A Winner

in every sense of the word.  The Only Road is the first book and now I MUST read the sequel, The Crossroads.    TOR by Alexandra Diaz was named a Pura Belpré Honor Award for narration in 2017.  And may I just say in my humble opinion, it deserved it.  Don't know if this was 1954 because I have not yet read the winner, Juana & Lucas. 
This book is timely and heartbreaking.  And boy did I learn a great deal.  Jaime and his cousin travel from their home in Guatemala across the border to Mexico and then into the United States. 
Please note that in the past I have linked countries to the CIA World Fact Book.  I love this country.  But right now it is run by an administration that has proven time and time again to be untrustworthy, that is why I am not linking to them this time. 

You May Say I'm a Dreamer

This is a terrible song.  I know I am probably the only person who thinks that, but I do.  The Dreamer is an incredible book.  A fictionalized account of the childhood of Pablo Neruda.  As I mentioned when I wrote about Becoming Naomi León, I quickly took on this one and I am so glad I did.  I listened to it, but I will have to go back and look at the pictures, as it was illustrated by Peter Sis.  What a story.  It was great to hear Ryan's thoughts at the end, too.

How much misery has there been? Is there still?

Before We Were Free taught me a lot.  It is the story of Anita, living in the Dominican Republic near the end of the reign of Rafael Trujillo, whom I had never heard of, I am embarrassed to say.  This book won the Pura Belpré Award in 2004, instead of the Newbery, of course, no shock there.  That went to The Tale of Despereaux, which I have not read...but come on, not even a Newbery Honor to BWWF?  Olive's Ocean got an Honor that year....really?   And this didn't?  Feels like 1954 to me.  This was the first book I've ever read by Julia Álveraz but it won't be my last.  Incredible.

So why wasn't this a Printz Honor?

Meg Medina was given the Pura Belpré Author Award this year for Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass.  I am just not sure as to why it wasn't named a Printz Honor now that I have listened to it.  This is the story of Piddy Sanchez who is a bright teenager who has just moved to a new school where she is the victim of bullying that gets really, really awful because another girl, Yaqui Delgado, whom Piddy has never even talked to thinks that she is after her boyfriend, another student whom Piddy has never met.
Piddy's story isn't just about being bullied, though, it is also the tale of her self-discovery.  This was a great, great read.