reformadeflorida Book Reviews

“One last chance to live” Francisco X. Stork

Scholastic Press (Scholastic). 305 p. To be published September 3, 2024.

Reviewed by Alma Ramos-McDermott

Category: High school

Rating: 5 stars

Seventeen-year-old Nico has been in love with his neighbor Rosario since they were little. Though both loved to write and wanted to be famous, Rosario was obsessed. She needed writing to be her ticket away from their neighborhood. Since her future was all planned out Nico couldn’t understand why Rosario was later found dead from an overdose, so became preoccupied with finding out why she committed suicide.

As he struggled to figure out a strange dream he had about his own death, Nico’s pain was interrupted by the news his mother was very ill and his little brother was joining a local gang. Though he’s not interested in anything not having to do with Rosario, Nico must climb out of the hole he’s dug for himself or allow his dream to come true.

Told through Nico’s memories and the present time, his story of unrequited love, heartache, suicide, and death is complicated and messy. Stork left a few unexplained issues, which gives his teen readers opportunities to discuss solutions amongst themselves or in a book club.

Note: This review was originally posted in You decide: Should I read it or not?

Reproduced here as a courtesy of Alma Ramos-McDermott.

reformadeflorida Chapter News

REFORMA de FL at Miami Book Fair 2023

Miami, FL November 2023

REFORMA de FL President, Maria Vega, and Immediate Past President, Mari Martinez, joined the Miami Book Fair on Sunday, November 19, 2023 to moderate a panel with authors and illustrators of middle grade fantasy and spooky book for middle grades. titled: “Through the Looking Glass: Adventures in Alternate Universes” with authors Ryan Calejo, Angela Cervantes, Monica Magaña, and Justine Pucella Winans.

reformadeflorida Book Reviews

Book review: Jasmine is haunted

“Jasmine is haunted” Mark Oshiro. Starscape (Tom Doherty Associates/Tor Publishing Group.) To be published October 1, 2024.

Reviewed by Alma Ramos-McDermott

Category: Middle school

Rating: 5 stars

Twelve-year-old Jasmine has been haunted since she was eight, the year her father died. For four years, she and her mom moved from place to place as ghost noises became too much for the neighbors. In the beginning, her mom used to listen to her fears about the ghost but now her mom won’t talk about it. Jasmine kept her fears and feelings bottled up, never able to make friends, as they never seemed to settle down.

A month into 8th grade Jasmine starts another new school, where she meets Bea and Jorge in the school’s GSA club. She soon finds out Bea is a ghost hunter, and Jorge tags along trying to get over his fear of ghosts. Together, they offer to help her find out why a ghost has been haunting her and why. Jasmine is fearful of ridicule, but soon gains acceptance and finds herself with friends for the first time in years.

As the trio work together Jasmine finds herself dealing with more than one ghost as they’re noisily invading her home and school, breaking and throwing things. It isn’t until her mother relents and calls her aunt to step in to help them that Jasmine finally learns her family history and the reason ghosts are attracted to her. Jasmin is haunted, but the past holds the key to her present.

From its first pages, middle grade readers will be engrossed in Jasmine’s dilemma as its realistic characters engage, entertain, and educate.

Recommended for ages 12-15.

Note: This review was originally posted in You decide: Should I read it or not?

Reproduced here as a courtesy of Alma Ramos-McDermott.

reformadeflorida Chapter News

See you at the Miami Book Fair!

Grab your biggest bags because you’re going to need them! It’s that time of the year where we all meet at the Miami Book Fair (MBF). We’ll shop through the Street Fair, we’ll eat delicious food, we’ll enjoy amazing music, and we’ll meet incredible authors! Are you ready for all of these literacy and culture galore!!!???

This Fall membership social will be at the MBF on Sunday, November 19th. Details of the meeting time and location will be shared with members via email. You can connect with us via reformafl@gmail.com.

That Sunday, November 19th at 3:00 PM, REFORMA de FL’s president, Maria Vega and immediate past president, Mari Martinez Serrano will be moderating a middle-grade chapter book panel titled: “Through the Looking Glass: Adventures in Alternate Universes” with authors Ryan Calejo, Angela Cervantes, Monica Magaña, and Justine Pucella Winans.

