reformadeflorida Uncategorized

“Hungered” Amanda Rizkalla

Henry Holt and Company (Macmillan). Published May 19, 2026.

Recommended for ages 14-16.

Reviewed by: Alma Ramos-McDermott

Category: Young Adult

Rating: 3 stars

Twelve-year-old Sophia and her four-year-old brother Rafa lived in a car with their mother. Life had been normal with their half-Mexican/half-Arabic family until their father did something bad. As a result, Mama packed up the car with them and a few of their things and left. For weeks they drove aimlessly, parked in strange places at night, cleaned up wherever they could, and went hungry for long periods of time. Mama was desperate, selling her wedding ring and doing what she could to find food and get gas money. She finally found a job, but it was hard to save for an apartment, so they continued to live in the car. Sophia and Rafa spent a lot of time at the library waiting for her to come back from work or amusing themselves in the car with silly games. Things seemed to look up when they found an apartment, went back to school, and Sophia made friends. Unfortunately, their lives were soon uprooted once again.

I understood the author was writing about the effects of homelessness and poverty on families, a young girl’s changing feelings and emotions, and how memories helped get her through a trying time. What I didn’t understand was the confusing ending, the priest’s identity, why he called their mother a different name, and why she ran from him. Since he comes up quite a bit, I don’t understand why this wasn’t explained. I had given it 4 stars because of the important subject matter but took away 1 star because of it being incomplete in these areas.

Though I wasn’t a fan of its incompleteness, the subject is important, so I will recommend it to readers ages 14-16. (Though Sophia is only 12, mature subject matter on the birds and the bees makes it more suitable for an older audience.)

I received an advanced e-reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Note: This review was originally published on You Decide: Should I read it or not?

Reproduced here as a courtesy to Alma Ramos-McDermott.

reformadeflorida Uncategorized

“Hear ye mortals” Yamile Saied Méndez

Levine Querido (Chronicle Books). Published May 5, 2026.

Recommended for ages 16 and older.

Reviewed by: Alma Ramos-McDermott

Category: Young Adult

Rating: 5 stars

When a teen girl is murdered in the city of Rosario, Argentina, an angel is sent to collect her soul, but her body hasn’t yet been discovered, and she doesn’t remember her name. To help her remember while they waited, the angel told her the story of a band called Río Babel which she had been on her way to hear when she was killed. Though it had been fifty years since she’d last been with them, the angel had never forgotten. A piece of her soul would forever be tied to their famous song.

In 1976, teen brothers Daniel and Adrián felt the pulse and beat of music in their souls. After a truck full of pigs crashed near their home and were slaughtered by the hungry people, Adrián wrote a song about it. With Daniel’s melody, it transfixed everyone who heard it. At the time, Argentinians were suffering under the brutal heel of an authoritarian government, so it was easy for the public to believe it was about the police and their heavy-handed treatment. The band was thrilled to hear their song on everyone’s lips, thinking it would rocket them to stardom. Instead of fame, the band found themselves in the crosshairs of those cleansing the country from people who make music that moves souls.

I was filled with sorrow as I read. Death narrated horrors in Zusak’s “The Book Thief.” So, too, does the angel describing how the brutal regime imprisoned, tortured, murdered, and disappeared tens of thousands. I wasn’t surprised to learn the U.S. knew about this brutal dictatorship, funding them with millions. It’s not a secret the U.S. was involved in destabilizing Latin American governments since the 19th century. During the Cold War, authoritarians had their financial backing to prevent communism from reaching its shores.

This would make an excellent book to include in a high school book club as well as one for Adults, as it has much to discuss. In 2021, the author won the first Young Adult Pura Belpré award ever given for her book “Furia.” I believe this book will net her another one when winners are announced in January 2027. You read it here first.

Highly recommended for ages 16 and older.

I received an advanced e-reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Note: This review was originally published on You Decide: Should I read it or not?

Reproduced here as a courtesy to Alma Ramos-McDermott.

reformadeflorida Book Reviews

“The reel wish” Yamile Saied Méndez

Tu Books (Lee & Low Books Inc.) 2025.

Reviewed by: Alma Ramos-McDermott

Category: Elementary/Middle School

Rating: 5 stars

Ever since they were little girls Florencia and her best friend Selena have been going to ballet school and performing in productions. Now that they’re eleven they are allowed to try out for the role of Clara in the studio’s production of “The Nutcracker.” One by one the dancers fail to capture their teacher’s attention, but Florencia’s audition is perfect, and she wins the role. Unable to hide her jealousy, Selena turns her back on her best friend and ices her out of her life. Other dancers accuse the teacher of political correctness as being the only reason Florencia got the role. Things get worse after Florencia has a panic attack on opening night, Selena steps into her role, and she’s thrown out of ballet school for embarrassing the teacher.

Since ballet and Selena have been part of her life for so many years, Florencia doesn’t know how to cope. Her panic attacks worsen but, with the help of her psychologist, medication, two fringe students she met at school, and Irish dancing, Florencia starts to make a new life for herself. However, Selena is not content with being queen at her ballet school as she and her new friends want to ruin Florencia’s life. Though Florencia has always been one to internalize her feelings, she will have to learn to stand up for herself.

Yamile has created a believable character in Florencia, as the pitfalls of losing one’s best friend, trying to create a new social life when one’s old life is in shambles, and bullying are often real parts of 6th grade.

Recommended for ages 10-14.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Note: This review was originally published on You Decide: Should I read it or not?

Reproduced here as a courtesy to Alma Ramos-McDermott.

reformadeflorida Book Reviews

“Bobbito’s book of b-ball bong bong!: A memoir of sports, style, and soul” Bobbito García

Edge of Sports (Akashic Books.) 216 p. To be published July 1, 2025.

Reviewed by: Alma Ramos-McDermott

Category: High School/Adult

Rating: 5 stars

Bobbito grew up on 97th Street in New York City and, like everyone else in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, grew up playing basketball. Pick-up games in NYC were rough, and he had to be tough if he wanted to play. He had to learn to hold his own and to have style while doing it. Bobbito learned the game by playing against and watching future and current NBA and NCAA players on the courts, received tips from local coaches and friends, and practiced hard every single day. His life revolved around basketball. Though he wasn’t as good as some of the greats that played in Harlem and nearby courts back in the day, Bobbito could hold his own and developed a few tricks that wowed the crowd.

Eventually, his knowledge and love for the game took Bobbito around the world as he became a coach, sports interviewer, writer, producer, hip hop host, and more. However, nothing could ever make him happier than the feel of a basketball in his hands and the swish of the net as his jump shot hit its mark.

In his own words Bobbito describes the good and bad of growing up in NYC, describing in detail how basketball was a unifying sport and gave purpose to his life. Despite often being called a white boy because of his light skin, Bobbito was proud of his Puerto Rican heritage and his skills on the court silenced naysayers.

Teens and adults interested in the game of basketball, its famous greats, and more, will be drawn into Bobbito’s story through his humor, first-person narrative, no-holds-barred NYC street lingo, and large, colorful photographs that accompany the text. It would make a great book club read for reluctant teen readers especially if, after every chapter, they were given the chance to practice what they learned on the courts.

Recommended for ages 16 and older.

Note: This review was originally published on You Decide: Should I read it or not?

Reproduced here as a courtesy to Alma Ramos-McDermott.