Flor and Miranda Steal the Show

Description

Enjoy carnival rides and deep fried pickles in this warm, funny middle grade novel about family and friendship. Miranda is the lead singer in her family's musical band, Miranda y Los Reyes. Her family has worked hard performing at festivals and quinceaneras. Now, they have a shot at the main stage. How will Miranda make it a performance to remember? Flor's family runs the petting zoo at Mr. Barsetti's carnival. When she accidentally overhears Mr. Barsetti and Miranda's dad talk about cutting the zoo to accommodate Miranda y Los Reyes's main stage salary, she knows she has to take action. Will she have the heart for sabotage once she and Miranda actually start to become friends?

Jennifer Torres works as a freelance journalist and leads an early literacy campaign on behalf of the University of the Pacific. She is the author of Flor and Miranda Steal the Show, Stef Soto, Taco Queenand Finding the Music/En pos de la musica and lives with her husband and two little girls in central California.

Praise for Stef Soto, Taco Queen: The core of the story--friendship and the importance of family--wins out, leaving tweens with a satisfying, gentle read.--School Library Journal [An] engaging glimpse of food-truck culture through the Soto family's sacrifices, values, and hardships. Once readers get past the drama, they'll cheer for Stef Soto, her family, and Tia Perla.--Kirkus Reviews [A] lively, fast-paced adventure.--Publishers Weekly [A] well written novel about family and pride and would be a great addition to the library.--School Library Connection A wide range of middle grade readers are likely to see aspects of themselves in both Flor and Miranda.--School Library Journal Fans of Torres' Stef Soto, Taco Queen will delight in this pleasing mix of friendship story, Latino culture, and carnival milieu.--BCCB Readers cannot help but root for both heroines, who feel like two regular girls with universal struggles despite their uncommon circumstances. Feelings of summer fun and smells of funnel cake with follow readers home from this engaging story of family and friendship.--Kirkus Reviews Readers will enjoy getting to know both protagonists and will root for them till the last page.--Booklist Spanish words and humorous banter pepper the dialogue, and the dual stories of the threatened family business and Stef's issues with classmates make a nice, age-appropriate balance that validates Stef's experience while pointing to a world beyond middle school politics. Readers will be happy to snack on this....--The Bulletin The bones of this polished debut are familar...but Torres fleshes them out with authenticity, humor, and heart. Stef's fresh, honest voice will resonate with a broad swath of readers, as will the relatable struggles she negotiates.--Publishers Weekly This cheery, relatable story features short and sweet chapters with plenty of Spanish words and phrases sprinkled in and a cheer-worthy main character in Stef, a happy, funny girl who adores art above all.--Booklist