{"product_id":"shine-on-luz-veliz-paperback","title":"Shine On, Luz Véliz! - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eRebecca Balcarcel\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA beautiful coming-of-age story for fans of \u003ci\u003eFront Desk\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eMerci Suárez Changes Gears\u003c\/i\u003e, this award-winning book celebrates identity, language, heritage, family, and the determination to follow one's own inner light. Now in paperback!\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Have you ever been the best at something . . . only to lose it all? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Luz Véliz is a soccer star--or rather, she was a soccer star. With her serious knee injury, it's unlikely she'll be back on the field anytime soon. But without soccer, who is she? Even her dad treats her differently now--like he doesn't know her or, worse, like he doesn't even like her. When Luz discovers she has a knack for coding, it feels like a lifeline to a better self. If she can just ace the May Showcase, she'll not only skip a level in her coding courses and impress Ms. Freeman and intriguing, brilliant Trevor--she'll have her parents cheering her on from the sidelines, just the way she likes it. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e But something--someone--is about to enter the Vélizes' lives. And when Solana arrives, nothing will be the same ever again. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Unforgettable characters, family drama, and dauntless determination illuminate Luz's journey as she summons her inner strength and learns to accept others and embrace the enduring connection of family. Through it all, Luz's light is a constant--a guide for others, a path forward through the dark, and an ineffable celebration of her own eternal self. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFAST-PACED FAMILY DRAMA: Fast-paced, deeply felt, and with all the high highs and low lows of adolescence, this story is downright \u003ci\u003efun\u003c\/i\u003e--a page-turner even while it's dealing with serious issues. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e WHO AM I?: This book grapples with a topic so many young people deal with daily: one's relationship to heritage and culture. Luz confronts her ties to her home country, the place of her father's birth, and her family itself in a thoughtful, emotional journey filled with humor, urgency, and grace. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e CODING IS COOL!: Coding is a language many kids enjoy learning and are encouraged to master. The way this book frames coding and computer programming as an opportunity for communication, bonding, and building fun, practical skills will speak loudly to kids already interested in the field while also resonating with those who aren't. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e AN ALL-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: This is an important book for its thought-provoking, empathetic look at immigration in the United States and how the threat of deportation informs the experiences of some of our country's most vulnerable communities. With lyrical prose, deeply felt characters, and a relatable story, \u003ci\u003eShine On, Luz Véliz!\u003c\/i\u003e adds substantively to our fraught discussion about immigration and opens it to young readers. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR: Rebecca Balcárcel won the Pura Belpré Author Honor, which recognizes literature for children or youth that best portrays the Latino cultural experience, for her first book, \u003ci\u003eThe Other Half of Happy\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003ci\u003eShine On, Luz Véliz!\u003c\/i\u003e was a finalist for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Award, a 2023 Rise Booklist Honoree, winner for Best Middle Grade Book from the Texas Institute of Letters, and more. Balcárcel is a beloved presence in the children's literature community and is making her mark as a writer to watch. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePerfect for: \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Kids who love reading about complex relationships \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Kids who love coding \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Parents, teachers, and librarians seeking engaging middle school novels and STEM books for kids \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Fans of \u003ci\u003eThe Other Half of Happy\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Fans of Pam Muňoz Ryan, Meg Medina, Rebecca Stead, Kelly Yang, and Kwame Alexander \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eRebecca Balcárcel's\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003edebut novel, \u003ci\u003eThe Other Half of Happy\u003c\/i\u003e, is a Pura Belpré Honor book and was named a Booklist Top 10 First Novel for Youth of the Year and an ALSC Notable Children's Book. She currently serves the students of Tarrant County College as associate professor of English and lives in Bedford, Texas. Find her on YouTube as the SixMinuteScholar.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 288\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.6 x 7.8 x 5.3 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e March 26, 2024\u003c\/div\u003e\n                \u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAccelerated Reader:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n                \n                \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQuiz Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shine On, Luz Veliz!\u003c\/div\u003e\n                \n                \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterest Level:\u003c\/strong\u003e Middle Grades, 4-8\u003c\/div\u003e\n                \n                \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReading Level:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3.8\u003c\/div\u003e\n                \n                \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePoint Value:\u003c\/strong\u003e 7\u003c\/div\u003e\n                ","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42699938889824,"sku":"9781797227757","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/bijoucc.myshopify.com\/products\/shine-on-luz-veliz-paperback","provider":"CARIBBEAN CONNECT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}