Module 4: Confetti Girl

Citation: 

Lopez, Diana. (2009). Confetti girl. New York: Scholastic Inc.

Summary:

Confetti Girl is set in Corpus Christi, Texas, and centers around the life of Apolonia "Lina" Flores, a middle school student who loves playing sports, and has an extensive collection of socks. Lina is dealing with normal "tween" drama, i.e. figuring out how to navigate her first romantic relationship with a boy, and wishing her volleyball team could actually win a game. But Lina's life is not your typical teenage girl's life in that she is dealing with the death of her mother and figuring out how to cope with her now very depressed and disconnected father.

My Impressions: 

Confetti Girl was a fun read, with some wonderful references to the Hispanic culture that will appeal to a minority audience and teenage girls in general. I don't see boys enjoying this book, it is definitely geared toward a female audience. The writing is very honest  without being overly dramatic, and can perhaps help young adults experiencing loss and the confusion that comes with it.

Library Usage: 

This would be a great book to promote to the Spanish classes, as it includes many idiomatic expressions in the story, and even has a glossary of expressions at the end of the book. It could of course be promoted along with other titles that highlight the Hispanic culture during Hispanic Heritage Month. You could conduct a book talk with these titles, and then have craft time in which students stuffed and decorated their own cascarones.

Review: 

Gr 4-8-Lina attends middle school in Corpus Cristi, TX, has a crush on classmate Luís, loves science and sports, and has a sock obsession as a result of her pants never being long enough for her tall body. Her best friend, Vanessa Cantu, lives across the street with her mother, who is still bitter about a divorce that happened a few years earlier. Lina's mother died last year, and her father is still grieving but struggling to live up to his responsibilities. Dichos, Spanish sayings or proverbs, are translated at the top of every chapter. Spanish phrases are sprinkled throughout the text, reflecting Lina's bilingual community. The budding romance, and typical middle school events such as detention, lunchroom disasters, and reports, keep things moving. Lina is essentially a sunny, happy child and her sadness and anger are more blips on the radar than real angst. A subplot about Luís's stuttering seems extraneous. Quite typical in characters, plot, and style, this story is most notable for its casual introduction to Spanish language and culture, overtly accessible to all.

Review Citation: 

Edwards, C. (2009). Confetti Girl. School Library Journal, 55(7), 88.