Description:
Cuando un ataque de panico impide que Florencia actúe como Clara en El Cascanueces y su mejor amiga actúa como Clara en lugar de ella, un nuevo estilo de baile la ayuda a enfrentar su ansiedad y una amistad problemática.
After a panic attack prevents Florencia from performing as Clara in The Nutcracker and her best friends takes the lead, a new dance style helps her face her anxiety as well as a troubled friendship.
Brief description:
Yamile Saied Méndez is the award-winning author of many books for young readers and adults, including Furia, Where Are You From?, the Horse Country series, and On These Magic Shores, among others. She was born and raised in Rosario, Argentina, but has lived most of her life in a lovely valley surrounded by mountains in Utah. She's a graduate of the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA Writing program, and a founding member of Las Musas, a marketing collective of Latine writers. Connect with her at yamilesmendez.com.
Review Quotes:
* "This age is difficult to capture, and Méndez portrays it beautifully; Florencia has very grown-up feelings and actions interspersed with childlike observances.... Seeing a fellow tween navigate a difficult time will inspire not just dancers but any young person finding their way back to themselves." -- Booklist, starred review
* "A beautifully realized book that reminds readers that there's more than one rhythm to dance to." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Méndez examines the toll that participating in elite dance has on one child's friendships and mental health in this emotionally raw and honest offering." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review
* "An impactful and nuanced look at childhood mental health and the pressures children sometimes face when pursuing their passions at an early age." -- Shelf Awareness, starred review
"Méndez offers readers a fully dimensional protagonist in Flor, an ambitious girl who balances her people-pleasing tendencies with her own desires.... Her grief, anxiety, and anger are all conveyed in a voice ringing with authenticity." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Best Books of 2025
Best Books of the Year 2025 - Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature
Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Book Awards Finalist 2026 - Read Your World
Tejas Star Reading List 2026 - Texas Library Association (TLA)