Camille Gomera-Tavarez – författare

High Spirits is a collection of eleven interconnected short stories from the Dominican diaspora, from debut author Camille Gomera-Tavarez. It is a book centered on one extended family – the Beléns – across multiple generations. It is set in the fictional small town of Hidalpa – and Santo Domingo and Paterson and San Juan and Washington Heights too.It is told in a style both utterly real and distinctly magical – and its stories explore machismo, mental health, family, and identity.But most of all, High Spirits represents the first book from Camille Gomera-Tavarez, who takes her place as one of the most extraordinary new voices to emerge in years.

Rosie: Capricorn. Does great in class. Wants nothing more than to get into the prestigious Innovation Technical Institute and kiss this awful school goodbye. Her talisman: a magical jacket from her mother's past that gets people to do whatever she says.Caro: Leo. Rosie's older sister. Always been closer to their estranged father - and always butted heads more with their strict mother. A trip to Dominican Republic for her father's wedding leads her deep into family history that clears up any illusions about her parents she's ever had. Her talisman: a baseball bat that fixes whatever it breaks.Zeke: Certified Triple Pisces. Up in cold-ass Jersey City living with his aunt after his grandmother dies and his father moves to London to take care of his mother. He crushes on EVERYone - he knows he'll find happiness in love, and maybe a way out of this depression. His talisman: a manifestation stone that will make anyone fall in love with him.Rosie, Caro, and Zeke - and their talismans - find themselves intertwined in a magical, hilarious, and whip-smartOutsiders for the modern day, written by Camille Gomera-Tavarez, a 2022 Publishers Weekly Flying Start.P R A I S E★ "A hilariously great time. . . A perfect addition to any teen collection."-School Library Journal (starred)★ "Dazzling."-Booklist (starred)A quick read and the characters are especially enjoyable. . . We all could use friends like this group of teens, and reading how they come together is a nice way to spend an afternoon.-Locus Magazine"Skillfully and chaotically represents the ups and downs of high school. . . a singularly compelling experience for readers."-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books