

Reviews & Accolades
“A 12-year-old Canadian Muslim girl chronicles the death of her terminally ill mother and her slow healing. When the book opens, Nur’s mother has been sick for months, and treatments seem to be going nowhere. Nur picks up the diary her mother gave her and names it “Buraq” after a legendary animal that flew Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem. The piety that guides her here carries her through the gut-wrenching grief that is to follow, as does the discovery of some monarch butterfly chrysalises. Nur’s Baba tells her that “Allah has made everything in a pattern. He said people are part of that pattern too. Just like chrysalises don’t stay the same, people don’t stay the same either.” While skeptics may find the metaphor of a butterfly’s emergence from a chrysalis an inapt way to help a child deal with the death of a parent, it seems to work for Nur. Whether this book will work for children is another open question. Nur is so good, so pious, so ingenuous that she is very hard to relate to. While her grief and her rage never feel false, they are so quickly mitigated by her faith, at first mediated by her devout parents (her mother dies with “Allah” on her lips) and later on her own, that she seems more a role model for grieving in Islam than a real child. There are so few children’s books featuring sympathetic Muslim characters that it’s impossible to discount this one, but it’s pretty pallid stuff.”
—Kirkus Reviews

Groups Represented
Muslim Canadian

Themes
Bi-racial Identity
Cultural Identity
Family Death
Family Relationships
Grandparents & Intergenerational

Setting
Canada

Engagement Projects & Resources
Share with us how you use the book! Leave a comment!

A Place at the Table
By Saadia Faruqi & Laura Shovan
Published by HMH Books
ISBN-13: 9780358116684
Age Range: 10+

Find a copy at Amazon| IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat

Sara is at a new school that is completely unlike the small Islamic school she used to attend.

Description
Sixth graders Sara and Elizabeth could not be more different. Sara is at a new school that is completely unlike the small Islamic school she used to attend. Elizabeth has her own problems: her British mum has been struggling with depression. The girls meet in an after-school South Asian cooking class, which Elizabeth takes because her mom has stopped cooking, and which Sara, who hates to cook, is forced to attend because her mother is the teacher. The girls form a shaky alliance that gradually deepens, and they make plans to create the most amazing, mouth-watering cross-cultural dish together and win a spot on a local food show. They make good cooking partners . . . but can they learn to trust each other enough to become true friends?

Groups Represented
Muslim American

Themes
#OwnVoices
Bi-racial Identity
Celebration
Community
Cross-Group Friendship
Cultural Differences
Family Relationships

Setting
United States

Engagement Projects & Resources
Share with us how you use the book! Leave a comment!

The Other Half of Happy
By Rebecca Balcarcel
Published by Chronicle Books LLC
ISBN: 9781452169989
Age Range: 10+

Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat

“…a story of identity within one’s self and within a broader community.”  —School Library Journal

Description
Quijana must figure out which parts of herself are most important, and which pieces come together to make her whole.

This is a heartfelt poetic portrayal of a girl growing up, fitting in, and learning what it means to belong.

• Lyrical middle grade debut from author Rebecca Balcárcel
• A diverse and family-centered story that resonates with anyone who remembers, or is going through, growing pains
• Inclusively embraces real life experiences with biracial, autistic, and gay characters

One-half Guatemalan, one-half American: When Quijana’s Guatemalan cousins move to town, her dad seems ashamed that she doesn’t know more about her family’s heritage.

One-half crush, one-half buddy: When Quijana meets Zuri and Jayden, she knows she’s found true friends. But she can’t help the growing feelings she has for Jayden.

One-half kid, one-half grown-up: Quijana spends her nights Skyping with her ailing grandma and trying to figure out what’s going on with her increasingly hard-to-reach brother.

