Dr. Carmen Tafolla (carmentafolla.net) is the 2015 State Poet Laureate of Texas and the former president of the TexasInstitute of Letters. An award-winning poet and children's author, storyteller, perfor-mance artist, motivational speaker, scholar, and university professor, she is the author of more than forty books and a profes-sor emeritus of Transformative Children's Literature at UT San Antonio. Her numerous awards and distinctions include the pres-tigious Americas Award, the designation of first city Poet Laureate of San Antonio, six International Latino Book Awards, two Tomas Rivera Book Awards, two ALA Notable Books, the Art of Peace Award, and the Charlotte Zolotow Award. She lives in San Antonio, Texas.
* “Using rhythmic first-person verse, Tafolla presents messages
about the importance of family and friends, social justice, and
using one’s voice to incite change. . . . Via the protagonist’s
journey to articulate her complex feelings through succinct and
polished phrases, Tafolla crafts an astute and evolving heroine.
The lyrical verse—structured as Celi’s own poetry, which teachers
and Gramma embolden her to pursue—eventually culminates in powerful
vocalizations of Celi’s values.” —Publishers Weekly, starred
review
“Tafolla skillfully weaves . . . significant recent historic
moments and the hopeful stories of leaders like Emma Tenayuca and
César Chávez together with the more specific experiences of the
four friends. . . . Protagonist Celi, an emerging poet, is
consistently and vividly rendered . . . and her righteous,
powerful, and joyful voice carries the day. An exuberant, rousing
celebration of youth activism.” —Kirkus Reviews
“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. . . . An insightful, timely, and discussion-worthy read.
This beautifully written contemporary novel is a highly recommended
purchase.”—School Library Journal
“With the help of her friends, Celina gains the courage to be the
warrior she was meant to be by making a difference with her
writing. Readers who enjoy novels in verse will be moved by
Tafolla’s touching story. This is an emotional novel about the
journey of finding where you belong, making your voice heard, and
the friendships you can forge along the way.” —Booklist
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