Lucia the Luchadora

by Cynthia Leonor Garza, Alyssa Bermudez (Illustrator)

Overview

Lucía zips through the playground in her cape just like the boys, but when theytell her "girls can't be superheroes," suddenly she doesn't feel so mighty. That'swhen her beloved abuela reveals a dazzling secret: Lucía comes from a family ofluchadoras, the bold and valiant women of the Mexican lucha libre tradition.Cloaked in a flashy new disguise, Lucía returns as a recess sensation! But whenshe's confronted with a case of injustice, Lucía must decide if she can stay true tothe ways of the luchadora and fight for what is right, even if it means breaking thesacred rule of never revealing the identity behind her mask. A story about courageand cultural legacy, Lucía the Luchadora is full of pluck, daring, and heart.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781576878279
Publisher:	POW! Kids Books
Publication date:	03/07/2017
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	244,420
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 8.70(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Cynthia Leonor Garza has enjoyed many shared adventures at the splendiferousmarket since she was a kid. She’s a journalist who has worked for several newspapers and her commentaries have appeared on NPR and in The Atlantic. She currently lives with her two daughters, husband, and their quixotic dog Bibi in Nairobi, Kenya. To learn more about Cynthia, find her @luchalady or on her website, cynthialeonorgarza.com.

Editorial Reviews

AS SEEN IN: Austin American-Statesman, Houston Chronicle, and NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday.

LISTED IN: Kirkus' Best Books of 2017, Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best List 2017, and Amazon Editors' Holiday Gift Picks.

From the Publisher

★ 04/01/2017
PreS-Gr 2—Lucía can zip through the playground and jump off the monkey bars and land on her feet every single time, but the boys ignore her and tell her that girls can't be superheroes. Lucía and her Abu—short for abuela—hatch a plan that will involve learning all about luchadores, the stars of a popular Mexican style of wrestling (lucha libre). By the end of the book, Lucía has learned she must fight for what is right and has become a role model for other girls on the playground. Animated illustrations capture the equally vibrant main character, a brown-skinned girl with flowing long hair. The story, told in Lucía's voice, has plenty of punch and humor and is chock-full of onomatopoeic sounds that just beg to be read aloud. The placement of the text moves along with the action, adding to the tone and breakneck pace of the story. The narrative encourages girls to trust their own strengths yet is never didactic. An author's note at the end explains luchadores and lucha libre. VERDICT A shining debut outing for author and illustrator, this endearing and humorous title is sure to put a bit of KA-POW into storytimes! A must-have.—Lucia Acosta, Children's Literature Specialist, NJ

School Library Journal

★ 2017-02-04
Who says girls can't be superheroes?Wearing her long red cape, Lucía goes POW and BAM better than the rest. The brown-skinned Latina's a daredevil on the playground, leaping from the top of the monkey bars and conquering that dreaded dark, swirly slide. But: "Girls can't be superheroes," say the boys that refuse to play with her. Lucía doesn't give in to their taunts. "I feel mad. Spicy mad. KA-POW kind of mad!" Garza shines in her children's debut. The text bursts with infectious energy and Lucía's endearing personality. When her abuela reveals a luchadora past, Lucía discovers a new outlet for her superhero aspirations. In a flashy white cape and fearsome silver mask, the budding luchadora makes her debut on the playground, introducing a lucha libre frenzy among her peers. Soon, masked faces are everywhere. But when a boy teases a fellow luchadora, Lucía faces her first real challenge as a lucha libre superhero. Can she stand up for what is right like a true luchadora? A madcap pace keeps the story moving along with humor, heart, and bravado in equal measures. Likewise, Bermudez's colorful, buoyant illustrations radiate pure joy. Nifty text placement, variations in type color, and use of sound effects add to this delightful package, making it a joy for readers to root for this plucky young girl. A KA-POW kind of wonderful. (author's note) (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews