Stella Díaz Never Gives Up

December 1, 2019
A family trip to Mexico inspires a girl to save the oceans. Stella is going to have a great summer. Her mother is taking her and her older brother to Mexico to visit family, and when they return to Chicago, she'll be attending day camp at the Shedd Aquarium! But she soon finds out the ocean isn't all fun and games. It's filled with plastic and trash. With her friends from day camp, Stella starts a club and pledges to reduce her own impact on the ocean and to encourage others to do the same, passing along what she learns to readers as she goes. Stella's narrative voice is earnest and authentic to her age; the text is not detailed enough to make for a good classroom complement to an environmental or marine unit or to satisfy avid ocean fans, but it may inspire readers to start to be interested in marine ecology and environmental activism. Dominguez explains her choice to italicize Spanish words in an author's note as an aid for children unfamiliar with the language. Readers who are comfortable with Spanish already may feel that words seem sprinkled in just to teach vocabulary rather than being a true, natural use of Spanish for a heritage speaker of the language. This is Stella's second outing, but readers don't need familiarity with Stella Díaz Has Something To Say (2018) to fall in love with her. The protagonist will endear readers to her; she may also create some environmental converts. (Fiction. 6-10)

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January 1, 2020

Gr 3-5-Stella Diaz takes on summer with the same energy and curiosity she brought to school when first introduced in Stella Diaz Has Something to Say. Whether she's seeing the ocean for the first time or attending the Shedd Aquarium summer camp, Stella finds support and confidence to raise her voice in advocacy. Worried that her passion for protecting the marine life is hers alone, Stella's heart soars when her new camp friends join her saving-the-oceans club. The racially diverse group of friends raise money for the Marine Mammal Center and work together to spread awareness about reducing plastic consumption. Culturally specific details, especially during a visit to Mexico City to see family, are seamlessly woven into Stella's first-person narrative. Although conflicts are minor, the character dynamics shine. Readers with teenage siblings will identify with Stella's struggle to understand her older brother as he gains independence. Dominguez deftly navigates Stella's feelings of helplessness when confronted with the enormity of the impact of human consumption, providing readers with reassurance that even little changes make a big difference. Grayscale illustrations, sprinkled throughout, provide context for new vocabulary. Spanish words are printed in italics-an intentional, inclusive choice according to the author's note-so the text is easier for readers to navigate, no matter their familiarity with the Spanish language. Back matter includes information about ocean conservancy and a list of websites to explore. VERDICT A stellar sequel or stand-alone title with a plot that strikes the perfect balance between character-driven action and activism.-Amy Seto Forrester, Denver Public Library

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