Tag Archives: Latine

MMGM Review: Setting the Stage by Lindsay Champion

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , , , , ,
Setting the Stage by Lindsay Champion

Setting the Stage (Cast vs Crew #1)
Lindsay Champion
Pixel+Ink
Published October 21, 2025

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About Setting the Stage

SERIES LAUNCH! The full story of a junior high musical production, told exclusively from the POV of the kids backstage. It’s High School Musical, from behind the scenes…without the high school.

Every cast depends on its stage crew. But what happens when they hate each other? SETTING THE STAGE is the first act in a trilogy that tells the whole story!

Eighth grader Ella Amani has been waiting her whole life to be the stage manager of the middle school musical, and this is her year!

Somehow she’ll have to find jobs for Willow, who’s doing stage crew instead of detention, and Sebastian, a shy sixth grader whose sister is the star of the show. She’ll have to wrangle Kevin, the clumsy new kid who was homeschooled on a boat, and Levi, her best friend, who used to tell her everything.

Still, Ella’s pretty sure she can handle the crew. The cast? That’s a different story. They’re ungrateful, they treat the crew like servants, and when Ella finally pushes back, they start playing pranks!

Setting the Stage is a behind-the-scenes look at the drama of drama club from the crew’s point of view.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

My Review

The story alternates through four different points of view: Ella, the stage manager, Willow, the unwilling stage crew member serving out a dentention sentence, Sebastian, the younger brother of the musical’s star, and Levi, the technical lead who’s dealing with a challenging family situation.

Having all those points of view pulls the reader deeper into how the crew prepares for the musical while showing different perspectives on each of the characters. For example, Willow thinks of organized, committed Ella as being bossy and uptight at first. What she doesn’t realize is that Ella is good at finding ways for people to use their strengths as part of her team, and this helps Willow invest in her role backstage.

Showing both Levi and Ella’s points of view helps readers see that Ella’s perception of what’s happening with her best friend (a showmance) isn’t the full story. It makes sense that Levi would leave certain things about his past unsaid because of how his relationship with Ella works, and that when the pressure on those parts of his life increases, that leaves him in a hard place.

I feel like readers who are theater-curious will enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at how a stage crew works on putting together a show. It’s also a great middle school relationships story with a dash of romance. The romance angle shows one crush coming to a disappointing end and another ending with plans to go on a date, so even there, the story offers some different experiences.

At under 200 pages, this book is also a nice, short read. The story also includes some less common representation. One character has dyslexia and another lives with relatives in a foster placement.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
One brief kiss.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Kids play (generally harmless) pranks on one another.

Drug Content
Vague reference to Levi’s mom having had some past issues with alcohol.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

I’m sharing this post as a part of a weekly round-up of middle-grade posts called Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday. Check out other blogs with posts about middle-grade books today on Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays at Always in the Middle.

Review: Salvación by Sandra Proudman

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , ,

Salvación
Sandra Proudman
Wednesday Books
Published May 20, 2025

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About Salvación

In this Latinx YA fantasy inspired by El Zorro, Lola de La Peña becomes the masked heroine Salvación in order to save her family and town from a man who would destroy it for the magic it contains…if she doesn’t fall in love with one of his men first.

Lola de La Peña yearns to be free from the societal expectations of a young Mexican lady of her station. She spends her days pretending to be delicate and proper while watching her mamá cure the sick and injured with sal negra (black salt), a recently discovered magic that heals even the most mortal of sicknesses and wounds. But by night, she is Salvación, the free-spirit lady vigilante protecting the town of Coloma from those who threaten its peace and safety among the rising tension in Alta California after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

But one night, a woman races into Coloma, barely alive, to tell the horrifying tale of how her town was obliterated by sal roja, a potent, deadly magic capable of obliterating anything it comes into contact with and the man who wields it: Damien Hernández. And when Hernández arrives the next day with a party of fifty strong and promises of returning Alta California to México, Lola knows it’s only a matter of time before he brings the region under his rule—all Hernández needs is the next full moon and the stolen, ancient amulet he carries to mine enough sal roja to conquer the land. Determined to protect everything she loves, Lola races against time as Salvación to stop his plans. What she didn’t count on was the distracting and infuriating Alejandro, who travels with Hernández but doesn’t seem to share his ambitions. With the stakes higher than ever and Hernández getting closer to his goals, Lola will do anything to foil his plans, even teaming up with Alejandro—who she doesn’t fully trust, but can’t help but fall in love with.

