Jennifer De Leon

Grabbing and nicely-woven, this tale places a girl's inspiring determination against a harsh reality and allows fate to pull both in unexpected ways.

Maya is blessed and not about to give up on the gifts fate has given her. Living alone with her mother in a very small apartment, she attends a top-notch fashion school thanks to a scholarship her talents have earned her. When the school announces a fashion contest with a prize, which could launch Maya's career as a designer, she's determined to do her best and more. But just as she's chosen to enter the finals, her best friend introduces her to a cute and sweet guy. Maya does her best to balance her growing relationship with him and her preparations for the contest. That is, until the violence and gangs make the neighborhood increasingly dangerous. Maya's mother wants to move to another town before something terrible happens, but the contest isn't far away, and Maya does everything she can to convince her to stay just a few more days. And that works...until it doesn't. Now, Maya and her mother are on the run.

I read this book in one sitting and was surprised at how engaged I was and how quick the read flowed. The characters are easy to sink into (most of the time), the scenes flow with ease, and the plot never slows. If Maya isn't doing her best to solve another problem for the fashion contest, she's dealing with her mother's worries about the gangs, handling a changing relationship with her best friend, or figuring out her own new feelings for what may or may not be a nice guy. For every step she gets closer to her dream, an entirely different aspect of life...and not necessarily directly hers...causes things to shift in ways that threaten to destroy her hopes. Or she makes bad decisions herself...which weren't smart. But no matter what, all of this keeps the tension high.

While the blurb suggests that the story concentrates on the journey and escape across the US border, it actually spends most of the time in Guatemala City and Maya's increasingly complicated life. The journey to the border, crossing, and immigration problems once on the US side hit only in the last few chapters, coming across more as a quick wrap-up to an end. Plus, several strings were left open...which some readers will appreciate and others will be left wondering what happened to those characters. (Sebastian?) Either way, it works and leaves off with the open unknown, which Maya herself probably feels.

There is some romance, but this sits as a side-dish to the rest of the plot. There's also violence and death, which may trigger more sensitive readers. And then, there's perseverance, hope, and some food for thought. In other words, it's a packed and interesting read, which is worth picking up. I received a DRC and enjoyed the characters.… (mere)

I loved this book! Liliana Cruz is offered a spot in a program which sends inner city students to high schools in the suburbs. She doesn’t want to go, but her immigrant parents insist she take advantage of every opportunity. At first Liliana tries to fit in, even changing her name to Lily, but it is almost impossible in a majority white school where she sticks out. When racist incidents increase, Liliana has to decide whether or not to speak up. Like The Hate U Give, this book highlights issues such as prejudice, racism, microaggressions, and white fragility, as well as immigration, undocumented immigrants, and deportation. Unlike some other reviewers I thought that Liliana's voice was authentic and accurate -she is only 15 years old and she sounds and acts like a high school student. I also thought the depiction of teachers who meant well but were clueless was well done. I think this book is a must read for everyone who deals with high school students.… (mere)