“Presented annually [by the American Library Association] to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.”
“CLASP founded the Américas Award in 1993 to encourage and commend authors, illustrators and publishers who produce quality children’s and young adult books that portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States, and to provide teachers with recommendations for classroom use.”
“THE CHILDREN’S BOOK COMMITTEE at Bank Street College of Education strives to guide librarians, educators, parents, grandparents, and other interested adults to the best books for children published each year.”
Josie Figueroa is the girl no one in la familia has to worry about. She’s smart, responsible, and reliable.
The good girl.
Except her life isn’t as perfect as everyone believes. Her older brothers are overprotective and clueless; her dream-boy leads her on, and dumps her.
And then there’s cousin Margarita who can’t deal with her own life, much less a deadbeat husband and two small children.
That’s okay because there’s always Josie-to-the-rescue, Josie who will take care of everything for everyone else. After all, it’s not like Josie doesn’t have problems of her own, it’s not like she’s fifteen, pregnant, and every choice she makes feels like the wrong one.
“Powerful and timely.” Starred review from Booklist
Twelve-year-old Jaime makes the treacherous and life-changing journey from his home in Guatemala to live with his older brother in the United States in this gripping and realistic middle grade novel.
Jaime is sitting on his bed drawing when he hears a scream. Instantly, he knows: Miguel, his cousin and best friend, is dead.
Everyone in Jaime’s small town in Guatemala knows someone who has been killed by the Alphas, a powerful gang that’s known for violence and drug trafficking. Anyone who refuses to work for them is hurt or killed—like Miguel. With Miguel gone, Jaime fears that he is next. There’s only one choice: accompanied by his cousin Ángela, Jaime must flee his home to live with his older brother in New Mexico.
Inspired by true events, The Only Road is an individual story of a boy who feels that leaving his home and risking everything is his only chance for a better life. It is a story of fear and bravery, love and loss, strangers becoming family, and one boy’s treacherous and life-changing journey.
Hardback and e-book available now online or from your local bookstore!
El único destino
En esta absorbente y emocionante novela juvenil, Jaime de doce años emprende el peligroso y traicionero viaje que le transforma su vida de su hogar en Guatemala a Estados Unidos para vivir con su hermano mayor.
Jaime está sentado en su cama dibujando cuando oye un grito. Sabe inmediatamente que su primo hermano y mejor amigo, Miguel, está muerto.
Todos en el pequeño pueblo de Guatemala donde Jaime vive conocen a alguien que ha sido asesinado por los Alfas, una pandilla poderosa que es conocida por su violencia y por el tráfico de drogas. Aquellos que rehúsan trabajar para ellos son atacados o asesinados como Miguel. Jaime y su prima Ángela, la hermana de Miguel, temen que ellos van a ser los próximos. Solamente hay un camino para ambos. Deben de salir huyendo de su hogar en Guatemala para irse a vivir con el hermano mayor de Jaime en Nuevo México.
Inspirada en hechos actuales, El único destino es la historia de un niño que siente que abandonar su hogar y emprender esta travesía es su única oportunidad para tener mejor calidad de vida. Es una historia de pánico y de valentía, de amor y de pérdida, donde personas extrañoas se convierten en familia en el viaje peligroso que le cambia la vida a un niño.
¡Se puede ordenar ahora por internet o por su librería local!
When Annie moves from London to a small American town in the Mid-West, she struggles to fit in. She gets off to a bad start when she makes an enemy of her school’s queen bee, Kelsey. But she discovers a new passion the exciting sport of roller derby and makes friends with the cool and quirky girls on her team, the Liberty Belles. She also meets Jesse, the friendly boy who works at the roller rink, and Tyler, a cute all-American sports star.
Annie and Tyler are going out! OK, he can be a bit controlling sometimes, but Annie’s never had a boyfriend before so she assumes that’s what they’re like. Her roller derby team, the Liberty Belles, are in top position in the league but are they getting over-confident? Annie misses a few practice sessions so she can spend time with Tyler. As punishment, she gets left on the bench at a big bout. The whole team needs to refocus, especially Annie.
These books were written on commission (under the name Megan Sparks), which in this case means, it was someone else’s idea and I was hired to write it.
Now a NM Book Award Finalist and An ALA Rainbow List book!
Contact Alexandra for an autographed bookplate!
When a rumor starts circulating that Tara’s boyfriend has been with one of the guy cheerleaders, the innuendo doesn’t just hurt Tara. It marks the beginning of the end for three lifelong friends.
Tara’s training for a marathon, but also running from her fear of abandonment from her father.
Whitney Blaire seems to have everything, but an empty mansion and absentee parents leave her looking for her own value in the wrong places.
And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mama she’s never stopped missing.
Then the new girl arrives in school and Tara starts to feel things she’s never felt for before for a girl. Can the girls’ friendship survive when all the rules have changed?
I had the great opportunity to appear on this radio show. Click on the image below if you’d like to listen. Best enjoyed with a cuppa and some biscuits.
ALA Conference in Chicago, IL, June 23rd-26th! I'll be on a panel on Friday, June 23rd 1:30pm–2:30pm with other award winners. On Saturday, June 24th 12:00pm-1:00pm, I'll be signing copies of The Only Road at the S&S booth #3020 on the exhibit floor. Hope to see you there!
Américas Award Ceremony at the Library of Congress! While in Washington DC, I'd love to set up author presentations or writing workshops at your school, library, book club, etc. Contact me at adiaz(at)alexandra-diaz(dot)com for further details.
A New Life...
Of All the Stupid Things has been given a new title and cover thanks to Paper Lantern Lit. Now available as an e-book!
