Wish Upon a Stray: A Wish Novel

by Yamile Saied Méndez

Overview

A heartwarming and authentic immigration story about a stray dog, the power of music, and celebrating old traditions along with new beginnings, by Pura Belpre Award-winning author Yamile Saied Mendez.

Maria Emilia's life turns upside-down when she and her family immigrate from Argentina to the US. How can she make new friends when simply speaking English all day is exhausting?

Luckily, she has the company of a stray dog in the neighborhood, who happens to look and act just like her beloved pet cat back home. Eventually, it turns out the pup isn't a stray after all — she belongs to Maria Emilia's new neighbor, Donovan. In order to spend more time with the dog (who totally isn't her reincarnated cat... right?), she agrees to sing in Donovan's band. But can Emilia find her new voice without losing herself?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338684667
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	08/03/2021
Series:	Wish
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	463,538
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 4.90(h) x 0.80(d)
Lexile:	750L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Yamile (sha-MEE-lay) Saied Mendez is the author of Blizzard Besties, Random Acts of Kittens, Wish Upon a Stray, and many other books for young readers, including Furia, a Reese's YA Book Club selection and winner of a Pura Belpre YA Author Medal. She was born and raised in Rosario, Argentina, and now lives in Utah with her family. A Walter Dean Myers Grant recipient, she is also a graduate of the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Connect with her at yamilesmendez.com.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Wish Upon a Stray:

"An entertaining and endearing tale of resilience in the face of change and loss as well as the opportunities that can come when challenges are met. A sweet tale of dealing with estrangement and finding belonging." — Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Horse Country #1: Can't Be Tamed:

"The book's descriptions of ranch life are immersive and realistic. The thoughtful protagonist, who brings heartfelt passion and dedication to every aspect of caring for horses — even the messiest parts — will especially appeal to young animal lovers... An enjoyable read about horses, friendship, and second chances." — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2021-06-11
A 12-year-old girl struggles after a move across continents.

María Emilia, who goes by the pet name Mimilia, is a Miami-born Argentine girl who is excited about finishing seventh grade and singing a solo in her school choir at graduation. But her plans to celebrate before entering Argentine high school in eighth grade are derailed when her mother gets a job teaching Latin American history at a college in Utah. Leaving her hometown of Mendoza with her parents and two younger brothers also means leaving her grandma Lela behind—and her aging cat, Estrellita. As a parting gift, Lela gives Mimilia a binder full of letters from her great-grandmother Nonna Celestina, written after she emigrated from Italy to Argentina at age 12. But even with this sage epistolary guidance, Mimilia is having a hard time finding her voice in her new home. She feels like a foreigner in the country where she was born and grapples with new foods, feeling self-conscious about her accent, making new friends, and having to repeat seventh grade. Her only consolation is a stray dog who shows up, reminding her of her beloved cat—and who ultimately helps make Utah feel more like home. Méndez presents an entertaining and endearing tale of resilience in the face of change and loss as well as the opportunities that can come when challenges are met.

A sweet tale of dealing with estrangement and finding belonging. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews