The Fresh New Face of Griselda

Description

Griselda "Geez" Zaragoza has a love for beautiful things, like her collection of vintage teacups and the flower garden she and her dad planted in the front yard. But when his business fails, Griselda loses not just her home but also her confidence and her trust in her unflappable parents. Tagging along with big sister Maribel, who postponed college for a job selling Alma Cosmetics, Geez dreams up a way to reclaim the life she thinks she lost: If she can sell enough tubes of glistening, glittery Alma lip gloss, she'll win a cash prize that could help jump start her dad's business. With ups and downs along the way, Geez will discover that beauty isn't just lost or found but made and re-made.

Jennifer Torres is an award-winning writer and the author of The Fresh New Face of Griselda, Flor and Miranda Steal the Show, Stef Soto, Taco Queen, and Finding the Music/En pos de la musica. A former journalist, her work is inspired by her Mexican-American heritage. She lives with her family in Southern California.

Praise for Flor and Miranda Steal the Show: [A] lively, fast-paced adventure.--Publishers Weekly 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 Praise for The Fresh New Face of Griselda: Fans of Kelly Yang's Front Desk (2018) will enjoy Geez' entrepreneurial spirit and appreciate another strong-minded young woman of color seeking ways to relieve her family's financial burden. An enjoyable story about the ingenuity and bonds that help a family withstand tough times.--Kirkus Reviews [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] well written novel about family and pride and would be a great addition to the library.--School Library Connection A warm family story.--Booklist A wide range of middle grade readers are likely to see aspects of themselves in both Flor and Miranda.--School Library Journal An affectionate portrayal of a Latinx family struggling with a life-changing crisis.--The Bulletin 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