• A wonderful gift for bilingual and bicultural readers, introspective tweens and teens, and parents and educators
• Perfect for those who love the heart of Matt de la Peña, the honesty of Meg Medina, and the poetry of Kate DiCamillo
• Add it to the shelf with books like We Were Here by Matt de la Peña, Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina, and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

Reviews & Accolades
“American-born 12-year-old Quijana lives in Texas and is the child of a Guatemalan father and a white mother. When Quijana starts sixth grade at a new school, her Spanish teacher mistakenly believes that Quijana is a native speaker. Spanish-speaking classmates call her a “coconut,” their slang term for a Latino person who “acts white.” Luckily, Quijana befriends Jayden and Zuri and quickly develops a crush on Jayden. Outside of school, Quijana struggles with her immediate and extended family. Her paternal family moves to the area, and Quijana’s parents pressure her to engage with her Guatemalan side; they want her to wear a handmade garment called a huipil, which her abuela gives her, and speak Spanish with her on the phone. Inspired by her choir class, Quijana secretly learns to play her father’s guitar, writing her own music instead of playing the Spanish songs he wants to teach her. The family grows concerned about her younger brother Memito, who may have autism, and her maternal grandmother, Grandma Miller, who lives in Florida and has cancer. When Quijana’s parents arrange a family trip to Guatemala over the holiday break, she feels overwhelmed by family expectations and secretly buys a bus ticket to Grandma Miller’s house. At its core, Balcárcel’s novel is a story of identity within one’s self and within a broader community. Quijana wants to embrace the pieces of her Guatemalan identity on her own terms and at her own pace, which gradually brings her closer to her family. Zuri and Jayden also navigate their cultural and sexual identities, respectively. Quijana struggles with being named after Don Quixote, perceiving him, and herself, as people who rarely succeed. The narrative moves at a quick and steady pace, leaving each component of the plot with a satisfying ending and believable loose ends.  Balcárcel’s well-rounded characters, complex friendships, and nuanced family dynamics will resonate with many readers. This is a title that will remain relevant long past its publication date. A must-have for all library collections.”
—School Library Journal

“A seventh grader plots to run away to Grandma’s instead of going on a family trip abroad. Half-Guatemalan, half-white Quijana, named for Don Quixote, is much happier identifying as Anglo than Latinx. She doesn’t speak Spanish, a fact that doesn’t bother her too much until her Guatemalan cousins move to town, and not fitting in with the other Latinx kids at her new junior high doesn’t help matters. When her parents announce that the family, which includes her 3-year-old brother Memito, is going to Guatemala over winter break, Quijana knows she can’t go and embarrass herself. She resolves to save money and buy a bus ticket to Florida, where her maternal grandmother is going through cancer treatments. Key to her plan is selling the Guatemalan huipil her abuela sent her in order to pay for the trip. Biracial Quijana’s anxieties about her mixed identity, not fitting in, and wanting to find her own way will ring authentic for readers of mixed backgrounds, but her voice skews younger than 12, and preteens may be unconvinced of the sincerity of Quijana’s friendships with her peers compared with her hyperattachment to Grandma, who seems like her real best friend. Spanish phrases are (thankfully) not italicized but are usually translated within a few sentences; appendices include Grandma’s “wise words,” quotations from Don Quixote, titles of poems referenced in the text, directions to a game played, and science notes. A novel about liminality with little in the way of originality.”
—Kirkus Reviews

Groups Represented
Guatemalan American

Themes
Bi-racial Identity
Community
Cross-Group Friendship
Cultural Differences
Cultural Identity
Family Relationships
Identity

Setting
United States

Engagement Projects & Resources
Share with us how you use the book! Leave a comment!

Olor a perfume de viejita
By Claudia Guadalupe Martinez
Translated by Luis Humberto Crosthwaite
Published by Cinco Puntos Press
ISBN-13: 9781941026960
Age Range: 10+

Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat

…a bittersweet story about death, family and the resilient emotional strength of the human heart.

Description
Claudia Martinez’ debut novel for young adults is a bittersweet story about death, family and the resilient emotional strength of the human heart. Chela Gonzalez, the book’s narrator, is a nerd and a soccer player who can barely contain her excitement about starting the sixth grade. But nothing is as she imagined—her best friend turns on her to join the popular girls and they all act like Chela doesn’t exist. She buries herself in schoolwork and in the warm comfort of her family. To Chela, her family is like a solar system, with her father the sun and her mother, brothers and sister like planets rotating all around him. It’s the only world she fits in.

But that universe is threatened when her strong father has a stroke. Chela’s grandmother moves in to help the family. The smell of her old lady perfume invades the house. That smell is worse than Sundays. Sundays were sad, but they went just as sure as they came, but death was a whole other thing, and Chela doesn’t understand that’s what everyone is waiting for. In her grief and worry, Chela begins to discover herself and find her own strength.

