Natalia Sylvester – författare

When fifteen-year-old Cuban American Mariana Ruizs fatherruns for president, Mari starts to see him with new eyes. A novel about waking up and standing up, and what happens when you stop seeing your dad as your herowhile the whole country is watching.In this authentic, humorous, and gorgeously written debut novel about privacy, waking up, and speaking up, Senator Anthony Ruiz is running for president. Throughout his successful political career he has always had his daughters vote, but a presidential campaign brings a whole new levelof scrutiny to sheltered fifteen-year-old Mariana and the rest of her Cuban American family, from a 60 Minutesstyle tour of their house to tabloids doctoring photos and inventing scandals.As tensions rise within the Ruiz family, Mari begins to learn about the details of her fathers political positions, and she realizes that her father is not the man she thought he was.But how do you find your voice when everyones watching? When it means disagreeing with your fatherpublicly? What do you do when yourdad stops being your hero?Will Mari get a chance to confront her father? If she does, will she have the courage to seize it?

In this gorgeously written and authentic novel, Vernica, a Peruvian-American teen with hip dysplasia, auditions to become a mermaid at a Central Florida theme park in the summer before her senior year, all while figuring out her first real boyfriend and how to feel safe in her own body.Vernica has had many surgeries to manage her disability. The best form of rehabilitation is swimming, so she spends hours in the pool, but not just to strengthen her body.Her Florida town is home to Mermaid Cove, a kitschy underwater attraction where professional mermaids perform in giant tanks . . . and Vernica wants to audition. But her conservative Peruvian parents would never go for it. And they definitely would never let her be with Alex, her cute new neighbor.She decides its time to seize control of her life, but her plans come crashing down when she learns her parents have been hiding the truth from herthe truth about her own body.

A Pura Belpré Honor Book * A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book for TeensIn this gorgeously written and authentic novel, Verónica, a Peruvian-American teen with hip dysplasia, auditions to become a mermaid at a Central Florida theme park in the summer before her senior year, all while figuring out her first real boyfriend and how to feel safe in her own body.Verónica has had many surgeries to manage her disability. The best form of rehabilitation is swimming, so she spends hours in the pool, but not just to strengthen her body.Her Florida town is home to Mermaid Cove, a kitschy underwater attraction where professional mermaids perform in giant tanks . . . and Verónica wants to audition. But her conservative Peruvian parents would never go for it. And they definitely would never let her be with Alex, her cute new neighbor.She decides it’s time to seize control of her life, but her plans come crashing down when she learns her parents have been hiding the truth from her—the truth about her own body.

It’s been three years since Abuela’s last visit, and Dulce revels in every tiny detail - from Abuela’s maletas full of candies in crinkly wrappers and gifts from primos to the sweet, earthy smell of Peru that floats out of Abuela’s room and down the hall. But Abuela’s visit can’t last forever, and all too soon she’s packing her suitcases again. Then Dulce has an idea: maybe there are things she can gather for her cousins and send with Abuela to remind them of the U.S. relatives they’ve never met. And despite having to say goodbye, Abuela has one more surprise for Dulce - something to help her remember that home isn’t just a place, but the deep-rooted love they share no matter the distance.

An International Latino Book Award winner.“Everyone Knows You Go Home is prescient, tackling issues of family division, the arduous journey of crossing from one country into the next, and the sacrifices we make in exchange for a better future.” —Houston ChronicleThe first time Isabel meets her father-in-law, Omar, he’s already dead—an apparition appearing uninvited on her wedding day. Her husband, Martin, still unforgiving for having been abandoned by his father years ago, confesses that he never knew the old man had died. So Omar asks Isabel for the impossible: persuade Omar’s family—especially his wife, Elda—to let him redeem himself.Isabel and Martin settle into married life in a Texas border town, and Omar returns each year on the celebratory Day of the Dead. Every year Isabel listens, but to the aggrieved Martin and Elda, Omar’s spirit remains invisible. Through his visits, Isabel gains insight into not just the truth about his disappearance and her husband’s childhood but also the ways grief can eat away at love. When Martin’s teenage nephew crosses the Mexican border and takes refuge in Isabel and Martin’s home, questions about past and future homes, borders, and belonging arise that may finally lead to forgiveness—and alter all their lives forever.

Two classmates scheme to break their parents up before they get married and ruin the girls’ lives forever in this hijinks-filled middle grade novel.Melisa Flores and Roxy Romero are not fans of each other. Roxy is sporty while Meli is artsy. Meli keeps her friend circle small while Roxy is pals with everyone. Their little brothers might get along like fruit in a delicious smoothie, but Meli and Roxy do not mix. So when their parents announce their engagement, the girls are horrified. Previous experience has told them they’ll never be friends, much less sisters. Meli and Roxy decide they have to do something to prevent this future blended family from ruining all their lives. The girls scheme to show their parents exactly how incompatible their families are by sabotaging the renovations of the house they’re supposed to live happily ever after in. From home improvement store catastrophes to disastrous paint jobs, it’s clear the girls are good teammates when it comes to causing chaos. Could it be enough to convince their parents to call off the wedding? But as the girls plot to show their parents exactly how incompatible their families are, they start to actually like each other—causing major complications when their plan begins working a little too well…