Grow Up, Luchy Zapata - by Alexandra Alessandri

About the Book

When eleven-year-old Luchy's best friend Cami returns from a summer in Colombia and ditches her for the cool kids at school, Luchy is left to figure out who she is and where she belongs.

Book Synopsis

A funny, relatable middle school drama about two Colombian American girls who have always been BFFs--until sixth grade turns everything upside down.

Luchy Zapata is starting middle school, and she's muy excited. She and her two best friends, Cami and Mateo, will finally be at the same school. Luchy and Mateo will be in art class together, and she and Cami can try out for the same soccer team! As long as they're all together, Luchy can handle anything.

But Cami has been acting weird ever since she got back from visiting family in Colombia. She's making new, "cool" friends who just seem mean. And suddenly, everything about Luchy and Mateo is too immature for her.

Luchy is determined to help Cami remember how special their friendship is. They've been BFFs their whole lives, and that can't just disappear in a poof of glitter! But...what if Cami doesn't even want to be friends anymore?

Review Quotes

"Set in Miami with lots of multicultural Latine details and naturally incorporated Spanish, this is an endearing middle school-transition story that ultimately lands in favor of expressing who you are and being open to new and changing friendships."--Horn Book Magazine

Alessandri's sophomore middle grade novel is sure to be a favorite among preteens as they recognize themselves in Luchy, Cami, and Mateo. . . Set in ­Miami, this coming-of-age novel deftly weaves ­Colombian American culture throughout a universally relatable storyline of shifting friendships. VERDICT This realistic friendship tale will be a sure hit with tweens; a must-have for all elementary and middle school libraries."--School Library Journal

"Exploring middle-school feelings in a heartfelt way, Alessandri depicts her characters' emotional arcs with earnest realism. Themes of family, identity, and parental expectations are sure to resonate, and Luchy's navigation through feelings of inadequacy, frustration, and exclusion with the help of her family and friends is especially moving."--Booklist

"Told via thoughtful and confidently rendered narration, this sincere tale of diverging friendship by Alessandri (The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejía) is augmented by organically layered subplots surrounding Luchy's feelings of disconnect from her Colombian heritage and her steadfast friendship with Mateo."--Publishers Weekly

"Alessandri's latest explores classic middle school themes of trying to fit in versus being yourself, and readers will see themselves and their peers in both Luchy and Cami. The infusion of Colombian cultural elements and Spanish phrases makes this stand out.

A sincere journey of navigating friendship and self-discovery."--Kirkus Reviews

"A heartfelt exploration of changing friendships and the challenges of growing up. Alessandri presents a pitch-perfect story with a main character young readers will relate to and cheer for as Luchy navigates a new school and evolving relationships."--Adrianna Cuevas, author of Pura Belpré Honor Book The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez and Cuba in My Pocket

"Alessandri not only captures Luchy's painful-and painfully relatable-experiences, but also beautifully seasons the story with Colombian food, culture, and art as Luchy tries to figure out her place in not only middle school but also her community."--Anika Fajardo, author of What If a Fish and Meet Me Halfway

"Funny and relatable, Grow Up, Luchy Zapata will have you rooting for Luchy even as she makes some questionable decisions--glitter, anyone?--in an effort to win her best friend back. This one is a must for any kid navigating the roller-coaster of a friendship breakup."--Andrea Beatriz Arango, Newbery Honor-winning author of Iveliz Explains It All and Something Like Home

"The perfect book for those awkward middle school years. Luchy is the hero every reader in between childhood and adolescence needs--messy, relatable, and remarkable!"--Amanda Rawson Hill, author of The Hope of Elephants