Groups Represented
Mexican American

Themes
#OwnVoices
Bi-racial Identity
Community
Cross-Group Friendship
Family Relationships
Grandparents & Intergenerational
Identity

Setting
United States

Engagement Projects & Resources
Share with us how you use the book! Leave a comment!

The Everything I Have Lost
By Sylvia Zeleny
Published by Cinco Puntos Press
ISBN-13: 9781947627178
Age Range: 10+

Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N |

“This high-interest, authentic coming-of-age novel adds an important perspective to young adult collections.”  —School Library Journal

Description
12-year-old Julia keeps a diary about her life growing up in Juarez, Mexico. Life in Juarez is strange. People say it’s the murder capital of the world. Dad’s gone a lot. They can’t play outside because it isn’t safe. Drug cartels rule the streets. Cars and people disappear, leaving behind pet cats. Then Dad disappears and Julia and her brother go live with her aunt in El Paso. What’s happened to her Dad? Julia wonders. Is he going to disappear forever? A coming-of-age story set in today’s Juarez.

Reviews & Accolades
“In this sensitively told novel, Julia—soulful and yearning, yet also angry and sometimes hard-talking—feels trapped between her parents. She has grown up in Juárez, Mexico, just across the border from El Paso and known for its violence, its drug cartels, and for the girls and women who disappear there. In compelling diary reflections that follow her from ages 12 to 15, Julia’s narration swings between universal teen preoccupations—worries about clothes, her first day at school, a new house, boys—and extreme fears of being shot on the street and wondering if her father works for the narcos (one her mother shares and which causes tension between Julia’s parents). Eventually, the environment becomes so dangerous that Mamá sends Julia and her little brother to live with family members in El Paso. In an author’s note, Zéleny, oft-published in her native language of Spanish, explains that she first wrote this U.S. middle grade debut in Spanish, then rewrote it in English. Conveying the grim challenges Julia faces, Zéleny creates a fierce, funny, and full-of-feeling protagonist whose staccato diary entries pull the reader along.”
—Publishers Weekly

“In this realistic fiction title, Julia records her thoughts, emotions, and experiences in diaries over the course of four years (ages 12–15). Readers experience the teen’s rage, sorrow, insecurity, and questions: Why does her family move so often? How can her father suddenly earn so much money? Why must he make such frequent, lengthy work trips? Who is murdering so many women and girls in Juárez? Why does her mother refuse to answer questions, instead retreating into her world of painting? When Julia’s father vanishes and she is sent with her younger brother Willy to live with their tía in El Paso, the anger long bubbling inside begins to seep out. This new time of transition and loss is scary and painful, but hope comes as she starts to heal and learns to live and thrive in the borders of her world. Julia’s entries are often poetic and at times humorous but always honest and even raw. Themes of borders as fluid places of exchange, division, loss, and growth are presented literally, as in the bridge dividing El Paso, TX, and Juárez, Mexico, and figuratively, like the blurry line between her great-grandmother’s lucid wisdom and childlike memory loss, or Julia’s own youthful innocence and a growing awareness of painful adult realities.  This high-interest, authentic coming-of-age novel adds an important perspective to young adult collections.
—School Library Journal

“In short vignettes, Julia details her rocky adolescence as she and her family migrate across the Juárez-El Paso border.

Poetic diary entries chronicle her transformation from sheltered preteen to cynical teen. The unevenly paced narrative takes place against the backdrop of family drama, missing girls, and her father’s criminal dealings. The work is peppered with secondary characters who are not as fleshed out as Julia but who anchor the young woman as she slowly realizes the source of her father’s recent windfall. The protagonists who live in the U.S.—Bis, the strong-willed great-grandmother who is possibly dealing with dementia; Tía, the religious aunt who takes the siblings in when tragedy strikes and their neglectful artist mother stays behind in Juárez; and Jonás, an older, Americanized cousin—represent stability and freedom for Julia. In El Paso, they don’t have to worry about shootings, ransoms, and narcos. However, Texas carries its own troubles, including learning English, making new friends, and La Migra. Odd jumps in time and rushed plot twists confuse, and the main character’s overly naïve voice in the first half will turn off older teens, but her sexual curiosity and expletive-filled second half might overwhelm more sensitive readers. Rudimentary line drawings in the early entries distract rather than add nuance to the tale. A contemporary border story that hovers between too earnest and too nostalgic, never quite capturing an authentic teen voice.”
—Kirkus Reviews

Groups Represented
Mexican

Themes
#OwnVoices
Community
Family Relationships
Family Separation
Immigration
Learning English
Migrant Life
Survival
Trauma

Setting
Mexico
United States

Engagement Projects & Resources
Share with us how you use the book! Leave a comment!

