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Warrior Girl
An insightful novel in verse about the joys and struggles of a Chicana girl who is a warrior for her name, her history, and her right to choose what she celebrates in life.
Celina and her family are bilingual and follow both Mexican and American traditions. Celina revels in her Mexican heritage, but once she starts school it feels like the world wants her to erase that part of her identity. Fortunately, she’s got an army of family and three fabulous new friends behind her to fight the ignorance. But it’s her Gramma who’s her biggest inspiration, encouraging Celina to build a shield of joy around herself . Because when you’re celebrating, when you find a reason to sing or dance or paint or play or laugh or write, they haven’t taken everything away from you. Of course, it’s not possible to stay in celebration mode when things get dire--like when her dad’s deported and a pandemic hits--but if there is anything Celina’s sure of, it’s that she’ll always live up to her last Guerrera--woman warrior--and that she will use her voice and writing talents to make the world a more beautiful place where all cultures are celebrated.
Celina and her family are bilingual and follow both Mexican and American traditions. Celina revels in her Mexican heritage, but once she starts school it feels like the world wants her to erase that part of her identity. Fortunately, she’s got an army of family and three fabulous new friends behind her to fight the ignorance. But it’s her Gramma who’s her biggest inspiration, encouraging Celina to build a shield of joy around herself . Because when you’re celebrating, when you find a reason to sing or dance or paint or play or laugh or write, they haven’t taken everything away from you. Of course, it’s not possible to stay in celebration mode when things get dire--like when her dad’s deported and a pandemic hits--but if there is anything Celina’s sure of, it’s that she’ll always live up to her last Guerrera--woman warrior--and that she will use her voice and writing talents to make the world a more beautiful place where all cultures are celebrated.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published September 5, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
April 15, 2024
This was so lovely. Everything I love about YA novels in verse. Loved the empowering, activist message, particularly surrounding the events of 2020 and the Chicane movement.
September 16, 2023
“I am named Guerrera, warrior, for a reason. Because I am meant to be a warrior too. Meant to be. And AM!”
👧🏽
Celina and her family are Mexican American and proud of their heritage, even when the teachers and kids at her school don’t appreciate her culture. Lucky for Celina she has a supportive family and great friends who stand with her when things in the world become difficult such as her father being deported to Mexico, COVID, and BLM movement increasing.
👧🏽
This was such a beautiful MG novel in verse that I really enjoyed listening to on audiobook. Several moments particularly stood out to me such as the teachers refusing to pronounce Celina’s name correctly, her father’s second deportation and the uncertainty from day to day during COVID. @officialcarmentafolla captured it all so perfectly and despite all these challenges, Celina was positive and stood strong in her beliefs. Kids like her will change the world. Plus it’s set right by me in San Antonio!
CW: COVID theme, racism, police brutality, immigration issues, microaggressions
👧🏽
Celina and her family are Mexican American and proud of their heritage, even when the teachers and kids at her school don’t appreciate her culture. Lucky for Celina she has a supportive family and great friends who stand with her when things in the world become difficult such as her father being deported to Mexico, COVID, and BLM movement increasing.
👧🏽
This was such a beautiful MG novel in verse that I really enjoyed listening to on audiobook. Several moments particularly stood out to me such as the teachers refusing to pronounce Celina’s name correctly, her father’s second deportation and the uncertainty from day to day during COVID. @officialcarmentafolla captured it all so perfectly and despite all these challenges, Celina was positive and stood strong in her beliefs. Kids like her will change the world. Plus it’s set right by me in San Antonio!
CW: COVID theme, racism, police brutality, immigration issues, microaggressions
August 13, 2023
Thank you Penguin for the ARC.
“Warrior Girl” seemed to copy from the premise of “The Poet X” in a way that felt almost like plagiarism. The premises are the same: chicana girl who is bullied and wants to be a poet to use her words to make a difference.
Elizabeth Acevedo’s “The Poet X” was much more powerful - it questioned prejudices without preaching them. She was able to demonstrate lyrically how racism, colorism, and xenophobia are traumatizing to a child - and how that child can combat them.
I thought Warrior Girl was simplistic. A few of the poems demonstrated literary ability, but most of them used shortcuts to get the message across.
“Warrior Girl” seemed to copy from the premise of “The Poet X” in a way that felt almost like plagiarism. The premises are the same: chicana girl who is bullied and wants to be a poet to use her words to make a difference.
