Miss Quinces

 

Bibliography
Fajardo, Kat, 2022. MISS QUINCES. Color by Mariana Azzi. New York, NY. ISBN 9781338535594.

Plot Summary
Suyapa wants nothing more than to celebrate a quiet summer with her friends at a sleepaway camp, where they can have fun and create comics together. Unfortunately for Suyapa, her family makes plans to visit Honduras instead, to visit their loud, outgoing family members. They will be isolated in the Honduran country with no cable, cell service, or Internet. To Suyapa's horror, she also finds out her mother has planned a surprise quinceañera. Nothing seems to be going Suyapa's way, until she begins to embrace her outgoing family and unique traditions. 

Critical Analysis
Suyapa's character is quiet, introverted, and quirky. She wants nothing more than to be left in quiet situations where she can hangout with friends or draw comics. Fajardo's depiction of this character mirrors a middle schooler perfectly as Suyapa feels misunderstood by her family; they cannot seem to understand why she enjoys wearing dark colored clothes or spend time alone drawing. She dreads going to Honduras for the summer, not only is she missing out on sleepaway camp, but she is going to be spending time with her loud, outgoing family. While she's there, Suyapa is surprised to learn her mother has planned a quinceañera without her permission. Feeling like it couldn't get worse, Suyapa is given reassurance from her abuelita to embrace her differences and identity. Embracing her identity and Abuelita's wisdom, Sue begins to open up to her family and learn about their unique culture/traditions. While Suyapa's family experiences the tough loss of Abuelita during this visit, Suyapa decides to honor her memory by embracing her family's culture and celebrate life at her quinceañera. The bright and detailed graphics in this story allow readers to admire the traditions of a quinceañera ceremony and Suyapa's bravery for opening up to her family. 

Review Excerpt(s)
- Starred review in THE HORN BOOK: "Fajardo's deft graphic-novel paneling and expressive use of line and Azzi's color palette of cool blues and pinks convey the complexity and full range of Sue's feelings, both in important moments and in more mundane ones."
- Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Either way, readers will find ways to connect to Sue as she grows to love and accept her family with all their quirks and learns how to juggle her own identity as she creates and identity within her family."

Connections
- For middle school readers who can relate to finding acceptance of their building identities within their own families. 
- For readers interested in learning about the traditions of a quinceañera and Honduran culture. 
- Similar book recommendations: 
Messner, Kate & Fajardo, Kat. EMMA MCKENNA, FULL OUT. ISBN 9781523525720
Ortega, Claribel A. & Bousamra, Rose. FRIZZY. ISBN 9781250259639

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