December 1, 2021
A fifth grader begins to question where she belongs in her family of Cuban American ballet dancers and in her suburb with its small Latino population. Sof�a Acosta's home is warm and loving. Her mom stocks the kitchen with snacks for all the neighborhood kids, and relatives and friends often stay over. But unlike her parents and siblings, Sof�a far prefers designing ballet costumes to dancing. The Acostas don't belong to a country club like Sof�a's best friend, Tricia Rivera, however it isn't until Sof�a is assigned to work on a project with a socially conscious friend that she really begins to wonder about the world and notice discriminatory attitudes around her. Like, why is Tricia on board with throwing a party for their Irish teacher upon his becoming a U.S. citizen but opposed to the Acostas' family friend emigrating from Cuba to join an American ballet company? Extensive character development and masterful scene setting in the first half of the book pay off in a faster-paced second half that sees Sof�a grow to understand issues surrounding immigration, race, class, and privilege more deeply. Readers will root for Sof�a as she learns to use her voice to advocate for both herself and others. Bighearted, nuanced, and insightful. (Fiction. 8-12)
COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
December 6, 2021
In a Cuban American family brimming with ballet talent, 10-year-old Sofía Acosta feels obligated to dance well. But unlike her 13-year-old sister, Regina, and younger brother, Manuel, she’s drawn not to movement but to costume design. As her family and community prepare to perform The Nutcracker, Sofía attempts to master the hop-step and helps her classmates plan a surprise party for an Irish teacher who recently became an American citizen. Juggling activities, Sofía learns that while best friend and fellow Cuban American Tricia Rivera is happy to assist with their teacher’s fete, Tricia responds otherwise to a Cuban dancer’s invitation to American Ballet Theatre, saying “immigrants shouldn’t just sneak into our country.” Soon, Sofía begins to truly notice how subtly her privileged, largely white suburb excludes her family, painting their concerns as about “the character of our community.” Otheguy (A Sled for Gabo) centers an immigrant diasporic experience through the lens of a girl working to fit in, and struggling to square her privilege with experiences of intersectional discrimination. Ages 8–12. Agent: Adriana Dominguez, Full Circle Literary.
January 1, 2022
Grades 4-6 Sof�a Acosta's parents danced with the Ballet Nacional de Cuba before immigrating to the U.S. years ago. Her sister and brother are both talented dancers. All five Acostas participate annually in the Nutcracker performance in their NYC suburb. But this year, fifth-grader Sof�a wonders if her parents might allow her to quit dancing and take up costuming instead. Meanwhile, her mother's best friend arrives from Cuba with her son, a professional dancer who will be performing in American Ballet Theatre's tribute to revered Cuban ballerina Alicia Alonso. Will he defect, despite his mother's wishes? Sof�a learns to speak up for herself within her family and for immigrants within her community, which tolerates but doesn't welcome them. Otheguy, whose books include Mart�'s Song for Freedom / Mart� y sus versos por la libertad (2019), creates a convincing portrayal of Sof�a as a girl who tries to live up to her parents' expectations but gradually becomes more self-reliant and envisions her own path forward. A lively middle-grade novel underscoring the value of honest communication with family and friends.
COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
February 18, 2022
Gr 3-6-Fifth grader Sof�a has grown up in a "ballet" family that lives and breathes dance. Her parents danced under Cuban prima ballerina Alicia Alonso before immigrating to New York and becoming dance teachers; her older sister Regina is a dance prodigy planning to join the American Ballet Theatre; and even her younger brother Manuel is a natural-born dancer. Sof�a worries she won't have a place in her family without dance, and it seems she doesn't possess the family talent. While preparing for the yearly Nutcracker dance, Sof�a discovers she loves costume design more than dance itself, and she is forced to grapple with what that means within her family. Meanwhile, family friend, Yolanda, and her son Alvaro come from Cuba to dance with The Ballet Nacional de Cuba, and they stay with Sof�a's family. While there, Alvaro confides that he may secretly defect to America, and Sof�a must decide where her loyalties lie. She starts noticing discrimination and racism within her neighborhood, and even in her friend circle. Sof�a's tale is one of family, finding one's voice, and standing up for personal beliefs, all the while staying true to a young person's myriad of emotions with friendships and oneself. As Sof�a grows emotionally, she will discover that family ties are unbreakable, though they may certainly be stretched. Readers' love of Sof�a will grow through her plight. VERDICT An important and honest look at immigration, racial inequities, and understanding how one person can make a difference. Recommended for middle grade fiction collections.-Michele Shaw
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
March 1, 2022
Fifth grader Sofia is proud of her Cuban American heritage and of her family's reputation in the ballet world: her parents danced with the Ballet Nacional de Cuba; her sister, Regina, is on a path to the American Ballet Theatre; and her little brother, Manuel, plays Fritz every year in The Nutcracker. Sofia dances, too, but her passions are more in visual arts and costume design. The Acostas are famous for their openness and generosity; their home is known as the Acosta Accordion "because sometimes it's just my family, like an accordion smooshed to the smallest setting. Sometimes the accordion expands and we have my parents' friends or relatives or a million of Manuel's and Regina's friends over. That's the biggest setting." When friends from Cuba come to visit -- the ballet-dancer son is guest-performing a tribute to Alicia Alonso -- Sofia learns more about her background while complicating what she already knows about her family, her closest friendships, geo-politics, the arts, and what makes a home. Sofia's voice is authentically tweenlike, as are the conclusions she draws and the realizations she makes; Spanish is naturally incorporated into the dialogue. In the Acostas, Otheguy has created a close-knit family whose warmth, kindness, and openhearted honesty will both educate readers (about the ballet world and Cuban history) and welcome them in. Elissa Gershowitz
(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
January 1, 2022
Fifth grader Sofia is proud of her Cuban American heritage and of her family's reputation in the ballet world: her parents danced with the Ballet Nacional de Cuba; her sister, Regina, is on a path to the American Ballet Theatre; and her little brother, Manuel, plays Fritz every year in The Nutcracker. Sofia dances, too, but her passions are more in visual arts and costume design. The Acostas are famous for their openness and generosity; their home is known as the Acosta Accordion "because sometimes it's just my family, like an accordion smooshed to the smallest setting. Sometimes the accordion expands and we have my parents' friends or relatives or a million of Manuel's and Regina's friends over. That's the biggest setting." When friends from Cuba come to visit -- the ballet-dancer son is guest-performing a tribute to Alicia Alonso -- Sofia learns more about her background while complicating what she already knows about her family, her closest friendships, geo-politics, the arts, and what makes a home. Sofia's voice is authentically tweenlike, as are the conclusions she draws and the realizations she makes; Spanish is naturally incorporated into the dialogue. In the Acostas, Otheguy has created a close-knit family whose warmth, kindness, and openhearted honesty will both educate readers (about the ballet world and Cuban history) and welcome them in.
(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)