12/11/2023

Twelve-year-old Manula Semilla is worried; not only has her first period still not arrived, but she’s been constantly clashing with her mother. Their fights become more frequent when Mami plans a trip for Mani and her parents to visit family in Guatemala, even though Mani would prefer to spend time with her friend group, Las Nerdas. When an anatomy lesson at school goes awry, prompting unwanted attention from male classmates, Mani and Las Nerdas realize that certain boys’ harassment of their female classmates extends beyond their classroom. But what can Las Nerdas do about it? After Mani finds letters in the attic from her missing aunt addressed to her mother, she unravels the history of gender inequality in Guatemala and learns that her aunt was a journalist attempting to report on rampant femicide. Inspired by her aunt’s letters, Mani slowly drums up the courage to stand up against the school’s administration and their unwillingness to confront bullying. Using perceptive prose, debut author Lapera approaches Guatemala’s fraught history with care and respect, and lovingly spotlights the tension felt in the relationship between a protective mother and the daughter who seeks independence from her. Ages 10–14. Agent: Ellen Goff, HG Literary. (Mar.)

This impressive debut will make you laugh, cheer, and stand up on the nearest table to protest injustice, probably all before you finish chapter one.” – LitHub

★ “Lapera’s debut novel focuses on the disparities against women, shedding light on the femicides occurring in other countries. Readers will root for Mani as she develops the courage to advocate for herself and other girls, even when it's frightening. A great introduction for middle-schoolers and tween readers on topics such as consent and the #MeToo movement.” – Booklist (starred)

“... Lapera’s writing shines in the rendering of connection and levity with friends and family. There are laugh-out-loud moments, from the bizarre… to the everyday. There is inspiration and hope … Amid the frankness about challenging topics, readers will also encounter warmth and a pervading sense of capability and inner strength in finding their own voices.” – Horn Book

★ 01/01/2024

Gr 5 Up—Uncovered family secrets and a growing feminist consciousness propel a seventh grader to cause good trouble and start a school-wide revolution. Twelve-year-old Manuela "Mani" Semilla, whose parents are Chinese-Filipino American and Guatemalan, feels stuck in the liminal space between childhood and adulthood. Mani is desperate to get her period and to get out from under her overprotective mother's control. At school, quiet Mani and other girls are constantly harassed, assaulted, groped, bullied, recorded, abused, and humiliated. They're also blamed by teachers and the administration for bringing it on themselves, being liars, and overreacting. The discovery of old letters reveals a family history of feminist activism by women fighting against femicide in Guatemala. Tired of being silent and sick of double standards, Mani and her best friends, Las Nerdas, take action and speak up, demanding the right to feel safe. While grappling with her feelings over an upcoming trip to Guatemala, friendship missteps, and a growing interest in menstruation injustices, Mani turns her silence into a roar and leads the way for changing the school's culture of harassment to one of respect. With strong writing, frank conversations about periods, anatomy, and bodily autonomy, plus dynamic characters, this solidly upper middle grade/lower YA story will empower readers, affirm their own middle school experiences, and show that people should be held accountable for the many daily offenses girls and women are subjected to. VERDICT A powerful look at collective action that shows when we raise our voices together, we don't just make noise—we sing. Not to be missed.—Amanda MacGregor

Allison Aguilar's performance offers this engaging coming-of-age story plenty of heart, spunk, and power. Mani is devastated that her mother has planned a surprise trip to Guatemala that will tear her away from her friends for the entire summer. But when she learns about the disappearances of Guatemalan women, Mani is determined to fight for what's right in her community. Mani is an unstoppable force, and Aguilar is the perfect voice for her. Her narration is full of authentic teen fortitude and surprising grit. These traits are complemented by sweet and somber moments as Mani learns more about her family history. This audiobook will wow any listener. G.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

2023-12-06
Inspired by her aunt, who was an activist in Guatemala, a 12-year-old finds the courage to stand up to rampant sexual harassment at school.

Manuela Semilla’s grandmother is losing her memory, but she urges her granddaughter to find her “quetzal voice.” Mani initially struggles to understand what Abuelita means, and why she’s comparing her to a quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala, which, according to Mayan legend, hasn’t sung heartily since before the Spanish invasion centuries ago. Mani, who’s of Guatemalan, Filipino, and Chinese descent, sometimes feels torn between her family’s opinions and what she wants to do as a contemporary American preteen, such as wearing clothes her mami deems immodest. Her adolescent angst—over everything from debating when she should speak up to fretting over not getting her period yet—is extensively and realistically conveyed. Teachers are condescending. Boys are mean if not outright abusive. Her mother is unfair for forcing Mani to visit Guatemala this summer. But after Mani finds letters from her late Tía Beatriz describing her bravery in speaking out about violence against women, she begins to observe a common thread between the injustices her aunt fought and the bullying and harassment that her school administration allows to escalate. Mani’s feelings evolve into a firm resolve to help make things better. The second half of the story flows well, culminating in heartwarming moments of understanding between Mani and Mami, as well as actionable steps toward real, positive change.

A poignant, feminist coming-of-age story. (Fiction. 10-14)