We hope to see you there!

A special thank you to our partners:

reformadeflorida Chapter News

October 26th, 2023 is Read for the Record!

This year, Jumpstart’s 18th Annual Read for the Record campaign will be held on October 26, 2023. Thousands of schools, libraries, organizations, and communities will celebrate early literacy by reading the book: With Lots of Love/ Con mucho amor by Jenny Torres Sanchez, illustrated by André Ceolin! This is a beautiful story about family, finding ways to stay connected, and sharing love across distances. This is also a touching story that celebrates Latino culture and voices!

""

Jumpstart’s Read for the Record is a national campaign to bring young children together with valued grownups in their lives to read the same book, on the same day, in communities all over the world. The event– a day of celebration and fun– builds an intergenerational community through reading and raises awareness around the critical importance of early literacy and access to inclusive, high-quality books. Over 18 years to date, more than 26 million people have participated in Read for the Record, and Jumpstart has distributed hundreds of thousands of high-quality books to children in underserved communities. 

Visit Read for the Record (opens in a new window) to learn about Jumpstart’s work with children, find out about this year’s campaign, and register to read. #ReadfortheRecord2023 #ShareLove 

More about the Book: With Lots of Love/Con mucho amor is a story about a girl who has moved to the United States from her home in Central America, away from everything she leaves behind and longs for especially her Abuela (grandmother).

Rocio does her best to adjust to a new way of living, but there are many things she misses from her old life – Abuela’s cooking, Abuela’s piñata creations, Abuela’s warm hugs, and of course, Abuela herself most of all. But Abuela finds a way to send Rocio something special just in time for her birthday – a gift wrapped with lots of love – and that fills Rocio to the brim.

About the Author: Jenny Torres Sanchez is a full-time writer and former English teacher. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, but has lived on the border of two worlds her whole life. She is the author of We Are Not From Here; The Fall of Innocence; Because of the Sun; Death, Dickinson, and the Demented Life of Frenchie Garcia; and The Downside of Being Charlie. She lives in Orlando, Florida, with her husband and children.

Download free activities to celebrate this year’s Read for the Record!

*We also learned that the app Novel Effect will be offering the soundscape of the title for free on October 26!

write-a-letter-to-your-loved-one-activity-read-for-the-record-8.5-x-11-inDownload
abuelas-mug-activity-read-for-the-recordDownload
decorate-a-pinata_-read-for-the-record-1Download

reformadeflorida Chapter News

REFORMA de Florida Welcomes our New Presidenta!

Please join our celebration and welcome our new presidenta, Maria Vega from Broward County.

The official presidential gavel was passed to our new presidenta by the past president, Mari Martinez Serrano at the Conference on Children’s Literature on Friday, September 22, 2023. During the conference, REFORMA de FL hosted an information table and gave away books to new members. Also, the chapter’s past and incoming presidents and longtime Reformista and award-winning author, Lucia M. Gonzalez led a Q&A with Florida Latina Authors Vanessa Garcia, Chantel Acevedo, and Jenny Torres Sanchez. During this celebration of Latino heritage and literature, panelists discussed REFORMA and the importance of representation in youth books and media. The Q&A concluded with a Broward County Library and REFORMA de FL sponsored book raffle!

We can’t wait for our next membership event at the Miami Book Fair! Save the date. More details coming soon.

reformadeflorida Chapter News

We’re meeting… IN PERSON! See you at the Conference on Children’s Literature!

Since our big comeback in 2020, we haven’t had the chance to all meet in person… until NOW! We’re excited to announce our first Fall membership social at the Conference on Children’s Literature on Friday, September 22, 2023, in Broward County. Learn more, register for free, and save the date on the Conference’s official page.

A little bit more about the Conference on Children’s Literature:

Held every year in one of Broward County Library’s branches, this free, all-day event is full of excellent and engaging creators. The Conference this year will be held in the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (2650 W Sistrunk Blvd Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311) from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Read more about which authors you’ll meet at the Conference HERE!

