Lapera, Anna. Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice. Levine Querido, 03/2024. 326pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-64614-371-9. GRADES 6–9. ADDITIONAL.
Mani Semilla, a twelve-year-old “Chinese-Filipino-American-Guatemalan,” learns about her family’s heritage and how to speak up for herself, which she finds is hard to do. Typical tween issues dominate her life, such as agonizing about being one of the few girls without her period, trying to get correct answers to her questions about puberty without embarrassment, and struggling to get her mom to truly listen to her. Simmering issues about why her family left Guatemala and her mom’s reluctance to speak up for injustice provide a glimpse into why some families immigrate and why it’s important for younger generations to learn about their past. It turnes out her family was in danger in Guatemala because they participated in women’s rights actions and protests. While a little heavy on tween angst, this debut novel is a nuanced portrayal of immigrant life and discovering yourself as a young woman.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library