• Rebecca Balcarcel

    The Other Half of Happy

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    • Regular price $11.99


    ? "Balcárcel's well-rounded characters, complex friendships, and nuanced family dynamics will resonate with many readers. This is a title that will remain relevant long past its publication date. A must-have for all library collections."
    –School Library Journal, starred review

    ? "A lovely, moving, and realistic view of the struggles and insecurities—as well as the beauty—that comes from being bicultural."
    –Booklist, starred reviewHandpicked by Amazon kids' books editor, Seira Wilson, for Prime Book Box – a children's subscription that inspires a love of reading.

    This immersive, award-winning novel following the story of Quijana, a girl in pieces, is now available in paperback.

    One-half Guatemalan, one-half American: When Quijana's Guatemalan cousins move to town, her dad seems ashamed that she doesn't know more about her family's heritage.

    One-half crush, one-half buddy: When Quijana meets Zuri and Jayden, she knows she's found true friends. But she can't help the growing feelings she has for Jayden.

    One-half kid, one-half grown-up: Quijana spends her nights Skyping with her ailing grandma and trying to figure out what's going on with her increasingly hard-to-reach brother.

    Quijana must figure out which parts of herself are most important, and which pieces come together to make her whole.

    This is a heartfelt poetic portrayal of a girl growing up, fitting in, and learning what it means to belong.

    • Lyrical middle grade debut from author Rebecca Balcárcel
    • A diverse and family-centered story that resonates with anyone who remembers, or is going through, growing pains
    • Inclusively embraces real life experiences with biracial, autistic, and gay characters
    • 2020 Pura Belpré Honor Book
    • A Junior Library Guild Selection
    • ALSC Notable Children's Book
    • 2020 Jean Flynn Award for Best Middle Grade Book
    • 2020 Spirit of Texas Reading Program Recommended Title

    Perfect for:

    • Tweens and teens
    • Bilingual and bicultural readers
    • Parents
    • Educators