Lucia the Luchadora (Lucia the Luchadora #1)

by Cynthia Leonor Garza (Author) Alyssa Bermudez (Illustrator)

Lucia the Luchadora (Lucia the Luchadora #1)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

Lucía zips through the playground in her cape just like the boys, but when they tell her "girls can't be superheroes," suddenly she doesn't feel so mighty. That's when her beloved abuela reveals a dazzling secret: Lucía comes from a family of luchadoras, the bold and valiant women of the Mexican lucha libre tradition.

Cloaked in a flashy new disguise, Lucía returns as a recess sensation! But when she's confronted with a case of injustice, Lucía must decide if she can stay true to the ways of the luchadora and fight for what is right, even if it means breaking the sacred rule of never revealing the identity behind her mask.

A story about courage and cultural legacy, Lucía the Luchadora is full of pluck, daring, and heart.

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Hardcover
$16.99

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Kirkus

Starred Review
A KA-POW kind of wonderful.

School Library Journal

Starred Review
PreS-Gr 2--Lucia can zip through the playground and jump off the monkey bars and land on her feet every single time, but the boys ignore her and tell her that girls can't be superheroes. Lucia and her Abu--short for abuela--hatch a plan that will involve learning all about luchadores, the stars of a popular Mexican style of wrestling (lucha libre). By the end of the book, Lucia has learned she must fight for what is right and has become a role model for other girls on the playground. Animated illustrations capture the equally vibrant main character, a brown-skinned girl with flowing long hair. The story, told in Lucia's voice, has plenty of punch and humor and is chock-full of onomatopoeic sounds that just beg to be read aloud. The placement of the text moves along with the action, adding to the tone and breakneck pace of the story. The narrative encourages girls to trust their own strengths yet is never didactic. An author's note at the end explains luchadores and lucha libre. VERDICT A shining debut outing for author and illustrator, this endearing and humorous title is sure to put a bit of KA-POW into storytimes! A must-have.--Lucia Acosta, Children's Literature Specialist, NJ Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

 AS SEEN IN: Austin American-Statesman, Houston Chronicle, and NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday. 

Cynthia Leonor Garza
Cynthia Leonor Garza has enjoyed many shared adventures at the splendiferousmarket since she was a kid. She's a journalist who has worked for several newspapers and her commentaries have appeared on NPR and in The Atlantic. She currently lives with her two daughters, husband, and their quixotic dog Bibi in Nairobi, Kenya. To learn more about Cynthia, find her @luchalady or on her website, cynthialeonorgarza.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781576878279
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Pow! Kids Books
Publication date
March 07, 2017
Series
Lucia the Luchadora
BISAC categories
JUV013030 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Multigenerational
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV030100 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Mexico
Library of Congress categories
Friendship
Mexico
Friendship in children
Social life and customs
Masks
Women superheroes
Kirkus
Best Books of 2017
Chicago Public Library
Best Books of 2017

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