Becoming Americana
Lupe Perez wants to put her life in the barrio behind her. She's a student at UCLA and a volunteer at The Vibe, a center for at-risk teens that helped get her own life back on track. She's escaped the abusive clutches of her drug-dealing brother and has the support of Marcela, her mentor, and Nash, the center's charismatic director. She's even started a relationship with fellow student Will. Rios first introduced Lupe and Marcela in her debut,Becoming Latina in 10 Easy Steps(2006), and in this novel, the feisty teenager comes of age and comes to terms with the scars of her troubled childhood. Rios blends heartfelt emotion with wry humor and a few dark moments. The rough streets of the barrio aren't the usual terrain of chick lit, but who says you can't mix a little social consciousness with romance? Readers will appreciate a world not seen through rose-colored glasses.Aleksandra KostovskiCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved