Lucky Luna
About this book
Diana López returns to her middle-grade sweet spot in this delightful novel perfect for fans of Wendy Mass, Charise Mericle Harper, and Angela Cervantes.
Luna Ramos has too many primas to count, but there's one cousin that's always getting her into trouble, Claudia. After locking her in the bathroom at their other cousin's quinceañera, Luna is grounded for a month. Her punishment? Not being allowed to wear her signature hats, which she uses to hide her birthmark, a streak of white in her otherwise dark hair. The only thing that gives Luna the tiniest bit of satisfaction is knowing that Claudia is also being teased because she has a big nose.
Eventually, Luna discovers that Claudia was not being teased after all. Every joke Luna heard was actually directed at her! Luckily, Claudia comes to her rescue, standing up for Luna by telling the other kids to leave her alone. That's when Luna realizes the true meaning of her grandmother's wise advice — "blood is thicker than water." She and Claudia may not like each other, but they are still primas. And it's the job of primas to stand up for each other.
Reviews
Praise for Lucky Luna:"Sweetly poignant... Luna is a great character for young readers who feel like they can't catch a break or maybe don't fit in all the time." -- Booklist
"Lopez depicts a modern-day Latina who embraces her culture even if she is learning about it and doesn't speak Spanish. Readers will find themselves chuckling at the situations Luna gets herself into and smiling at the satisfying ending." -- School Library Journal
"[A] heartwarming tale of growing up Latina... with endearing messages about the bond between family." -- School Library Connection
Praise for Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel:
A VOYA Top Shelf for Middle School Readers Pick
2nd Place Winner of the 2014 NACCS Tejas Award for Young Adult Fiction
A Bank Street College Children's Book Committee Best Book of 2014 Selection
"A funny and heartfelt story... Balancing the heavy subject matter with generous doses of humor and an authentic young teen voice, López crafts a story that blends family and middle school drama successfully." -- Kirkus Reviews
"López (Choke) skillfully balances emotional moments with humorous ones, offering an honest portrait of a family under strain. Chia's clever, cheeky voice and a strong cast contribute to an inspiring story about developing 'a special kind of bravery.'" -- Publishers Weekly
"The many characters in Chia's life are individually and lovingly drawn... Readers will feel like Chia's family and friends could do anything as long as they stick together-and they may be right." -- Booklist
"Chia's voice shines... A fast-moving, absorbing read about how one person's illness can affect the whole family in many different ways." -- School Library Journal
"An honest, sometimes uncomfortable, but always hopeful look at how cancer affects family... Erika's story is full of the healing power of love." -- Guadalupe Garcia McCall, author of Summer of the Mariposas and Pura Belpre Award winner Under the Mesquite Tree
"[This is a] story of struggle, of surviving, and what is oftentimes a difficult healing, but a healing nevertheless. My own promesa after reading Lopez's wonderful novel: to run alongside my wife and hundreds of thousands of others on that day of the Race for the Cure from here henceforth." -- René Saldaña Jr., author of A Good Long Way
"There is much substance and a powerful story here." -- Library Media Connection
Praise for Confetti Girl:
"This debut novel puts at its center a likable girl facing realistic problems on her own terms." -- Booklist
"An appealing coming-of-age novel set in a traditional Mexican-American town." Kirkus Reviews
"López delicately displays the power of optimism and innovation during difficult times." -- Publishers Weekly
