Wednesday, August 26, 2009

MC Spotlight #26: Amor and Summer Secrets by Diana Rodriguez Wallach

Here we are with YA Fresh MC Spotlight #26!

Amor and Summer Secrets

All She Never Wanted.

For fifteen-year-old Mariana Ruiz, it's not so much an unexpected vacation as a literal "guilt trip"-her father's way of atoning for ignoring his Puerto Rican roots. But freedom from her parents is little compensation for being forced to spend two months with complete strangers rather than with her best friends in Philadelphia.

Once on "vacation," her worst fears come true. The heat is merciless, the food is spicy, and her great aunt and uncle's mountain house teems with relatives, only one of whom-her distant cousin Lilly-speaks English. Bored, and hoping to make up for missing her best friend's star-studded Sweet 16, Mariana offers to help in the planning of Lilly's Quinceañera. Soon, despite herself, Mariana clicks with new friends who open doors to romance and long-hidden secrets. Suddenly the summer she dreaded is ending way too quickly. It might turn out that the last place she ever wanted to go is the one place she truly finds herself.

Funny, touching, and smart, Amor and Summer Secrets is a story about friendship, family, rivalry, secrets, and how much you can change over the course of one loco summer.
Read an excerpt here!

Born to a Puerto Rican father and a Polish mother, Diana Rodriguez Wallach has experienced the cultures her characters inhabit. She holds a journalism degree from Boston University, and has worked as a reported and as an advocate for inner city public schools. She currently resides in Philadelphia with her husband. Visit the author's website, www.dianarodriguezwallach.com/.

3 fresh comments:

TinaFerraro said...

All She Never Wanted--very catchy!

This sounds like another great read.

Diana Rodriguez Wallach said...

Thanks, Kelly, for blogging about my book!

And Tina, interestingly enough, "All She Never Wanted" was one of my proposed title ideas. I really liked it, but it didn't fly with the marketing folks. I got it on the back cover though!

-Diana

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