The Fresh New Face of Griselda - by Jennifer Torres (Hardcover)

About the Book

After her father's landscaping business fails and the family loses their house, sixth-grader Griselda Zaragoza follows her sister's example and begins selling Alma cosmetics while hiding her changed circumstances from friends.

Book Synopsis

After one girl's parents lose their home, it would seem easy for her to lose hope, too--but in this inspiring story of family and friendship, just the opposite happens.
Griselda "Geez" Zaragoza has a love for beautiful things, like her collection of vintage teacups and the flower garden she and her dad planted in the front yard. But when his business goes bankrupt, Geez loses not just her house, but also her confidence and her trust in her unflappable parents.

Tagging along with her big sister Maribel, who postponed college for a job selling Alma Cosmetics, Geez dreams up a way to reclaim the life she thinks she lost. If she can sell enough tubes of glistening, glittery Alma lip gloss, she'll win a cash prize that could help jump start her dad's business.

In this moving coming-of-age novel, Geez will learn that a home isn't just lost or found, but made and re-made.

Review Quotes

"Fans of Kelly Yang's Front Desk (2018) will enjoy Geez' entrepreneurial spirit and appreciate another strong-minded young woman of color seeking ways to relieve her family's financial burden. An enjoyable story about the ingenuity and bonds that help a family withstand tough times."--Kirkus Reviews

"A warm family story."--Booklist

"An affectionate portrayal of a Latinx family struggling with a life-changing crisis."--The Bulletin

About the Author

Jennifer Torres is the author of Vega's Piece of the Sky; Stef Soto, Taco Queen; The Fresh New Face of Griselda; and other books for young readers. She writes stories about home, friendship, and unexpected courage inspired by her Mexican American heritage. Jennifer started her career as a newspaper reporter, and even though she writes fiction now, she hopes her stories still have some truth in them. She lives with her family in Southern California.