by Sarai Gonzalez (Author), Monica Brown (Author), Christine Almeda (Illustrator)
The second book in the Sarai Gonzalez illustrated chapter book series inspired by the life of 11-year-old viral video sensation and social activist Sarai Gonzalez.
When Sarai's best friend suddenly moves away, Sarai has to navigate school -- and the unfriendly girls in the cafeteria -- all by herself. Then, new girl Christina moves to town and the teacher volunteers Sarai to show her around. But Sarai thinks Christina is not at all like her--she never wants to play at recess, she's always got her head in a notebook and she's so shy But when Christina writes Sarai a spoken-word poem for her to recite at the class talent show, Sarai learns that sometimes winning teams are made from unlikely pairs Inspired by the life of viral video sensation and social activist Sarai Gonzalez with the help of award-winning children's book author Monica Brown.Author Biography
Monica Brown is the award-winning author of super-awesome books for children, including the Lola Levine chapter book series, Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match/no combina, Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos, and Waiting for the Biblioburro. She is a professor of English at Northern Arizona University, specializing in Latinx and African American Literature. She lives in Flagstaff, Arizona, with her husband and her dogs, Lola and Finn. Visit her at monicabrown.net.
Eleven-year-old Sarai Gonzalez became an overnight sensation after appearing in Bomba Estero's "Soy Yo," a music video about embracing yourself and loving your flaws. The video garnered over 30 million views and the New York Times called Sarai a Latina icon. Sarai and the Meaning of Awesome was the first book in her new chapter book series inspired by her life. Sarai lives in New Jersey with her family.