Warrior Girl

Gr 5 Up–Mexican American Celina Teresa Guerrera Amaya and her family follow traditions from both cultures. However, in school, her teachers only want her to be American and don’t care about her Chicana identity; she tries to go by Tere and the teachers tell her she pronounces her name wrong. Thankfully she has a loving and supporting family and finds friends who understand and respect her culture. With inspiration from her grandmother and the support of a teacher trying to do better, Celina and her friends decide to put on a celebration of different cultures. Things take a turn when a global pandemic hits and the world shuts down. Now, on top of her worries about her father who has been deported, Celina must face a challenging pandemic, fear of her grandmother catching the virus, and finding joy despite it all. But she is a Guerrera, a woman warrior; she has a voice and writing talent, and she can still use that to show the world the beauty of all cultures. Written in verse, this is a timely novel that tackles various struggles teens face, including desire to belong, family conflict, and fighting for what you believe in. Tafolla skillfully writes Celina’s voice as a young girl, and allows it to mature as she does. The pandemic is one of the main plot points in the book’s second half, and readers should be mindful as it can be a triggering topic for some. For those ready for books covering this era, they will get an insightful, timely, and discussion-worthy read.