Rebecca Balcárcel
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OUT NOW!
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Coming 5.3.2022
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SHINE ON, LUZ VELIZ...
Have you ever been the best at something . . . only to lose it all?
Luz Véliz is a soccer star-or rather, she was a soccer star. With her serious knee injury, it's unlikely she'll be back on the field anytime soon. But without soccer, who is she? Even her dad treats her differently now—like he doesn't know her or, worse, like he doesn't even like her. When Luz discovers she has a knack for coding, it feels like a lifeline to a better self. If she can just ace the May Showcase, she'll not only skip a level in her coding courses and impress Ms. Freeman and intriguing, brilliant Trevor—she'll have her parents cheering her on from the sidelines, just the way she likes it.
But something—someone—is about to enter the Vélizes' life. And when Solana arrives, nothing will be the same, ever again.
Unforgettable characters, family drama, and dauntless determination illuminate Luz's journey as she summons her inner strength and learns to accept others and embrace the enduring connection of family. Through it all, Luz's light is a constant—a guide for others, a path forward through the dark, and an ineffable celebration of her own eternal self.
This is the second novel by Pure Belpré Honor winner Rebecca Balcárcel!
Coming 5.3.2022
ADD TO GOODREADS
Have you ever been the best at something . . . only to lose it all?
Luz Véliz is a soccer star-or rather, she was a soccer star. With her serious knee injury, it's unlikely she'll be back on the field anytime soon. But without soccer, who is she? Even her dad treats her differently now—like he doesn't know her or, worse, like he doesn't even like her. When Luz discovers she has a knack for coding, it feels like a lifeline to a better self. If she can just ace the May Showcase, she'll not only skip a level in her coding courses and impress Ms. Freeman and intriguing, brilliant Trevor—she'll have her parents cheering her on from the sidelines, just the way she likes it.
But something—someone—is about to enter the Vélizes' life. And when Solana arrives, nothing will be the same, ever again.
Unforgettable characters, family drama, and dauntless determination illuminate Luz's journey as she summons her inner strength and learns to accept others and embrace the enduring connection of family. Through it all, Luz's light is a constant—a guide for others, a path forward through the dark, and an ineffable celebration of her own eternal self.
This is the second novel by Pure Belpré Honor winner Rebecca Balcárcel!
Coming 5.3.2022
ADD TO GOODREADS
THE OTHER HALF OF HAPPY...
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.
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.
ADD TO GOODREADS
ORDER HERE
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.
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.
ADD TO GOODREADS
ORDER HERE
Rebecca pets her cat when she is not writing, grading student essays, or eating popcorn. Her debut novel, THE OTHER HALF OF HAPPY, is a Pura Belpré Honor Book and was named one of Booklist’s Top Ten First Novels of 2019 as well as a Notable Book by American Library Services for Children.
Drop over to her YouTube channel, SixMinuteScholar, to hear chats about literature and writing. Look for her next novel, SHINE ON, LUZ VÉLIZ, about a girl who codes, in spring 2022.
https://rebeccabalcarcel.com/
Drop over to her YouTube channel, SixMinuteScholar, to hear chats about literature and writing. Look for her next novel, SHINE ON, LUZ VÉLIZ, about a girl who codes, in spring 2022.
https://rebeccabalcarcel.com/