Ana Maria Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle
By Hilda Eunice Burgos
Published by Lee & Low Books, Inc.
ISBN-13: 9781620143629
Age Range: 10+

Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat

“…an authentic representation of a successful immigrant, middle class Latinx family who values education, community, and family and stays true to their roots.”  —School Library Journal

Description
Her last name may mean “kings,” but Ana María Reyes REALLY does not live in a castle. Rather, she’s stuck in a tiny apartment with two parents (way too lovey-dovey), three sisters (way too dramatic), everyone’s friends (way too often), and a piano (which she never gets to practice). And when her parents announce a new baby is coming, that means they’ll have even less time for Ana María.

Then she hears about the Eleanor School, New York City’s best private academy. If Ana María can win a scholarship, she’ll be able to get out of her Washington Heights neighborhood school and achieve the education she’s longed for. To stand out, she’ll need to nail her piano piece at the upcoming city showcase, which means she has to practice through her sisters’ hijinks, the neighbors’ visits, a family trip to the Dominican Republic . . . right up until the baby’s birth! But some new friends and honest conversations help her figure out what truly matters, and know that she can succeed no matter what. Ana María Reyes may not be royal, but she’s certain to come out on top.

Reviews & Accolades
“When Ana María first saw her family’s New York City apartment at age three, “it seemed as big as a castle.” Now, the 11-year-old shares a tiny bedroom with two of her three sisters, and a new baby is on the way. A gifted student and pianist, the girl worries that a fifth sibling will financially jeopardize her chances of getting a good education and further distract her mother, whom she believes doesn’t love her as much as she loves her sisters. Writing in Ana María’s often angst-riddled voice, debut author Burgos builds the drama as her determined protagonist applies for a scholarship to a private school, performs in a piano recital at Lincoln Center, and discovers during a trip to her parents’ native Dominican Republic that the aunt she idolizes is a snob who abuses her adolescent maid. Despite encroachment on melodramatic turf, the novel offers a poignant portrait of a warm extended family, and its heroine’s transition from self-centered to empathetic is credible and gratifying.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Ana María Reyes doesn’t live in a castle, she lives in a two-bedroom apartment with her three sisters and both parents in Washington Heights, New York City. Ana María is caring, outspoken, and impulsive, driven by her emotions but also very goal-oriented. She yearns to attend a private academy, the Eleanor School, but her family doesn’t have the money for tuition. To earn a scholarship, she must pass a test and impress the judges playing the piano in a showcase recital at Lincoln Center. She is determined to study and practice every day, but finds it hard to do as part of a large and growing family. Her mother is expecting a new baby and her aunt is getting married. The family travels to the Dominican Republic for the wedding, where the protagonist gets know her family better and makes a new friend. While there, Ana María struggles to grasp the socioeconomic disparities she sees within her own family and community. Somehow, she finds time to practice, helps her family and friends through tough situations, and learns to deal with and accept the consequences of her actions. This middle grade novel is an engaging, character-driven story about an 11-year-old Dominican American girl who is learning about herself and to appreciate her family and friends. It is an authentic representation of a successful immigrant, middle class Latinx family who values education, community, and family and stays true to their roots.  An excellent book for tweens in upper elementary grades and for middle school library collections.”
—School Library Journal  (Starred Review)

“Ana Maria dreams of going to a top-notch private school, but with her family’s income, only a full scholarship will make her dream come true. Ana Maria Reyes Castillo—her father’s last name means Kings, and her mother’s last name means Castle—does not live in a castle even though her mother reminds her that “we are the Reyes! Wherever we live is our castle.” In fact, she lives with her parents and three sisters in a two-bedroom apartment in Washington Heights, a heavily Dominican neighborhood of New York City, and a new sibling is on its way, to boot. Through 11-year-old Ana Maria’s voice as she oscillates between self-absorption and empathy, readers discover a close-knit community of family and neighbors. As Ana Maria prepares for a piano recital that she hopes will help her win the coveted scholarship, other events ensue that help her see the importance of the choices she makes: a family trip to the Dominican Republic; a car accident; the birth of the new baby. Burgos’ characters have depth, and the community she portrays is complex, warm, and very real. Themes of socio-economic disparities, bilingualism, and straddling of two cultures are brought effortlessly and realistically into the story.Readers will find places in their hearts for this strong and multifaceted character.”
—Kirkus Reviews  (Starred Review)

