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Shine On, Luz Veliz!

by Rebecca Balcarcel

CCBC Review:

Permanently sidelined from playing soccer by a serious injury, Luz, 11, is going through a time of transition made harder by the fact that her dad was her coach; they’ve been struggling to connect since she was hurt. The tension she senses between her parents also isn’t helping. And who is she without soccer? Pursuing her interest in coding, Luz is learning from their neighbor, Mr. Mac, a retired engineer. Then her dad drops a bombshell: He recently learned he has a 13-year-old daughter in Guatemala, where he’s originally from. Solana’s mother has died and Solana is coming to live with them. Luz is shocked and angry and certainly not prepared to welcome her half-sister. Despite her resentment, Luz can’t deny, once Solana arrives, that she’s likeable; in fact, Solana is remarkably upbeat and seems to find it easier to make friends than Luz does. But no matter how nice Solana is, Luz doesn’t want to share Mr. Mac and robotics … until she discovers how much Solana is hurting, hiding the pain she feels over everything she’s lost. Solana’s backstory provides insights into aspects of contemporary life in Guatemala in a novel featuring sisters with a passion for coding and who are both expanding their understanding of family. ©2022 Cooperative Children’s Book Center

CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 9-12
Age Range: Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10) Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Format: Novel
Subjects: Accidents and Injuries Fathers Grief and Loss Guatemalans and Guatemalan Americans Jealousy/Envy Older Adults Secrets Sisters Sports Technology and Engineering
Diversity subject: Latine

Publisher: Chronicle
Publish Year: 2022
Pages: 262
ISBN: 9781797209678
CCBC Location: Fiction, Balcarcel

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