Elizabeth Acevedo’s “The Poet X” was much more powerful - it questioned prejudices without preaching them. She was able to demonstrate lyrically how racism, colorism, and xenophobia are traumatizing to a child - and how that child can combat them.
I thought Warrior Girl was simplistic. A few of the poems demonstrated literary ability, but most of them used shortcuts to get the message across.
September 21, 2023
Fell flat.
March 27, 2024
A beautiful, heartfelt verse novel about culture, activism, family and friendship, and TON of empowerment…every young person should meet Celina and her shield.
August 18, 2023
Thank you to Nancy Paulsen Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This novel in verse is told in first person by a young Chicana, Celina Teresa Guerrero Amaya, Celi for short. Her family is Mexican and American living in San Antonio, Texas – her father is undocumented and has been deported twice in Celi’s short life. In elementary school, most of her teachers showed ignorance at best, prejudice at worst, over everything Celi did from the clothes she wore to how she said her name. Things did get better when she started middle school – she met new friends and had some understanding and encouraging teachers. Celi learned to express herself through her poetry. She also learned how the state whitewashed Texas and Mexico’s history. She learned that her grandmother was an activist in her day. Celi wrote poems about history and current events, which was the school year that Covid hit. One of my favorite lines, "Freedom - it's either there for everyone or it isn't there at all." It is beautifully written, would probably get banned in Texas, and I would strongly recommend this book for grade 5 and up.
#WarriorGirl
This novel in verse is told in first person by a young Chicana, Celina Teresa Guerrero Amaya, Celi for short. Her family is Mexican and American living in San Antonio, Texas – her father is undocumented and has been deported twice in Celi’s short life. In elementary school, most of her teachers showed ignorance at best, prejudice at worst, over everything Celi did from the clothes she wore to how she said her name. Things did get better when she started middle school – she met new friends and had some understanding and encouraging teachers. Celi learned to express herself through her poetry. She also learned how the state whitewashed Texas and Mexico’s history. She learned that her grandmother was an activist in her day. Celi wrote poems about history and current events, which was the school year that Covid hit. One of my favorite lines, "Freedom - it's either there for everyone or it isn't there at all." It is beautifully written, would probably get banned in Texas, and I would strongly recommend this book for grade 5 and up.
#WarriorGirl
May 15, 2023
A beautifully written novel in verse that focuses on the struggles of a young Chicana girl, one who discovers her voice & celebrates what SHE wants in life. Her father is repeatedly deported back to Mexico, her mother fights to make ends meet, resulting in them moving around a lot, making it hard for Celina to make friends. Her Gramma is her biggest champion and inspiration, which helps Celina to “ build” a shield of happiness and joy around her. Once she and her mother begin living with her Gramma, her shield begins to crack, allowing in new friends, friends that have more in common with her than she realized. I loved how the author truly allowed Celina’s voice to shine through the words on the page. My favorite section was when the character was five or six years old and the reader can feel her frustration and hurt ooze through the pages by writing in the true voice of a first grader. This is a book that is extremely timely, focusing on the fears of Covid, the desire to fit in and belong & finding a way to fight for what you believe in. This book will resonate with a lot of my students. I cannot wait to purchase it in the fall for my library collection.
July 26, 2023
An important coming-of-age novel in verse about a girl who uses her voice and writing talents to ensure her identity and culture are not forgotten or erased. Celina's last name is Guerrera - "woman warrior" - and that is exactly who she becomes! Celina experiences the pandemic, a parent being deported, and highlights George Floyd.
August 10, 2023
and say, ‘there it is.’
It’s a living struggle we keep protecting every day,
Each one of us a warrior, defending Freedom’s way.” (ARC 194)
Through her story and her poetry, readers learn about Celina Teresa (Tere), last name (misspelled on the birth certificate by the nurse) Guerrera which means “a Woman Warrior,” and we watch her grow into her name as she learns about the power her words and actions can have.
Tere has a close, supportive family—her mother who is training to be a nursing assistant and has the dream of becoming a nurse; her grandmother, a rebel in her own teenage years; and her father, already deported once, who moves the family from place to place, trying to find work so he can afford ”the right papers.”
And excited about starting school, readers will cringe as teachers change young Mexican-American Tere’s name to Terry, stop her from speaking Spanish and coloring Cinderella’s hair black, and teach a racist history of the Alamo.
