She knows this week will be a challenge. Her mom is headed out to California for a conference, and her dad is returning from an eight month deployment in the marines. Things with her abuela aren't getting any better either. Abuela is always trying to turn Emilia into a young lady, including straightening Emilia's curly hair every day.
Her father isn't his normal self. Emilia knows not to make sudden movements or sneak up on her dad, but he doesn't seem to want to be around anyone or even talk to Emilia.
When her social studies teacher gives the class an assignment to create a travel guide for their town, Emilia decides to start with the Latino grocery store where her family gets all the ingredients for Cuban food. Her research gets her on the track of immigration and unfair laws, which doesn't make everyone at school happy.
The town is also in upheaval over proposed redistricting for the schools. It seems like Emilia is going to have to choose between her overbearing former best friend Clarissa and her new best friend Gustavo. Emilia has always struggled to stand up for herself, but maybe it's time to speak up.
I really love Pablo Cartaya's books, and this is a great addition to middle grade collections. We always need more books with culturally diverse characters, and many readers will see themselves in Emilia's family and friends. From a critical perspective, however, this book tries to tackle multiple issues with varying degrees of success. Based on the cover and the little hints in the beginning, I expected Emilia and her friends and family to come to an awareness of her mechanical ability, and I certainly thought there would be more welding. I enjoyed the characters and the world, and I just wanted a more focused plot.
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