If you’re planning to attend the Conference, please email us so we can keep in touch and let you know where to meet the rest of the chapter. We can’t wait to see you there!

reformadeflorida Chapter News

REFORMA Children In Crisis Project

Books & Library Connectionsfor Unaccompanied Refugee Children
The National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos & the Spanish Speaking

If you or someone you know is looking to donate Spanish and bilingual books for children, consider sending them to REFORMA’s Children in Crisis Project!

REFORMA Children in Crisis – Est. 2014

Founded in 2014, The REFORMA Children in Crisis project has been addressing the needs of asylum-seeking children arriving at our borders. Over the years, they have worked with shelters, charities, and many other grassroots organizations to collect and bring Spanish and bilingual Spanish/English books for children and their families arriving at the borders. As more and more little ones arrive with their families, the need for more books is constant and urgent. Help us spread the word about this initiative and learn how you can support their efforts to share the wonder of stories and literacy with arriving children because libraries have no borders.

Making a donation is easy! Visit their donation page to learn about the many ways you can help from anywhere. On that page, you can make monetary donations that are used to select, purchase, and ship books to recently arrived unaccompanied refugee children. Also, If you wish to donate Spanish or Spanish/English children and teen books in new or gently used condition please send an email to the project’s Task Force at cic@reforma.org.

reformadeflorida Book Reviews

Book Review: When You Get to the Other Side

“When you get to the other side” Mariana Osorio Gumá; Translated by Cecilia Weddell. Cinco Puntos Press (Lee & Low). 300 p. 2022.

Reviewed by: Alma Ramos-McDermott

Category: Adults

Rating: 5 stars

Emilia and her older brother Goyo had been raised by their grandmother after their mother died. Mamita had been struck by lightning when she a little girl, allowing her to see and hear things not from this world. She became a powerful curandera, and Emilia had been training to follow in her footsteps.

After she died, Emilia and Goyo were alone for months since their father and uncles crossed the border years earlier. Their only hope of survival was to join a group heading for the border, where they hoped to reunite with their father in Colorado. However, after they made it across the border and into the desert, they were separated. Traitorous guides allowed the men to be captured by the Border Patrol while the women were taken by a trafficking ring. Emilia was going to be a special favorite of the leader because of her young age. Goyo managed to avoid capture but, despite thirst, cold, and hunger, he was determined to make it across the desert to find his little sister.

Emilia and Goyo’s trials capture readers as their stories alternate between memories of Mamita and horrors in the desert. Many Mexican women disappear on their way to the United States, and the author sheds light on their possible fates. Crimes committed by Mexican cartels against more than 100,000 missing people continue today.

Note: This review was originally posted in You Decide: Should I read it or not?

Reproduced here as a courtesy of Alma Ramos-McDermott

reformadeflorida Book Reviews

Book Review: A Seed in the Sun

A Seed in the Sun, by Aida Salazar. Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin Random House). 255 p. 2022.(Includes Author’s note and Resources). 

Reviewed by: Alma Ramos-McDermott

Category: Children (Recommended for 10-14 years old)

Rating: 5 stars

Lula and her farmworker family travel from labor camp to labor camp performing back-breaking work under a hot California sun. Their work lives consist of little pay, no breaks, and squalid bedbug-filled hovels. In 1965 the family arrived in Delano to pick grapes. Lula was excited to start seventh grade, but Papá forced her to work. Though they had unknowingly walked into a strike organized by Filipino workers for better pay and working conditions, Papá refused to join. Day after day they crossed the picket lines until Mamá became very ill from pesticides. Papá couldn’t afford money for her care so, when he discovered union members could get free medical help, they joined the strike.

Lula was fascinated by the leadership qualities of co-union leader Dolores Huerta, while Papá would only listen to César Chávez because he believed men’s voices were more important than women’s. Through their struggles to survive the strong-armed tactics of the rich growers, which included arrests by crooked police and evictions, Lula worked to keep her dream alive. She hoped to make Papá proud and show him she was important.

In this story seeds are compared to farmworkers because seeds are strong, hold the memory of those who came before, become something new, and give new life. Though held down for decades by growers and crushed into the soil, farmworkers are seeds fighting to grow and survive. Having worked as a librarian with migrant farmworker families for years, I find it sad the battle for their rights continues.

Note: This review was originally posted in You Decide: Should I read it or not?

Reproduced here as a courtesy of Alma Ramos-McDermott.