Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780316460279)

I'm Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter meets Emergency Contact in this stunning Pura Belpré Honor Book about first love, familial expectations, the power of food, and finding where you belong.

Penelope Prado has always dreamed of opening her own pastelería next to her father's restaurant, Nacho's Tacos. But her mom and dad have different plans--leaving Pen to choose between not disappointing her traditional Mexican American parents or following her own path. When she confesses a secret she's been keeping, her world is sent into a tailspin. But then she meets a cute new hire at Nacho's who sees through her hard exterior and asks the questions she's been too afraid to ask herself.

Xander Amaro has been searching for home since he was a little boy. For him, a job at Nacho's is an opportunity for just that--a chance at a normal life, to settle in at his abuelo's, and to find the father who left him behind. When both the restaurant and Xander's immigrant status are threatened, he will do whatever it takes to protect his newfound family, and himself.

Together, Pen and Xander must navigate first love and discovering where they belong in order to save the place they all call home.

This stunning and poignant novel from debut author Laekan Zea Kemp explores identity, found families, and the power of good food, all nestled within a courageous and intensely loyal Chicane community.

Author: Laekan Zea Kemp
ISBN-10: 0316460273
ISBN-13: 9780316460279
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Language: English
Published: 04/06/2021
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.60w x 1.50d

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.5
Point Value: 12
Interest Level: Upper Grade
Quiz #/Name: 517075 / Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet

Award: Pura Belpre Award - Honor Book

Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 12/01/2020 pg. 102
Kirkus Reviews 02/15/2021
Publishers Weekly 02/22/2021
Booklist 04/01/2021 pg. 62