“Felt like Life had slapped her hard hand
over my mouth
and tried to shut me up,
tried to keep me
from being me,…” (ARC 1)
But finally she has a teacher who tells his students that their voice matters.
And when, in a final move in middle school, the family moves in with Gramma, near her tia and cousin, she decides
“No matter what, they will not silence me.
They will not take my story or my joy
away from me.” (ARC 18)
And in this school with three new best friends—Liz, Cata, and Chato, Celina Teresa, now called Celi, begins to write poetry—thanks to her English teacher, Ms. Yanez, and learns real history from Mr. Mason who learns some history from Celi herself.
“…so history gets retold in different ways by different people,
and sometimes legends and heroes turn out to be no-so-heroic.” (ARC 58)
Celi learns to deal with people, like classmate Heather, who make uninformed comments, by explaining Mexican customs to them and obtaining another friend who then shares her culture with Celi's family.
And she learns the power her words can have. “Wow! It’s amazing how many people you can reach with a poem!” (ARC 114)
When Ms. Yanez talks about social justice, Celi thinks,
“I was named Guerrera, warrior, for a reason.
Because I was meant to be a warrior too.
Meant to be. And AM!
Fighting with my weapons—paper and pen.
Using my courage to speak up.
Using celebration spirit to keep me strong,
so I never give up.
Because guerreras never stop
fighting for what they believe in.” (ARC 125)
Through the sadness of her father’s second deportation and then COVID isolation from school and friends, Celi and her friends never stop making “this place better.”
It’s a living struggle we keep protecting every day,
Each one of us a warrior, defending Freedom’s way.” (ARC 194)
Through her story and her poetry, readers learn about Celina Teresa (Tere), last name (misspelled on the birth certificate by the nurse) Guerrera which means “a Woman Warrior,” and we watch her grow into her name as she learns about the power her words and actions can have.
Tere has a close, supportive family—her mother who is training to be a nursing assistant and has the dream of becoming a nurse; her grandmother, a rebel in her own teenage years; and her father, already deported once, who moves the family from place to place, trying to find work so he can afford ”the right papers.”
And excited about starting school, readers will cringe as teachers change young Mexican-American Tere’s name to Terry, stop her from speaking Spanish and coloring Cinderella’s hair black, and teach a racist history of the Alamo.
“Felt like Life had slapped her hard hand
over my mouth
and tried to shut me up,
tried to keep me
from being me,…” (ARC 1)
But finally she has a teacher who tells his students that their voice matters.
And when, in a final move in middle school, the family moves in with Gramma, near her tia and cousin, she decides
“No matter what, they will not silence me.
They will not take my story or my joy
away from me.” (ARC 18)
And in this school with three new best friends—Liz, Cata, and Chato, Celina Teresa, now called Celi, begins to write poetry—thanks to her English teacher, Ms. Yanez, and learns real history from Mr. Mason who learns some history from Celi herself.
“…so history gets retold in different ways by different people,
and sometimes legends and heroes turn out to be no-so-heroic.” (ARC 58)
Celi learns to deal with people, like classmate Heather, who make uninformed comments, by explaining Mexican customs to them and obtaining another friend who then shares her culture with Celi's family.
And she learns the power her words can have. “Wow! It’s amazing how many people you can reach with a poem!” (ARC 114)
When Ms. Yanez talks about social justice, Celi thinks,
“I was named Guerrera, warrior, for a reason.
Because I was meant to be a warrior too.
Meant to be. And AM!
Fighting with my weapons—paper and pen.
Using my courage to speak up.
Using celebration spirit to keep me strong,
so I never give up.
Because guerreras never stop
fighting for what they believe in.” (ARC 125)
Through the sadness of her father’s second deportation and then COVID isolation from school and friends, Celi and her friends never stop making “this place better.”
February 15, 2024
Celina Teresa Guerrero Amaya, that's her name.
A novel told in verse through Celina's POV as a Mexican and American living in San Antonio Texas. Ever since she was little, whether it was the day she was born or the first day of first grade, she knew something was not right. Each and every time, they took her name away, replacing it with 'Terry.' This marked the first time she wondered if there would be anything left of hers after they took and took. She was always happiest with her grandmother, finding that laughing or celebrating was the one thing they could never take. Time and time again they would take. She would continue to be faced with adversity.
