Lupe Wong Won’t Dance is a middle school read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Lupe is such a character. I was telling my tenant that “This is the kind of book I like to review. A girl who is very sure of herself and yet struggles with typical middle school insecurities”. Real characters with real issues. Lupe is a VERY real person to me. I think I’d like her. 🙂 Your middlers might adore her as well, come along and discover why.
What I am Reviewing
Lupe Wong Won’t Dance is a debut novel by Donna Barba Higuera. Lupe is a marvellous character!
From the book cover: My gym shorts burrow into my butt crack like a frightened groundhog.
Don’t you want to read a book that starts like that??
Lupe Wong is going to be the first female pitcher in the Major Leagues.
She’s also championed causes her whole young life. Some worthy…like expanding the options for race on school tests beyond just a few bubbles. And some not so much…like complaining to the BBC about the length between Doctor Who seasons.
Lupe needs an A in all her classes in order to meet her favorite pitcher, Fu Li Hernandez, who’s Chinacan/Mexinese just like her. So when the horror that is square dancing rears its head in gym? Obviously she’s not gonna let that slide.
Published by Levine Querido c/o Chronicle Books. Written by Donna Barba Higuera and running at 272 pages. It is geared for 8-12-year-olds. I’d say a lot of students up to age 14-15 would still enjoy it. (or basically anyone who enjoys good middle school fiction). 🙂
I am reviewing an ARC copy on behalf of Raincoast Books.
The Details on Lupe Wong Won’t Dance
From the get-go I found this a fun book with a serious side to it. Lupe is a typical middle school student learning to navigate sometimes muddy waters. Her love of baseball is shown on every chapter heading.
The text will be easy for most middle schoolers to read. Nothing too out of the ordinary in the reading. I won’t promise you I read every word as I do tend to speed read, but nothing jumped out at me difficulty wise.
Humour infuses the pages as you read. You will DELIGHT in the diverse well-developed characters. Mourn change in friendships along with Lupe and rejoice when things are made right again.
When Lupe realizes harsh truth you will struggle alongside her, working to figure out the best solution, and then learn to trust those in authority. No heavy “be cautious” themes run through this book, but the determination to stand for what is right flood the pages. Middlers will see a good example in Lupe and perhaps find themselves inspired to do the same.
Should you Get it?
If you like to read an uncomplicated story… Lupe Wong Won’t Dance is one such book. She has her stuff…but don’t we all? She cares deeply about her life and the lives of those around us…and does something about it! Shouldn’t we all do that?
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