Groups Represented
Dominican American

Themes
#OwnVoices
Bi-racial Identity
Bilingual Character
Community
Cultural Identity
Education
Family Relationships
Identity
Sibling Relationship
The Arts

Setting
United States

Engagement Projects & Resources
Share with us how you use the book! Leave a comment!

It’s Girls Like You, Mickey
By Patti Kim
Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9781534443457
Age Range: 10+

Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound| B&N | Worldcat

“This standalone companion to Kim’s I’m Ok shifts the focus to Ok’s friend Mickey McDonald, now starting the seventh grade and exchanging postcards with Ok, who has moved away.”  —Publishers Weekly

Description
For the first time in her confident, bold life, Mickey McDonald is nervous about starting school. Her best friend, Ok, has moved away; her father has probably left town for good; and she can’t afford to go back-to-school shopping. But she’s going to make the most of things because that’s the kind of person Mickey is. Nothing’s going to stand in her way or get her down.

Still, the first few days of school are rough, until she becomes friends with Sun Joo, who has just moved to town. Their connection is instant and strong. But things get complicated when Sydney, the popular (and mean) girl in Mickey’s class, also takes a shine to Sun Joo. Suddenly Mickey is facing her first ever friend breakup, and it’s getting harder and harder to keep her chin up. Luckily, Mickey’s made of tough stuff.

Reviews & Accolades
“This standalone companion to Kim’s I’m Ok shifts the focus to Ok’s friend Mickey McDonald, now starting the seventh grade and exchanging postcards with Ok, who has moved away.   After the family is deserted by her father, self-described “fat poor white girl” Mickey lives with her overworked, irritable mother and helps care for her little brother, Benny, and their menagerie of animals. When new girl Sun Joo, who is Korean, is assigned to be Mickey’s science partner, Mickey helps Sun Joo acclimate, learning Korean phrases and relishing having someone make her a friendship bracelet and nominate her for student government. Mickey sees a chance for them both to upgrade socially when Sun Joo gains the favor of the most popular girl in school, but encouraging her to join the popular group destroys their friendship and tests Mickey’s unshakable confidence. Despite money stress at home, Mickey stays upbeat and inventive, as when she creatively repurposes a pillowcase into a skirt, and models both empathy and compassion while confidently standing up to the school’s mean girl. Along with her desire to help others, Mickey’s unfiltered commentary, for example about her first period and her mother’s smoking habit, make her an inimitable protagonist worth rooting for.”
—Publishers Weekly

“A secondary character gets to tell her story in this companion title. A lot has changed since I’m Ok (2018). Headstrong Mickey’s best friend, Ok, has moved away, and they now communicate infrequently through postcards. She and former pal Asa have also drifted apart, only sharing greetings in the hallway. And as if middle school weren’t hard enough, she still takes care of her little brother, Benny, while navigating the volatile moods of her mother, who is exhausted from working nights since her dad up and left. While Mickey scrounges up meals at home, the confidence she exudes at school means that no one there knows of her struggles. Her prospects seem to brighten when she befriends a new student, Sun Joo. Mickey takes it upon herself to help Sun Joo—or Sunny, as Mickey nicknames her—learn English and navigate American culture. Mickey also learns more about Korean culture, bumbling Korean words all along the way in a sweetly equalizing manner. When the popular Sydney threatens to steal Sunny away, Mickey struggles once again to find her footing and confidence. The tightly written narrative bursts with personality and energy, but the sheer amount of issues Mickey faces frequently takes precedence over the girls’ friendship. Sunny herself goes through a drastic transformation, but her backstory is largely left to readers’ imaginations. Despite a few loose ends, Kim offers a charismatic heroine with plenty of grit.”
—Kirkus Reviews

Groups Represented
Korean American

Themes
#OwnVoices
Bi-racial Identity
Community
Cross-Group Friendship

Setting
United States

Engagement Projects & Resources
Share with us how you use the book! Leave a comment!

