Confetti Girl

June 1, 2009
Apolonia “Lina” Flores is a brave Latina girl trying to restore her life in Corpus Christi, Tex., after her mother's death. Her dad is a single-minded English teacher and bibliophile who has withdrawn to the point of disappearance since the tragedy (“Sometimes when I dream about him, I see a body, a neck, and a book where his face should be,” Lina says). Despite her frustrations with her father, sixth-grader Lina is determined to create her own world of fun. “People who think socks are just for feet have no imagination,” she says (she collects them and uses them for “coasters, bookmarks, wallets, and dusters”). Alongside Vanessa (her “best friend since forever”), Lina gains confidence by playing sports and relying on her own ingenuity (she dresses up as “red tide” one Halloween). The story is saturated with Spanish traditions, such as the making of “cascarones” (confetti-filled eggs), and the chapters begin with “dichos,” truisms that help Lina feel connected to her mother. Employing lovely metaphors and realistic dialogue, adult author López (Sofia's Saints
) delicately displays the power of optimism and innovation during difficult times. Ages 8–12.

July 1, 2009
Gr 4-8-Lina attends middle school in Corpus Cristi, TX, has a crush on classmate Luís, loves science and sports, and has a sock obsession as a result of her pants never being long enough for her tall body. Her best friend, Vanessa Cantu, lives across the street with her mother, who is still bitter about a divorce that happened a few years earlier. Linas mother died last year, and her father is still grieving but struggling to live up to his responsibilities. "Dichos", Spanish sayings or proverbs, are translated at the top of every chapter. Spanish phrases are sprinkled throughout the text, reflecting Linas bilingual community. The budding romance, and typical middle school events such as detention, lunchroom disasters, and reports, keep things moving. Lina is essentially a sunny, happy child and her sadness and anger are more blips on the radar than real angst. A subplot about Luíss stuttering seems extraneous. Quite typical in characters, plot, and style, this story is most notable for its casual introduction to Spanish language and culture, overtly accessible to all."Carol A. Edwards, Denver Public Library"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2009
Grades 4-7 Living in Corpus Christi, Texas, sixth-graderLina Flores, along with her father, is trying to put her life backtogether following her mothers death. To divert herself, she and her best friend, Vanessa, write Vanessas recently divorced mom love poems under the name Silver Fox. Meanwhile, the girls have romances of their own;Lina has set her heart on a classmate with a speech impediment, while Vanessa sneaks around with her boyfriend to evade her disapproving mother. Misunderstandings abound when Lina reacts to her fathers seeming absence, as well as her own grief, by doing poorly in school, but fortunately a supportive counselor helps pull her through. Lpez effectively portrays theTexas setting and the characters Latino heritage; Vanessas mother dealswith her divorce byobsessively makingMexican cascaronesconfetti-filled eggshellsand Spanish is sprinkled throughout. This debut novelputs at its center a likable girl facing realistic problems on her own terms.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)