Sing It Like Celia

February 1, 2024
Reeling from her mother's sudden, unexplained disappearance, a 12-year-old adapts to living with her investigative journalist father. Mexican-born Salvadora Sanchez enjoys living in San Diego with her mom and singing and dancing to the music of her favorite salsa singer, Celia Cruz. But Salva's world turns upside down when her mother, a hardworking nurse, fails to come home one night. Salva is forced to leave behind her school and beloved choir to move in with the long-absent father she barely knows. Papi takes them to live on a campground near a small town where he's reporting for the Times on the detention and threatened deportation of Marc�a Lopez, a mother of three. Papi hopes his reporting will help bring attention to the plight of undocumented immigrants, and Salva bonds with Marc�a's daughter over the trauma of missing their mothers. She also befriends some local kids who have a band, but tension arises between her and the band's insecure lead singer when the other members increasingly highlight Salva for solos. Her life is upended again when she discovers the truth about what happened to her mother and confronts hateful prejudice. With encouragement from her new friends and inspiration from her hero, Celia Cruz, Salva finds her voice, as well as the strength to survive, thrive, and help others. One unresolved plot point in this heartwarming and compassionate story may leave readers wondering but hopeful. A tender coming-of-age story about kindness, courage, and community. (Fiction. 9-12)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2024
The day Salva Sanchez's mami didn't come home, her life was turned upside down. Now she's living out of a van in an RV campground with her investigative journalist papi. He's on assignment in Mule Valley reporting on an undocumented woman, Marcia Lopez, who is being held in a detention center and is set for deportation away from her three young children. Salva hangs out at the campground while her father works, her only comforts the songs of salsa legend Celia Cruz. One day Salva ventures out from the campground, and music pulls her inside the local middle school, where she befriends a group of kids in a band. Salva, who blends salsa beats into contemporary pop songs, replaces the belittling Darcy as lead singer. While planning a benefit concert for Marcia to afford a top-notch immigration lawyer, Salva unexpectedly uncovers the shocking truth about Mami. Mancillas handles the difficult topic of a parent who is incarcerated with care. The circumstances are presented directly and in an age-appropriate manner. In the end, Salva confronts Papi for lying to her and sets boundaries with Mami. She also stands up to Darcy's bullying and finds that her voice can help others. An uplifting exploration of family and friendship, mental health, and finding one's place. Yesica Hurd

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

April 15, 2024
Grades 4-7 "�Az�car!" Middle-grade readers will sing after reading this uplifting tale of music and friendship. Seventh-grader Salvadora Sanchez, known as Salva, sees her world rocked when her mother does not come home. Feeling scared and abandoned, Salva calls her father, whom she has not seen in a year. Her father, an investigative journalist, takes her to a remote town where Marcia, a mother of three, faces deportation, and his newspaper wants the scoop. Bonding over music, Salva makes friends with the seventh-graders there who have a band. Salva loves to sing salsa music, specifically the music of Cuban legend Celia Cruz. Learning about Marcia's uphill battle to stay in the country, Salva and the band decide to throw a benefit concert, much to the chagrin of the lead singer. Mancillas conveys Salva's uncertain feelings by not revealing much about adult problems. Sensitive issues such as racism, parental incarceration, and disagreements between friends pose a challenge for Salva, while her new friends help her navigate questions of race and family.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2024
The day Salva Sanchez's mami didn't come home, her life was turned upside down. Now she's living out of a van in an RV campground with her investigative journalist papi. He's on assignment in Mule Valley reporting on an undocumented woman, Marcia Lopez, who is being held in a detention center and is set for deportation away from her three young children. Salva hangs out at the campground while her father works, her only comforts the songs of salsa legend Celia Cruz. One day Salva ventures out from the campground, and music pulls her inside the local middle school, where she befriends a group of kids in a band. Salva, who blends salsa beats into contemporary pop songs, replaces the belittling Darcy as lead singer. While planning a benefit concert for Marcia to afford a top-notch immigration lawyer, Salva unexpectedly uncovers the shocking truth about Mami. Mancillas handles the difficult topic of a parent who is incarcerated with care. The circumstances are presented directly and in an age-appropriate manner. In the end, Salva confronts Papi for lying to her and sets boundaries with Mami. She also stands up to Darcy's bullying and finds that her voice can help others. An uplifting exploration of family and friendship, mental health, and finding one's place.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)