Reviews
"[A] well written novel about family and pride and would be a great addition to the library."-- School Library Connection, Praise for Stef Soto, Taco Queen : "The core of the story--friendship and the importance of family--wins out, leaving tweens with a satisfying, gentle read."-- School Library Journal, Praise for Stef Soto, Taco Queen : "The core of the story--friendship and the importance of family--wins out, leaving tweens with a satisfying, gentle read." -- School Library Journal "[A] well written novel about family and pride and would be a great addition to the library." -- School Library Connection "[An] engaging glimpse of food-truck culture through the Soto family's sacrifices, values, and hardships. Once readers get past the drama, they'll cheer for Stef Soto, her family, and Tia Perla." -- Kirkus Reviews "This cheery, relatable story features short and sweet chapters with plenty of Spanish words and phrases sprinkled in and a cheer-worthy main character in Stef, a happy, funny girl who adores art above all." -- Booklis "The bones of this polished debut are familar...but Torres fleshes them out with authenticity, humor, and heart. Stef's fresh, honest voice will resonate with a broad swath of readers, as will the relatable struggles she negotiates." -- Publishers Weekly "Spanish words and humorous banter pepper the dialogue, and the dual stories of the threatened family business and Stef's issues with classmates make a nice, age-appropriate balance that validates Stef's experience while pointing to a world beyond middle school politics. Readers will be happy to snack on this...." -- The Bulletin, "[An] engaging glimpse of food-truck culture through the Soto family's sacrifices, values, and hardships. Once readers get past the drama, they'll cheer for Stef Soto, her family, and Tia Perla."-- Kirkus Reviews, "Fans of Torres' Stef Soto, Taco Queen will delight in this pleasing mix of friendship story, Latino culture, and carnival milieu."-- BCCB, "A wide range of middle grade readers are likely to see aspects of themselves in both Flor and Miranda."-- School Library Journal, Praise for Flor and Miranda Steal the Show : "[A] lively, fast-paced adventure." -- Publishers Weekly "Readers will enjoy getting to know both protagonists and will root for them till the last page." -- Booklist "A wide range of middle grade readers are likely to see aspects of themselves in both Flor and Miranda." -- School Library Journal "Fans of Torres' Stef Soto, Taco Queen will delight in this pleasing mix of friendship story, Latino culture, and carnival milieu." -- BCCB "Readers cannot help but root for both heroines, who feel like two regular girls with universal struggles despite their uncommon circumstances. Feelings of summer fun and smells of funnel cake with follow readers home from this engaging story of family and friendship." -- Kirkus Reviews, "An affectionate portrayal of a Latinx family struggling with a life-changing crisis."-- The Bulletin, "Readers cannot help but root for both heroines, who feel like two regular girls with universal struggles despite their uncommon circumstances. Feelings of summer fun and smells of funnel cake with follow readers home from this engaging story of family and friendship."-- Kirkus Reviews, Praise for Flor and Miranda Steal the Show : "[A] lively, fast-paced adventure."-- Publishers Weekly, "Fans of Kelly Yang's Front Desk (2018) will enjoy Geez' entrepreneurial spirit and appreciate another strong-minded young woman of color seeking ways to relieve her family's financial burden. An enjoyable story about the ingenuity and bonds that help a family withstand tough times."-- Kirkus Reviews, "Spanish words and humorous banter pepper the dialogue, and the dual stories of the threatened family business and Stef's issues with classmates make a nice, age-appropriate balance that validates Stef's experience while pointing to a world beyond middle school politics. Readers will be happy to snack on this..."-- The Bulletin, "The bones of this polished debut are familar...but Torres fleshes them out with authenticity, humor, and heart. Stef's fresh, honest voice will resonate with a broad swath of readers, as will the relatable struggles she negotiates."-- Publishers Weekly, "This cheery, relatable story features short and sweet chapters with plenty of Spanish words and phrases sprinkled in and a cheer-worthy main character in Stef, a happy, funny girl who adores art above all."-- Booklist, "Readers will enjoy getting to know both protagonists and will root for them till the last page."-- Booklist, Praise for The Fresh New Face of Griselda : "Fans of Kelly Yang's Front Desk (2018) will enjoy Geez' entrepreneurial spirit and appreciate another strong-minded young woman of color seeking ways to relieve her family's financial burden. An enjoyable story about the ingenuity and bonds that help a family withstand tough times."-- Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
After one girl's parents lose their home, it would seem easy for her to lose hope, too--but in this inspiring story of family and friendship, just the opposite happens. Griselda "Geez" Zaragoza has a love for beautiful things, like her collection of vintage teacups and the flower garden she and her dad planted in the front yard. But when his business goes bankrupt, Geez loses not just her house, but also her confidence and her trust in her unflappable parents. Tagging along with her big sister Maribel, who postponed college for a job selling Alma Cosmetics, Geez dreams up a way to reclaim the life she thinks she lost. If she can sell enough tubes of glistening, glittery Alma lip gloss, she'll win a cash prize that could help jump start her dad's business. In this moving coming-of-age novel, Geez will learn that a home isn't just lost or found, but made and re-made., A moving coming-of-age novel about one girl's struggles after her parents lose their home, and her journey to find hope in family and friendship, from Jennifer Torres, the author of Stef Soto, Taco Queen. Griselda "Geez" Zaragoza has a love for beautiful things, like her collection of vintage teacups and the flower garden she and her dad planted in the front yard. But when his business fails, Griselda loses not just her home, but also her confidence and her trust in her unflappable parents. Tagging along with big sister Maribel, who postponed college for a job selling Alma Cosmetics, Geez dreams up a way to reclaim the life she thinks she lost. If she can sell enough tubes of glistening, glittery Alma lip gloss, she'll win a cash prize that could help jump start her dad's business. With ups and downs along the way, Geez will discover that beauty isn't just lost or found, but made and re-made., Griselda "Geez" Zaragoza has a love for beautiful things, like her collection of vintage teacups and the flower garden she and her dad planted in the front yard. But when his business fails, Griselda loses not just her home but also her confidence and her trust in her unflappable parents. Tagging along with big sister Maribel, who postponed college for a job selling Alma Cosmetics, Geez dreams up a way to reclaim the life she thinks she lost: If she can sell enough tubes of glistening, glittery Alma lip gloss, she'll win a cash prize that could help jump start her dad's business. With ups and downs along the way, Geez will discover that beauty isn't just lost or found but made and re-made.
