Description: For fans of I Am Malala comes this poignant novel based on the true story of one girl's unforgettable journey to self-discovery.
Born in an Andean village in Ecuador, Virginia lives with her family in a small, earthen-walled dwelling. In her Indigenous community, it is not uncommon to work in the fields all day, even as a child, or to be called a longa tonta--stupid Indian--by members of the privileged class of mestizos, or Spanish descendants. When seven-year-old Virginia is taken from her home to be a servant to a mestizo couple, she has no idea what the future holds. In this poignant novel based on her own story, the inspiring María Virginia Farinango has collaborated with acclaimed author Laura Resau to recount one girl's unforgettable journey to find her place in the world. It will make you laugh and cry, and ultimately, it will fill you with hope.Brief description: Laura Resau is the award-winning author of nine highly acclaimed young adult and middle grade novels, including The Lightning Queen, Tree of Dreams, What the Moon Saw, Red Glass, Star in the Forest, The Queen of Water (with Maria Virginia Farinango), and the Notebook series. Loved by kids and adults alike, Laura's novels have garnered many starred reviews and honors, including the International Reading Association's YA Fiction Award, the Americas Award, five Colorado Book Awards, spots on "best-of" book lists from Oprah, School Library Journal, the American Library Association, Bank Street, and more. Resau's writing has been called "vibrant, large-hearted" (Publishers' Weekly on Red Glass) and "powerful, magical" (Booklist on What the Moon Saw). You might find Laura writing in a vintage trailer in her backyard in Fort Collins or in her tiny cabin in the Rocky Mountains or on her travels in Latin America and Europe. When she's not writing, she's often wandering in the forest with her husband, cuddling with her senior rescue beagle, or head-banging (very carefully) at her teenage son's rock shows.