by Sarah McCoy
First published 2010
Verdita Ortiz-Santiago lives in a quiet mountain town in Puerto Rico, where her biggest worry used to be stories about the chupacabra. Now it's 1961, and everything is changing. Her mother tells her that becoming a señorita means daily Mass, cooking duties, and forgetting about Elvis Presley. Verdita dreams of becoming a blonde American like her older cousin who lives on the mainland, but she still wants her mother to sing lullabies and rub her back. The island itself mirrors her confusion as Puerto Ricans debate whether to stay tied to the United States or fight for independence. Verdita's body is changing in ways that both embarrass and thrill her. She must choose between the traditional path her family expects and the American dream that calls to her. Over two years, Verdita learns that growing up means deciding who she wants to become, even when it means disappointing the people who love her most.
Genres: historical-fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Puerto Rico
Period: 1961
224 pages · Paperback · Crown