Lupe Wong Won't Dance

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.)

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