My Review

The setting of this book took me back to my childhood memories of watching Zorro episodes on TV. It’s set in California in a town built up around a mine where someone has discovered a salt with healing power. Lola lives a privileged life in her town, but she wants nothing to do with the fancy dresses and future romance that her family might want for her. Instead, she wants to help others. Particularly, she wants to protect the people in her town from those who would harm them.

The story doesn’t follow a stereotypical superhero path. For one thing, though Lola has a secret identity as Salvación, she shares the identity with her brother. The two of them work as a team, but he stays in the shadows. As Salvación, she’s the face of their team.

I liked exploring the teamwork and their relationship as brother and sister within the story. Lola also isn’t the kind of hero who charges into danger with a sword every time there’s trouble. She does background investigating. She forms relationships. The girl has layers! I love that.

On the whole, I enjoyed the book. It really delivered the vibe of the Zorro TV episodes I watched as a little kid while telling a Latinx-centered story. If you like historical fantasy, you’ll want this one on your reading list.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
A few instances of profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Salt with magical properties can either help or harm someone.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Battle violence. A couple scenes include someone killing a captive or enemy.

Drug Content
Salt with healing properties cures disease and injury. Salt with destructive properties destroys any living thing it touches.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Cousins in the Time of Magic by Emma Otheguy

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Historical, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , ,

Cousins in the Time of Magic
Emma Otheguy
Aladdin
Published February 25, 2025

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About Cousins in the Time of Magic

Three cousins get transported back to 1862 to play an important role in the Battle of Puebla, the reason we celebrate Cinco de Mayo today, in this enchanting middle grade fantasy adventure.

History is alive with magic. That’s what zany Tía Xia is always telling cousins Jorge, Camila, and Siggy. Daredevil Jorge couldn’t be more different than his cousins: Camila is a dreamer who adores animals and Siggy is an aspiring influencer who has an exclusive party to attend. And their aunt has many secrets, including a mysterious diamond-encrusted sword that Jorge definitely wasn’t supposed to see.

But when the three stumble upon a time portal in their aunt’s yard, they are transported back to 1862, a past filled with wonders—and dangers. To return to the present, they must race to deliver the sword to General Ignacio Zaragoza in time for the historic Battle of Puebla in Mexico: the foundation of the holiday Cinco de Mayo.

As their journey to Mexico takes them through the Civil War–era United States, the cousins see just how much US history has been shaped by Latine communities. They must find the power within themselves to make sure things happen as they’re supposed to, without altering the past.

My Review

This is a fun, engaging way to introduce facts from Mexican history to young readers via cousins on a time-travel adventure. (Actually, I think two characters are brother and sister and cousin to the third character.)

I liked that the time-travel element was pretty simple, even if it was never really explained. It could have slowed the story down, but keeping it minimized worked here, I think. The characters were fun, and their differences made it easy to tell whose point of view we were following. The viewpoint shifts mid-scene, so sometimes one chapter has multiple points of view, but I thought it was still easy to follow.

One thing that I appreciated is the backmatter. First, a note from the author explains her intent. Next, a list of notes about characters and places shows readers the line between history and fiction. A glossary explains some other terms used in the book. Even with those resources, the book is about 200 pages long, so it’s a pretty quick read.

The ending leaves room for a sequel or series. I would love to see more books exploring Mexican or Latin American history through time travel.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Characters encounter magic and travel through time. One character believes Mexico should be governed by a monarch who will impose Catholicism on everyone.

Violent Content
A bully dares a boy to do a handstand on a rooftop.

Drug Content
References to an adult drinking alcohol and beginning to slur his words.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

I’m sharing this post as a part of a weekly round-up of middle-grade posts called Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday. Check out other blogs with posts about middle-grade books today on Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays at Always in the Middle with Greg Pattridge.

Review: Fortune’s Kiss by Amber Clement

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , ,

Fortune’s Kiss
Amber Clement
Union Square & Co.
Published November 12, 2024

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About Fortune’s Kiss

The legendary Fortune’s Kiss has returned to Ciudad Milagro for the first time in ten years. The magical gambling house shows up twice a year in a new city during the solstices to lure those worthy enough to wager their souls for wealth, the realization of their greatest desires, and, even, immortality.

