Tangled Roots & Wild Dreams - by Angela Velez (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Never Have I Ever meets Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute in this hilarious and moving YA coming-of-age about a girl juggling way too many lies, one very off-limits crush, and a secret summer internship--all while steering clear of the dreaded f-word: her future.

Ezzie Ramos is a champion secret keeper. Her brilliant-professor mami and nosy abuelita don't know about her daily ritual (wandering the art museum), her college applications (hopelessly blank), or her summer plans (avoiding the dreaded f-word, a.k.a. her future, at all costs).

Ezzie's biggest secret? She's interning at Sprout, the urban garden she's stunned to discover her father founded weeks before his death. All she knows about Papi begins and ends with his dazzling scientific research legacy--but what if he dreamed of a different path too?

With seven weeks to uncover who Papi really was, Ezzie must chase down every lead, even if it means tangling with Sprout's star volunteer, Gabe McCalister, who couldn't be more off-limits--or distractingly cute. But as Ezzie begins to put down roots at Sprout, she learns that secrets, like seeds, have a way of growing toward the light. . . .

Review Quotes

"In a truly hilarious and heartwarming debut, author Angela Velez breaks out with a story of sisterly love, family secrets, and the roles forced on us at a young age. Lulu and Milagro's Search for Clarity is a laugh-out-loud, college road trip novel full of Catholic school hijinks. You'll fall in love and root for Lulu and Milagro!" - Lilliam Rivera, Pura Belpré Honor-Winning Author of Never Look Back
"This coming-of-age story explores the topic of post-high-school plans and the pressure some teens may feel to fit a mold or live up to certain expectations that have been set for them. Readers who are first-generation kids of immigrants will especially find Lulu and Milagro's Search for Clarity relatable." - ALA Booklist
"Alternating chapters fully develop Lulu's and Milagro's distinct personalities; they have different interests and priorities, but their admiration and love for each other is clear....Details from their lives as a family of Peruvian American women add depth to this story of sisterhood and self-discovery." - Horn Book Magazine
"Lulu and Milagro's Search for Clarity is a tribute to girls everywhere as they figure out who they are and who they hope to be. Sharp, funny, and full of heart, it perfectly captures the heartbreak and joy of sisterhood, first crushes, familial expectations, and growing up." - Crystal Maldonado, author of Fat Chance, Charlie Vega
"Lulu & Milagro's Search for Clarity is a delightful journey of sisterhood, self-love, and chasing your dreams--even if they go in directions you never expected. I was cheering on the Zavala sisters every step of the way." - Natalia Sylvester, author of Running
"Angela Velez weaves humor and heartbreak gifting us an irresistible, funny and propulsive novel about sisters. Lulu & Milagro's Search for Clarity offers up a fresh take on the road-trip novel. It's a brilliant exploration of girlhood and the challenges young women face when torn between personal dreams and ties to family." - Angie Cruz, author of Dominicana
"There's SO MUCH HEART in these pages. This outstanding debut is hard-hitting and hilarious. I'm so hyped for more Angela Velez stories." - Adam Silvera, #1 New York Times bestselling author of They Both Die at the End
"This novel digs deep into the twists and turns of sisterhood, and the girls' voices are delightfully distinct and humorous.... Readers will feel like these deeply real, funny, and ambitious sisters are their own close friends." - Kirkus Reviews
"A funny, heartfelt story filled with unique and unforgettable characters, the strength of sisterhood and family, first love, and a love for STEM and the arts, this young adult novel will have readers laughing out loud while also thinking about their own future. Highly recommended for young adult collections." - School Library Journal (starred review)