Review by Booklist Review
Juana's mother is changing her hair is different, she's wearing more lipstick, and she spends more time away. Juana soon learns that her mother's change is due to a new romantic relationship, and the young girl fears this will lead to big problems. Juana isn't thrilled when her mother announces she's getting remarried; but over time, Juana learns that change is not all bad. Medina's story is an important one about losing a parent and eventually gaining a new one. Juana's struggles with these events are compounded by worries over sharing her mother with another. Many young readers will relate to Juana's situation and find reassurance in the message that though change is difficult, it can bring about many beautiful surprises. Medina's illustrations are a wonderful addition to Juana's first-person narration, truly bringing her emotions and quirkiness to life. Spanish words are sprinkled throughout the text but are italicized so that monolingual young readers will get their meaning through context cues. Medina's charming follow-up to her Pura Belpré Award-winning Juana & Lucas (2016) doesn't disappoint.--Sonia Alejandra Rodríguez Copyright 2019 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
This sequel to Juana Lucas (rev. 11/16) offers welcome narrative continuity for fans of Bogotdwelling protagonist Juana Medina Rosas and her beloved pet dog Lucas, while skillfully balancing changes in their lives. Juana is growing up; and, while some of her favorite things remain constantsuch as her best of amigos and ever-faithful pet; her abuela, abuelo, and joyfully mischievous cousins Cami and Pipea big change is looming. Her favorite person in the world, Mami, is starting to spend more time with a new friend, Luis. In accessible chapters with plenty of white space and interspersed art, Medina guides readers through Juanas experiences, incorporating nuanced visual details into the drawings to help articulate Juanas thought processes and range of emotions. Through it all, Juana can always count on her familys steady and secure love to help solve even the biggest problemas. The result is a thriving, buoyant, confident young Juana who demonstrates that balancing new changes with old favorites is achievable and, indeed, can be done with humor and grace. lettycia terrones July/Aug p.132(c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Juana is back. This time she has to navigate the ups and downs of the changes brought on by the new person in Mami's life.The way she sees it, "My life is just about perfect." She lives in Bogot, "a city that smells of eucalyptus and fresh fruit"; she has the nicest neighbors; Mami is perfect; her abuelos are wonderful; her school "is quite good, too, though math and English are hard for me to learn." And of course, there is Lucas, "the most perfect perro in the whole entire world." Lately, though, her life is "a little less perfect." Mami has changed her hairstyle and is singing a lot, and Juana is spending more time with her relatives and less with Mami. Turns out, "Mami has a new friend. His name is Luis." As with its predecessor, the Belpr-winning Juana Lucas (2016), the story is told from Juana's point of view with humor and drama. The typeset, text, and illustrations are playfully intertwined, with a sprinkling of italicized Spanish words throughout. Medina's cartoon-style illustrations done in ink and watercolor are vibrant and full of movement, beautifully capturing the full range of Juana's conflicting emotions as Luis becomes a part of their lives.Juana's big problema will resonate with many readers, who will look forward to hearing more about this spunky Colombian girl's life. (Fiction. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
