Mayte and Pepito are convinced that Don Aparicio, the dour ice cream vendor, is really the bogeyman.
Puerto Rico
Books that take place in, are written by, or feature characters from Puerto Rico, an unincorporated US territory.
In Nueva York
Stories of New York’s Puerto Rican barrio.
A Different Kind Of Heat
Luz Cordero is on fire. She’s burning up with rage. She was there the night her brother got killed. She saw the cop pull the trigger. She tried to do something positive about it by going to protests, but all her anger got her into trouble. Now Luz is living at the St. Therese Home for Boys and Girls, working to turn her life around. Sister Ellen and Luz’s three fellow residents are helping. When Sister Ellen gives Luz a journal to write everything down, Luz is finally able to face the truth about what happened that night. And she’s able to forgive her brother, the man who took him away, and—most importantly—herself. A Different Kind of Heat is a gritty, heartbreaking, and uplifting story of one girl’s struggle to forgive and remember.
Alicia Afterimage
On the evening of September 24, 2004, sixteen-year-old Alicia MarÃa Betancourt was killed in a car accident. Popular, happy, fun-loving Alicia daughter, sister, and friend to so many gone in an instant. How would those left behind cope with such a sudden, devastating loss? Wrestling with grief, anger, mortality, and spirituality, Alicia’s loved ones struggle to create a lasting place in their hearts for someone who is no longer a physical presence. They share joyful and painful memories, and discover the resilient power of enduring friendship and love. In time, each person finds a way to heal while keeping Alicia’s vibrant spirit alive for those who knew her, and those who never will. Alicia Afterimage is a remarkable story of loss and recovery, but mostly it is a story of love. In this moving tribute to an extraordinary girl, readers will find a pathway through grief and a road map to remembrance. It is a book of comfort for all teens and adults who seek a way to ease the pain of losing someone they cherished.
Antonia Novello (Hispanic Heritage)
An inspiring biography of George Bush’s Surgeon General chronicles the story of a Puerto Rican girl born with a chronic health problem who rose to become an important figure in the health world.
Play Ball!
Based on the childhood of New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, this is the story of a boy from Puerto Rico who worked hard to be his best and didn’t stop until he was a champion.
Paco and the Witch
On an errand through the woods on fiesta day, Paco gets into real trouble with a scary witch, and a jovial crab has to help him break the witch’s spell.
Estrellita en la ciudad grande / Estrellita in the Big City
Relates, in Spanish and English, a telephone conversation in which young Estrellita, who has recently moved to Brooklyn, New York, tells her grandmother, who still lives in Puerto Rico, all about her adventures in and near Manhattan.
Text in English and Spanish.
My Aunt Otilia’s Spirits: Los espíritus de mi tía Otilia
When tall, skinny Aunt Otilia comes to visit from Puerto Rico, her curious nephew finds out about her magical powers.
Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates
On an island called Puerto Rico a boy named Roberto Clemente dreamed of nothing but winning at baseball. With no money–but plenty of determination–Clemente practiced on muddy fields with a glove made from a coffee sack. Little League became minor league, which turned into winter league and, finally, he made it to the major leagues! With lightning speed, towering home runs, and grand slams, Clemente introduced himself to America.