With her father struggling with finding work and finally being deported due to an issue with paperwork, to questioning why the history they were taught ignored the truth of Texas and Mexico's history, the pandemic arising, and discovering the BLM movement. From then on, she refused to have her story silenced and taken away. With her new friends at her side, she discovers the power and comfort that words, that writing would bring her. Poems became a way for her to express the pain she felt without her father at her side and a way to express her frustrations with the injustices she faced daily as well as would witness on the news.
I loved seeing how more and more involved Celina became in activism with her words, her love of poetry and being inspired by her family (especially her Grandmother). The uncertainty of her family's health and safety during the pandemic, of her father's safety while going through deportation and seeing the pain and empathy she felt through all these events made it a beautifully written novel.
A novel told in verse through Celina's POV as a Mexican and American living in San Antonio Texas. Ever since she was little, whether it was the day she was born or the first day of first grade, she knew something was not right. Each and every time, they took her name away, replacing it with 'Terry.' This marked the first time she wondered if there would be anything left of hers after they took and took. She was always happiest with her grandmother, finding that laughing or celebrating was the one thing they could never take. Time and time again they would take. She would continue to be faced with adversity.
With her father struggling with finding work and finally being deported due to an issue with paperwork, to questioning why the history they were taught ignored the truth of Texas and Mexico's history, the pandemic arising, and discovering the BLM movement. From then on, she refused to have her story silenced and taken away. With her new friends at her side, she discovers the power and comfort that words, that writing would bring her. Poems became a way for her to express the pain she felt without her father at her side and a way to express her frustrations with the injustices she faced daily as well as would witness on the news.
I loved seeing how more and more involved Celina became in activism with her words, her love of poetry and being inspired by her family (especially her Grandmother). The uncertainty of her family's health and safety during the pandemic, of her father's safety while going through deportation and seeing the pain and empathy she felt through all these events made it a beautifully written novel.
September 23, 2023
Powerful novel in verse about Celina as she shares her Mexican American heritage and uses her writing talent and courage to make the world more beautiful.
Favorite lines:
Page 85:
it’s called Eurocentrism.
A bias that makes people think things don’t count
or don’t even start till white Europeans get there,
and that things from European origins
are automatically better.
She says we need more history books that are inclusive,
not biased, written from multiple points of view.
Books that make people more aware and open-minded
so they better understand each other
and maybe even forget
to hate.
Page 194:
And still today, the struggle goes on
More needs to be done - so everyone can vote,
attend good schools, work and live wherever they want, without being stereotyped as criminals, or hurt.
Freedom isn’t a thing you can stick in a box
and say “There it is.”
It’s a living struggle we keep protecting every day,
each one of us a warrior, defending Freedom’s way.
Favorite lines:
Page 85:
it’s called Eurocentrism.
A bias that makes people think things don’t count
or don’t even start till white Europeans get there,
and that things from European origins
are automatically better.
She says we need more history books that are inclusive,
not biased, written from multiple points of view.
Books that make people more aware and open-minded
so they better understand each other
and maybe even forget
to hate.
Page 194:
And still today, the struggle goes on
More needs to be done - so everyone can vote,
attend good schools, work and live wherever they want, without being stereotyped as criminals, or hurt.
Freedom isn’t a thing you can stick in a box
and say “There it is.”
It’s a living struggle we keep protecting every day,
each one of us a warrior, defending Freedom’s way.
February 10, 2024
Celina Teresa Guerrera Amaya is a 12-year old girl forced to move to San Antonio with her Gramma when her father is deported. This fear lingers even as she makes new friends, discovers her voice through poetry, and finding teacher that can see beyond her skin color. The prejudice lingers for Celina even as learns of Black Lives Matter and the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd. She and her friends begin planning a cultural celebration to highlight all cultures as Celina's writing voice grows more lyrical and powerful; then Covid hits and shuts the world down. Now, Celina worries about her father returning to America, that her Gramma could be sick, and the realities of the unjust beliefs in the world. This Novel in Verse starts with young Celina, the poetry simple, but as she ages, the verse ages with her showing the growth of her mind, spirit, and the need to speak out against injustice. A timely book about coming of age, social activism, friends and family.
August 13, 2023
I'm obsessed with this book. The book is written from the perspective of a 12-year-old girl battling racism in schools, the deportation of her father, racist curriculum, etc and she finds the strength to make friends and advocate for change. The book is open and raw and accessible to middle grades kids. I loved that it had a positive message to speak up, even when things are hard.
