“A charming debut about a thoughtful, creative preteen connecting to both halves of her identity.”
—Kirkus Reviews , starred review
“Those who enjoy vivacious, plucky heroines . . . will eagerly embrace Malú.”
—School Library Journal , starred review
“Pérez’s debut is as exuberant as its heroine . . . A rowdy reminder that people are at their best when they aren’t forced into neat, tidy boxes.”
—Publishers Weekly , starred review
“Pérez draws heavily on the intersections of community that are integral to Mexican-American culture . . . It is this element that makes Malú’s obvious growth by the end of the book so rewarding.”
—BCCB
A PURA BELPRÉ AUTHOR HONOR BOOK AN ALSC NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOK A TOMÁS RIVERA MEXICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD WINNER AN ABA INDIES INTRODUCE TITLE A KIDS’ INDIE NEXT LIST PICK AN E.B. WHITE READ-ALOUD MIDDLE READER HONOR BOOK AN AMELIA BLOOMER LIST BOOK A CCBC CHOICES TITLE A BANK STREET BEST CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY FLYING START AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR A SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR A HORN BOOK FANFARE SELECTION A CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN’S LITERATURE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR A DOROTHY CANFIELD FISHER CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD NOMINEE A SUNSHINE STATE YOUNG READERS AWARD NOMINEE A NERDY BOOK AWARD WINNER