Dreams From Many Rivers
By Margarita Engle
Illustrated by Beatriz Gutierrez Hernandez
Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
ISBN-13: 9781627795319
Age Range: 10+

Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat

“…craft[s] a poetic picture of Hispanic history that begins with a trickle and ends in a torrent.”  —Kirkus Reviews

Description
From Juana Briones and Juan Ponce de León, to eighteenth century slaves and modern-day sixth graders, the many and varied people depicted in this moving narrative speak to the experiences and contributions of Latinos throughout the history of the United States, from the earliest known stories up to present day. It’s a portrait of a great, enormously varied, and enduring heritage. A compelling treatment of an important topic.

Reviews & Accolades
“This urgent historical survey by Engle (Dancing Hands) is ambitious in its scope: to tell the story of the lands now known as the United States through a combination of Hispanic voices and fictionalized composites. Starting with the Native Taíno people of Borikén—present-day Puerto Rico—in 1491 and concluding with anti-gun activist Emma González in 2018 Florida, the collection, told in verse, is divided into six parts that track the ebb and flow of borders and their impact on the colonized and occasionally the conquistador. Unfortunately, a lack of contextualizing details leaves many of the poems without clear historical anchors, even as they lean on expository lines (“My wife is the granddaughter of Hernán Cortés,/ who conquered the Aztec emperor Moctezuma”) that outnumber resonant moments. Hernandez’s muralistic illustrations—peopled landscapes, representative maps—provide some emotional resonance. The work is stronger as one of curation, lifting unsung stories and centering Latinx perspectives—for example, the deportation of thousands of American citizens during the Great Depression. Engle makes a case for the necessity of bearing witness to both suffering and survival, and young readers might use her text as a jumping-off point for further reading—and for documenting their own stories.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Engle addresses gaps in U.S. history for Latinxs, particularly topics that some may prefer omitted from cultural memory and the school curriculum. She does so through her signature free verse poetry format, with the overarching narrative told from multiple fictional and historical, first-person perspectives. Starting in an idyllic pre-Columbian Borikén (now the territory of Puerto Rico), the title spans more than five centuries, with the remaining five parts of the work set in the United States. Some of these sections receive more attention than others, but Gutierrez Hernandez’s illustrated U.S. maps coupled with Engle’s brief introductions serve as helpful organizers, situating the subsequent poetic content geographically, historically, and topically. Although the author lays out the book’s parameters, limitations, and questions it raises, the spaces of unstated details and time periods between poems require readers to have strong background knowledge or adult scaffolding for full comprehension. Resources referenced in the acknowledgments validate the vigorous research that went into the creation of this work—but unfortunately, do not provide middle and high school students with age-appropriate sources to answer their own questions after reading.  This title may be helpful to raise student interest and engagement in related social studies lessons, or as a mentor text for instruction in writing historical fiction or biographical free verse poems, especially given the paucity of coverage Latinx history receives in the school curriculum.”
—School Library Journal

“Engle merges streams of free-verse poetry into a Hispanic history lesson spanning centuries. Beginning on the shores of pre-Colombian Borikén (Puerto Rico), Engle imagines the voices of the Taíno as well as those of the colonizers and many diverse mestizos from across the Hispanic Americas to craft a poetic picture of Hispanic history that begins with a trickle and ends in a torrent. The author does not hide her point of view. She paints an idealized picture of Taíno culture—the only explicitly Indigenous voices represented—in which people lived in harmony with the land before the arrival of the Spaniards, a choice that elides the complicated history of the pre-Columbian Americas. As the story continues into the modern day, the featured characters demonstrate the wide variety of ethnic roots included in the multicolored tapestry of Hispanic culture, but there is not so much diversity in thought, as it largely celebrates those stories that align with contemporary liberal ideology. The retrospective look back reveals many narratives that seem to play on a loop as similar struggles are faced by successive generations and continue to this day, begging readers to learn from the past lest it repeat yet again. Within the authorial bias, the poetry is fluid and thought-provoking, and Latinx readers will find many narrative threads that will seem teased from their own family looms. A flawed but necessary history of a culture whose voices demand to be heard.”
—Kirkus Reviews

Groups Represented
Latinx

Themes
#OwnVoices
Historical

Setting
Puerto Rico
United States

Engagement Projects & Resources
Share with us how you use the book! Leave a comment!