Title: The Chismosas Only Book Club
Author: Laekan Zea Kemp
Genre: realistic fiction
Age range: upper middle grade
Similar book: The Mother Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick
Summary (provided by publisher): Cat, Sofia, Ana, and Mari are best friends. Nothing, nada, can break their bond. When Cat’s mom scolds them for their loud cackling at the bookstore, calling them a bunch of chismosas, the name sticks. Cat creates the The Chismosas Only Book Club, giving the girls a way to stay connected as they begin high school.
But ninth grade is hard, and it seems like no amount of conchas y libros y risas at Milagro’s Books, founded generations ago by Cat’s great-great-great-grandmother, can repair the ever-growing cracks in their friendship. But maybe the spirit of Milagro herself can . . .
What I liked: The characters here are realistic and deeply flawed. For all of their close connection they are also distinctive and have wide ranging problems. None of them are portrayed as innocent victims, pure hearts. These are kids actively making choices that the outsider can recognize will go wrong even as we understand the choice they make. The pacing is solid and has enough going on to keep us engaged.
What I didn't like: The transition between perspectives can be a bit jarring as we jump between narratives. It isn't always a comfortable read but it is a reasonable one.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
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