{"product_id":"shine-on-luz-veliz-hardcover","title":"Shine On, Luz Véliz! - Hardcover","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 book celebrates identity, language, heritage, family, and the determination to follow one's own inner light.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHave you ever been the best at something . . . only to lose it all? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eLuz 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\u003eBut something--someone--is about to enter the Vélizes' life. And when Solana arrives, nothing will be the same, ever again. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eUnforgettable 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\u003eThis is the second novel by Pure Belpré Honor winner Rebecca Balcárcel! \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\u003eWHO 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\u003eCODING 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\u003eAN ALL-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: This is an important book for its thought-provoking, empathetic look at immigration in the United States and at 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 V\u0026amp;eacaute;liz!\u003c\/i\u003e adds substantively to our fraught discussion about immigration and opens it to young readers. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAUTHOR ON THE RISE: 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. She is a beloved presence in the children's literature community and is making her mark as a writer to watch. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePerfect for: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e- Kids who love reading about family and friend drama\u003cbr\u003e- Kids who love coding\u003cbr\u003e- Parents\u003cbr\u003e- Grandparents\u003cbr\u003e- Educators\u003cbr\u003e- Fans of Meg Medina, Rebecca Stead, and Kelly Yang\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eRebecca Balcárcel took her MFA in Creative Writing and Literature from Bennington College's Writing Seminars and received their Jane Kenyon Poetry Prize. \u003ci\u003eThe Other Half of Happy\u003c\/i\u003e won the Pura Belpré Author Honor, which recognizes literature for children or youth that best portrays the Latinx cultural experience. Her poems and essays have appeared in journals such as \u003ci\u003eThird Coast\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eNorth American Review\u003c\/i\u003e, and her book of poems is titled \u003ci\u003ePalabras In Each Fist\u003c\/i\u003e. She currently serves the students of Tarrant County College as Associate Professor of English and lives in Belford, Texas. Find her on YouTube as the SixMinuteScholar.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 332\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.94 x 8.37 x 6.04 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e May 03, 2022\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51766940533024,"sku":"9781797209678","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/8a76b0936f55929bf25226ddef5beb19.webp?v=1780301336","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/shine-on-luz-veliz-hardcover","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}