Lupe Wong Won't Dance

by Donna Barba Higuera

Overview

Winner of the Sid Fleischman Award for Humor
Pura Belpré Honor Winner
PNBA Award Winner
Globe & Mail Best Children's Book of Year
Booklist Editor's Choice

"Higuera has knocked it out of the park."—Erin Entrada Kelly, New York Times Book Review

"Heartfelt, funny and smeared with just the right touch of middle-school snottiness, this novel is a delight!"—Ron Charles, The Washington Post

★ "A home run." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "A laugh-out-loud story about family, friendship, and the beauty in being true to yourself."—Booklist, starred review

Lupe Wong is going to be the first female pitcher in the Major Leagues.

She's also championed causes her whole young life. Some worthy.like expanding the options for race on school tests beyond just a few bubbles. And some not so much.like complaining to the BBC about the length between Doctor Who seasons.

Lupe needs an A in all her classes in order to meet her favorite pitcher, Fu Li Hernandez, who's Chinacan/Mexinese just like her. So when the horror that is square dancing rears its head in gym? Obviously she's not gonna let that slide.

Not since Millicent Min, Girl Genius has a debut novel introduced a character so memorably, with such humor and emotional insight. Even square-dancing fans will agree.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781646140039
Publisher:	Levine Querido
Publication date:	09/08/2020
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	66,130
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Donna Barba Higuera grew up dodging dust devils in the oilfields of Central California. She has spent her entire life blending folklore with her experiences into stories that fill her imagination. Now she weaves them to write picture books and novels.

Donna eventually traded the dust of Central California for the mists of the Pacific Northwest. She lives there with her husband, four children, three dogs and three two frogs. She is currently working on her debut picture book and next middle grade novel.

You can find her online at www.dbhiguera.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 07/06/2020

Higuera updates an age-old American PE tradition with thoroughly modern sensibilities in this earnest, comedic novel, which follows outspoken half-Chinese, half-Mexican seventh-grader Guadalupe “Lupe” Wong and her crusade to cancel square dancing. If 12-year-old ace pitcher Lupe gets all As this year, her uncle Hector, who works for the Seattle Mariners, has promised to secure a meetup with fellow “Chinacan” pitcher Fu Li Hernandez, “the first Asian/Latino pitcher in the major leagues.” Lupe’s hero happens to remind her of her dad, who died almost two years ago—which is why, besides becoming the “first woman pitcher in the majors,” she doesn’t “think ever wanted something so bad.” But PE throws a killer changeup in the form of a square-dancing unit, and Lupe’s best subject will quickly become her worst if she can’t figure out how to rid Issaquah Middle School of it. The spring also brings shifting friendships, though, and when Lupe quarrels with one best friend—helicopter-parented Andy Washington, who is Black—and her other best friend—pragmatic, kind Niles Foster, who is on the autism spectrum—begins making new friends, Lupe must reflect on her priorities and relationships. Inclusive and emotionally resonant, Higuera’s debut is a home run, with a plot as multifaceted and compelling as her characters, whose nuanced voices and varied range of interests ring wholly true. Ages 8–12. Agent: Allison Remcheck, Stimola Literary Studio. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Higuera's debut is a home run, with a plot as multifaceted and compelling as her characters, whose nuanced voices and varied range of interests ring wholly true." -Publisher Weekly, starred review

“Barba Higuera does a great job of blending humor with themes such as the importance of being true to yourself and speaking out about something for the right reasons. Lupe is a hilarious character and it’s great to see her grow throughout the story. Her crusade to end square dancing in P.E. starts out a little selfish (she is only 12, after all), but by the end, we see her shift and become more thoughtful and compassionate. Her evolution serves as a reminder to readers of all ages that we can all take the time to stop and think before we speak or act.”-Northwest Asian Weekly

From the Publisher

10/01/2020

Gr 3–7—Readers will be immediately drawn into the zippy first-person voice of Lupe Wong, future first female pitcher in Major League Baseball and defender of social justice. Young people will identify with the torture that is the middle school square-dancing unit. Lupe is determined to fight for the right to not participate. In order to earn the privilege of meeting her favorite baseball player she must get straight A's, and that includes square dancing. Her grandfather's wisdom influences her to choose to "overcome instead of fighting." Lupe finds that trying something new, and adding her own spin on it, can make her life richer. Readers will enjoy the time spent with Lupe; reluctant sports-loving readers might even find reading as palatable as Lupe eventually finds dancing. Lupe must also learn to navigate the rough waters of friendship in seventh grade when everything gets complicated. Debut author Higuera imbues the text with diversity through cultures and family structures, as well as neurodiversity; Lupe's friend Niles is autistic. Lupe manages to make the square-dancing unit work, all while fixing some age-old traditions that are no longer culturally relevant. Kids becoming aware and ready to fight for social justice causes will be inspired by Lupe, who learns to sift through what she doesn't like and fight for that which is most important. VERDICT A humorous, fresh #OwnVoices title sure to appeal to social justice advocates and reluctant square dancers everywhere.—Kate Nafz, Fair Lawn P.L., NJ

School Library Journal

2020-06-16
Lupe Wong, bona fide jock, is horrified that square dancing is the next unit in her seventh grade phys ed class.

Dead set on meeting her sports idol, Fu Li Hernandez, the first Asian/Latino pitcher for the Seattle Mariners, Lupe needs to get straight A’s to cash in on Uncle Hector’s promise. Fu Li is Chinacan—just like Lupe, whose mom is Mexican and late dad was Chinese. Determined to put a halt to square dancing, Lupe brings everyone into her cause: her authentically diverse group of friends, her interracial family, her wise principal, and even her endearing PE teacher. As Lupe doggedly challenges school tradition, readers will connect to her strong internal voice, empathize with her setbacks, and celebrate her victories. Higuera creates a very real multicultural middle school community complete with wisecracking humor, mean girls, and a realistic friendship fallout. Lupe has a wonderfully diverse group of friends with a wide range of interests, from Star Trek to soccer, deftly avoiding “diversity quota” pitfalls. Lupe’s own mixed-heritage family is refreshingly representative of families today. Principal Singh is Indian; Lupe’s best friend, Andy, is Guinean; and all other primary characters are presumed white.

Grab your partners and do-si-do—this one is simply delightful. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews