Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar

  Ruthie is a go-go boots loving Cuban-Jewish immigrant living in New York during the 1960s. She is the hopscotch queen in her multicultural neighborhood and quickly gaining confidence in her ability to speak English. But a horrible accident brings her world to a screeching halt, leaving her confined and fragile. She must rely on …

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya

Arturo Zamora lives in a tight-knit community in Miami. His Abuela owns La Cocina de la Isla, a local Cuban restaurant. His entire family lives in his apartment complex. And he knows almost all of his neighbors because they like to frequent Abuela’s restaurant. But when a land developer comes to remodel the town all …

Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder

When I saw Kelly Barnhill, Newbery Medal- winning author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon, share praise about Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder, I knew I needed to check it out. Here is what Barnhill had to say:  “Laurel Snyder has written a story that curls around the heart and pulls in tight--a meditation …

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

Suzy Swanson’s best friend Franny Jackson was an excellent swimmer. So when Suzy’s mom gets a phone call from Franny’s mother telling her that Franny drowned, Suzy refuses to believe it. There is no way she could have drowned. In fact, Suzy suspects her once BFF was actually stung by an Irukandji jellyfish and will …