Next to Mexico

December 1, 2008
Gr 4-6-Lylice has skipped a year and is new to Susan B. Anthony Middle School in her hometown of Tucson. Worried about making friends, the sixth grader becomes the English Buddy to Mexico, a student from Nogales who lives with her aunt and is a talented artist. The girls visit one another, play in the band, and discuss ways to protest Principal Harrington's cancellation of the art program. When Mexico is hospitalized because her aunt is about to be unemployed and can't afford her niece's insulin, the girls finagle a job interview for her by forging a letter on stolen school stationery. Then, because of a boy on whom she has a crush, Lylice hurts her friend's feelings. Spanish words and phrases are cleverly introduced and add authenticity to depictions of Spanish class, and to Mexico's conversations with her aunt. Lylice writes for the school paper, and her articles add information to the story. Her passionate, enthusiastic voice and humor help to gather up the many subplots into a happy ending."Debbie S. Hoskins, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI"

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