num_pages: 276
description: A beautiful coming-of-age story for fans of Front Desk and Merci Surez Changes Gears  this book celebrates identity language heritage family and the determination to follow one's own inner light.Have you ever been the best at something . . . only to lose it all?Luz Vliz is a soccer staror 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 nowlike 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 Trevorshe'll have her parents cheering her on from the sidelines just the way she likes it.But somethingsomeoneis about to enter the Vlizes' life. And when Solana arrives nothing will be the same ever again.Unforgettable 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 constanta guide for others a path forward through the dark and an ineffable celebration of her own eternal self.This is the second novel by Pure Belpr Honor winner Rebecca Balcrcel!FAST-PACED FAMILY DRAMA: Fast-paced deeply felt and with all the high highs and low lows of adolescence this story is downright fun a page-turner even while it's dealing with serious issues.WHO 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.CODING 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.AN 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 Shine On Luz V&amp;eacaute;liz! adds substantively to our fraught discussion about immigration and opens it to young readers.AUTHOR ON THE RISE: Rebecca Balcrcel won the Pura Belpr Author Honor which recognizes literature for children or youth that best portrays the Latino cultural experience for her first book The Other Half of Happy . She is a beloved presence in the children's literature community and is making her mark as a writer to watch.Perfect for: Kids who love reading about family and friend drama Kids who love coding Parents Grandparents Educators Fans of Meg Medina Rebecca Stead and Kelly Yang
language: English
title: Shine On, Luz Véliz!
publisher: Chronicle Books