Keka NovalesRezensionen

First sentence: The delicious smell of bacon and waffles woke me up in the morning. I knew what that meant--Sunday!

Premise/plot: Lola breaks a mirror her grandmother gave her. She's convinced for almost the entire book that bad luck is coming and is already starting to ruin everything.

MY thoughts: I wanted to like this one because of the Texas setting. But her superstitious woes irritated me so much. I wish I'd started with any other book in the series but this one.

First sentence: Happy birthday to you.

Premise/plot: Lola is given tickets to the ballet for her birthday (by her grandparents). Lola then has a sudden desire to dance, dance, dance. But when she doesn't immediately--a few lessons in--get a big role in Swan Lake (like why is she in the production at all???) she finds a way to be cheerful as a chicken.

My thoughts: This book irritated me too. I don't understand how someone who has only taken a few lessons, at best, and mid-course at that. (Just randomly showing up to ballet class and joining in) has been given any part no matter how small. There's a LOT of time between dance class number one and recital number one. And this isn't even a recital, but a production of a ballet--Swan Lake. I do have a tendency to overthink things.

Lola's a great character, and this story feels totally relatable -- cultural misunderstandings lead to a lot of turmoil, and this story walks through those feelings and how to resolve them. Well done, and I love it when a book can be this short and still have a solid story to tell.

Great early chapter book about starting a new school, despite misgivings and a fear of change. Lola is supported by her beloved family and a special visit from her Guatemalan Abuelita and finds a successful end to her challenges. I loved the Guatemalan heritage representation.

Lola travels with her abuela to spend two weeks in "Guate." She's excited to see the sights and spend time with her cousins, while the adults hope she'll connect with her heritage and improve her Spanish. But it's off to a rough start with cousin Luis who criticizes Lola's Spanish and thinks she's a showoff. A simple story for newly fluent readers that acknowledges the trials of feeling like an outsider.