Release: January 16th, 2018
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Source: Amazon
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N.
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In her first, middle-grade novel, award-winning picture book author and illustrator Angela Dominguez tells a heartwarming story based on her own experiences growing up Mexican American.
Stella Díaz loves marine animals, especially her betta fish, Pancho. But Stella Díaz is not a betta fish. Betta fish like to be alone, while Stella loves spending time with her mom and brother and her best friend, Jenny. The trouble is, Jenny is in another class this year, and Stella feels very lonely.
When a new boy arrives in Stella’s class, she really wants to be his friend, but sometimes Stella accidentally speaks Spanish instead of English and pronounces words wrong, making her turn Roja. Plus, she has to speak in front of her whole class for a big presentation at school! But she better get over her fears soon because Stella Díaz has something to say.
Stella Díaz Has Something to Say introduces an infectiously charming new character with relatable writing and adorable black and white art throughout. Simple Spanish vocabulary is also integrated within the text, providing a bilingual element.
About the Author:
Angela Dominguez was born in Mexico City and grew up in the great state of Texas. She now resides on the east coast with her boyfriend and petite dog, Petunia.
She is also the author and illustrator of several books for children. Her debut middle grade novel, Stella Díaz Has Something To Say, was a New York Public Library. It was also a Chicago Public Library 2018 pick for Best Books for Kids, Sid Fleischman Award winner, and an ALA Notable. When Angela is not in her studio or visiting schools, she teaches at the Academy of Art University.
Angela is a proud member of SCBWI, PEN America; as a child, she loved reading books and making a mess creating pictures. She’s delighted to be still doing both.
Stella Diaz #1 Review:
“Stella Díaz Has Something to Say” is a charming middle-grade novel and a lovely start to the “Stella Díaz” series.
The author writes the story in a child-like whimsical way that would encourage younger readers to pick up and enjoy. The illustrations are adorable and complement the story nicely. The author also covers some topics on how to get over your nervousness and build your confidence. I feel this is an important topic to deal with from a young age.
I liked Stella in the lead. She goes through quite many changes, from Jenny getting new friends to building her self-confidence in school. You can see how her mood changes when she spends time with Jenny and uses her as her support. One of my favorite moments is when Stella participates in the Spelling Bee. The story also covers a bit of bullying as Jessica mocks her in front of everyone for being different. One of my favorite moments was when Stella’s mother gave her advice not to let anyone get her down. Stella also shares a beautiful bond with her brother Nick. On a side note, I also liked how realistically the author portrayed Nick’s character regarding his father.
The author also provides some interesting facts about octopuses, the Dewey decimal system, immigration status, and legal aliens. Moreover, the author also talks about Mexico city and many references from Sherlock Holmes, Frida Kahlo, to Albert Einstein. These facts were such a creative way to get younger readers to branch out and study topics that interest them.
Overall, “Stella Díaz Has Something to Say” is a fun novel, and I would love to see how it continues.