Known by many names throughout the years, it returns to Milagro as El Beso de la Fortuna . . . and the game is Lotería. And best friends Mayté Robles and Lorena (Lo) de León are determined to change their lives, escape the dangerous men who threaten them, and gain riches.

Mayté, the sole daughter of the disgraced Robles family, wishes to leave her family and become a successful painter, while Lo suffers at the hands of her powerful and abusive father and seeks to find her mother, who escaped to Fortune’s Kiss years ago but never returned.

When Fortune’s Kiss finally returns to their city, the pair follow on their childhood blood pact to enter the gaming salon. But once inside, Mayté and Lo quickly realize that beneath the marvelous glamour, the salon is hiding dangerous secrets and the house always wins. And the game of Lotería is not the children’s game they grew up playing—it is a deadly lottery of chance.

With the help of a young, handsome croupier, the girls embark on a mission to unravel the mystery of the salon’s magic, find Lo’s mother, and try to win a nearly impossible game as their friendship is put under the greatest of tests.

My Review

This book has a lot going on in it! The relationship between Lo and Mayté sits at its center, though, and I loved that celebration of friendship and sisterhood.

In some places, I thought the narrative was a little heavy-handed, reminding readers or repeatedly dropping hints that the bad guys are bad and the good guys are good. Once Lo and Mayté entered the game, I thought that smoothed out, though.

Some elements of the book reminded me of Hotel Magnifique or The Splendor. The chaos of the game reminded me a bit of The Marvelous, which also invites its players into shifting alliances and rivalries with one another.

The world in which the girls live before the game has some references to colonialism and a very patriarchal society which leaves them both no choice but to find husbands to care for them in order to secure a future– something Lo desperately wants to avoid, and Mayté isn’t sure she can achieve with her family’s fallen status.

Entering the game not only offers the girls a chance to change their destinies but also forces them to face secrets and betrayals from their pasts. I liked the way the tension built and ultimately led to the story’s resolution. This is a really ambitious debut, and I’m excited to see what Amber Clement writes next.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Most characters are Latine. A few are from a colonizer class.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild swearing used infrequently. There are a few places in which Spanish swears are used.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
References to God and other deities. Some characters have the ability to use magic. The game enacts curses and other consequences on its players, both negative and positive.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. A girl stabs someone with a knife multiple times. A girl uses a piece of broken glass to kill an injured person. References to abuse and domestic violence. A man hints that he would kidnap a girl and traffick her because her family owes him money.

Drug Content
Some characters drink potions which cause positive or negative effects. For example, a potion puts someone to sleep. Another heals someone’s wounds.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: HoverGirls by Geneva Bowers

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,

HoverGirls
Geneva Bowers
Bloomsbury
Published August 6, 2024

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About HoverGirls

The web comic sensation about magical girls by acclaimed illustrator Geneva Bowers, now in a beautiful print edition, featuring an expanded storyline and revised art!

Jalissa and Kim Vasquez are cousins who move to the city of Los Aguaceros together. Kim dreams of becoming a famous model and fashion designer, while Jalissa is just trying to hold herself together after a breakdown the year before.

When a curious incident on the beach leaves them with supernatural powers and monsters start attacking the city, Kim decides that using their powers to stop them is the perfect way for them to become famous. But being heroes isn’t as easy as it seems–and Los Aquaceros is in more danger than they imagine.

This beautifully illustrated and hilarious YA graphic novel began as a web comic and quickly became a WEBTOON sensation. This print edition features an expanded story and updated art, offering something for new and old fans alike!

My Review

The illustrations in this graphic novel definitely live up to the hype. The character expressions are great, and the color palette is warm and inviting.

Jalissa and Kim are a grumpy/sunshine pair. Kim dreams of being a famous fashion designer and sees the best possibilities in everyone around her. Jalissa is the more grounded, responsible cousin.

When the girls receive superpowers, Kim hopes that their adventures in saving the city will boost their notoriety and help her achieve her personal goals. Jalissa would rather stay on the couch in her comfy clothes and watch soap operas. She reluctantly gives the superhero life a try, though, if only to make sure Kim stays safe.

The story celebrates the life of girls getting out on their own for the first time and strong female superheroes. It’s a fun adventure for readers who enjoy stories like Karate Prom by Kyle Starks.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Main characters are Latine. Jalissa is romantically interested in another girl.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kim dates a boy who seems more interested in taking advantage of her than in her. Jalissa is romantically interested in another girl.

Spiritual Content
The girls develop magic powers after encountering an otherworldly creature.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Battles between the girls and strange flying fish.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , ,

Furia
Yamile Saied Méndez
Algonquin Young Readers
Published September 15, 2020

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Furia

An #ownvoices contemporary YA set in Argentina, about a rising soccer star who must put everything on the line—even her blooming love story—to follow her dreams.

In Rosario, Argentina, Camila Hassan lives a double life.

At home, she is a careful daughter, living within her mother’s narrow expectations, in her rising-soccer-star brother’s shadow, and under the abusive rule of her short-tempered father.

On the field, she is La Furia, a powerhouse of skill and talent. When her team qualifies for the South American tournament, Camila gets the chance to see just how far those talents can take her. In her wildest dreams, she’d get an athletic scholarship to a North American university.

But the path ahead isn’t easy. Her parents don’t know about her passion. They wouldn’t allow a girl to play fútbol—and she needs their permission to go any farther. And the boy she once loved is back in town. Since he left, Diego has become an international star, playing in Italy for the renowned team Juventus. Camila doesn’t have time to be distracted by her feelings for him. Things aren’t the same as when he left: she has her own passions and ambitions now, and La Furia cannot be denied. As her life becomes more complicated, Camila is forced to face her secrets and make her way in a world with no place for the dreams and ambition of a girl like her.

My Review

I remember really wanting to read this book when it came out. I haven’t read a lot of soccer books, and I’m not super familiar with the game, but that didn’t hinder my enjoyment of this book at all.

At the surface, this is a story of a girl who wants to win an important soccer tournament that could open doors for her to play on a professional team. She must balance school, an after-school job, family pressure, and the pull of romance with her passion for soccer. The team experiences trouble, from losses, injured players, and people forcing players to quit, so the stakes rise as the story progresses.

In the early chapters, the romance kind of dominated the story. I loved the relationship between Camila and Diego, so I didn’t mind this at all. It also allowed us to see the contrast between how Diego treated Camila and how her father and other men in her life treated women.

We still got to see a lot of scenes of Camila practicing and playing soccer, and I loved that, too. I felt like those scenes were very easy to follow, even for someone who isn’t super familiar with the game. I found it easy to lose myself in the intensity of the game and Camila’s fierce desire to win.

Underneath all of that, though, the author shares commentary on Argentinian culture. Not too long ago, it was illegal for women to play soccer. Even still, the players in the book faced enormous prejudice and pressure to quit. The story references how often girls disappear and how little law enforcement has done to address the problem. As a result, Camila worries for her safety when she has to be out at night and while she rides the bus. Sometimes family members use the danger as reason to squash her independence.

FURIA is definitely a book that swept in during the pandemic and didn’t get nearly as much notice as it should have. I think fans of YOU DON’T HAVE A SHOT by Racquel Marie or WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH by Elizabeth Acevedo will love this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Camila is multi-racial, with a Russian great-grandmother, Pakistani grandfather, Andalusian grandmother and Black great-great-grandmother. She is also Argentinian and lives in Rosario.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used once. Mild profanity used fewer than a dozen times.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl. A woman tells Camila she wasn’t allowed to play soccer because her parents thought it would make her a lesbian. Two of the female soccer players on Camila’s team are dating.

Spiritual Content
Camila thanks la Virgencita for a good thing that happens. She buys a card for La Difunta, a saint who died in the desert and was found still nursing her baby in a beam of sunshine. Camila makes plans to bring water to a shrine for the saint and asks for her help. Camila visits a healer who calls on the saints and the Lord to heal her and says the healing will depend on Camila’s faith.

Violent Content
Camila gets hit in the face by a soccer ball and knocked down during a game. A twelve-year-old girl goes missing and is later found murdered. Camila reflects on how often this happens to young women in Rosario and the injustice of that. A man knocks a teenage girl down and hits her with a belt.

Drug Content
References to alcohol and smoking.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything but help support this blog.