The book is written in verse, and set in San Antonio, and I want to assign it to all my students studying to be history teachers! A HUGE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.
Thanks to Nancy Paulsen Books and Storygram Kids for an advanced copy of this book!
The book is written in verse, and set in San Antonio, and I want to assign it to all my students studying to be history teachers! A HUGE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.
Thanks to Nancy Paulsen Books and Storygram Kids for an advanced copy of this book!
November 26, 2023
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
3.5/5 Stars
Celina and her family are proud Mexican Americans. The teachers and other children don't appreciate Celina's heritage the way she does. She finds her voice through writing and poetry.
A beautiful middle grade novel written in verse that cover difficult topics such as racism, BLM, COVID and deportation of family. I loved Celina's family and how supportive they were of her. The book is VERY fast - and you can fly through it in under an hour.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
3.5/5 Stars
Celina and her family are proud Mexican Americans. The teachers and other children don't appreciate Celina's heritage the way she does. She finds her voice through writing and poetry.
A beautiful middle grade novel written in verse that cover difficult topics such as racism, BLM, COVID and deportation of family. I loved Celina's family and how supportive they were of her. The book is VERY fast - and you can fly through it in under an hour.
July 16, 2024
Written in verse, this middle grade novel is the story of a girl whose Mexican heritage is overlooked and put down by her teachers and classmates. I liked this one a lot because we can all make an effort to learn about other cultures and appreciate other traditions and understand the injustices that are suffered. Four stars because it seemed at times unrealistic or out of date, maybe, and the way it is written seems a little incoherent and choppy. That being said, the content is great and it may be best written this way because the stopping and starting meshes well with attention spans. The part about Dia de Los Muertos brought me to tears.
October 13, 2023
I enjoyed the characters in this novel and the writing is excellent--full of emotion and energy. The plot never really had much to it and the point of view character never showed any signs of flaws, just reacting to discrimination. I understand the importance behind this novel, but didn't feel it communicated more than telling about the stereotypical "white" person's racial bias towards anyone else.
December 24, 2023
This was FANTASTIC. I LOVE a novel in verse. I love that this focuses on major issues, like the climate crisis, Black Lives Matter, immigration and deportation and activism across the board. I think it makes all of those important causes really digestible to younger readers and makes them want to get involved in SOMETHING. It also talks about the power of friendship and family and believing in yourself and the power of your voice. Incredible.
February 28, 2024
"Warrior Girl" is a wonderful novel in verse for young readers. Tafolla tackles the immigrant experience, COVID, Black Lives Matter movement, and the importance of friendship in this book. The voice in these poems is strong, and the emotions are portrayed well. I would read more from this author because she explores difficult but important topics while sticking to her character's voice consistently. I highly recommend this novel.
April 10, 2024
This is a great middle grade read (middle school from 6th and up)! It's a book in verse, and this whole story is just done so beautifully in showing a strong young Mexican American preteen trying to make a difference in this world. There are so many beautiful quotes/thoughts to take from this, that I had to write them down in a notebook (my copy is part of my middle school library that I work). I strong encourage readers, young and old to pick up this book and read it!
December 5, 2023
The message of Warrior Girl was excellent. I loved reading about Celina’s life and think this book would be a great read in an upper grade elementary class. The topic and viewpoint is important. With that being said, the writing style was SO similar to Elizabeth Acevedo’s that I couldn’t help but compare the two authors. I’d say I prefer Acevedo.
June 8, 2023
A novel in verse about a girl who’s a warrior who celebrates her Mexican heritage. Celina Guerrero is a woman warrior who uses her voice and writing talents to let the world see that it’s a more beautiful place when people of all cultures are valued.
January 7, 2024
This was a 3 hour audiobook, I listened to during walks. It is an uplifting narrative told by a 12 year old Chicano girl from Texas. It covers current events topics like immigration, covid and racism.
March 29, 2024
This was a story that's being told in many similar books from the post-covid era, so I didn't feel that it had anything special to offer beyond its message. I also didn't really care about any of the characters, which made it hard to connect with their story.
June 19, 2024
This was fantastic! I was blown away from the first poem and held until the end. I loved the way the whole book flowed from one topic to another and still told a coherent story of a young girl coming to terms with the unfairness of life and what she can try to fix about it. Just wonderful!!
May 31, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Interesting novel in verse.
Interesting novel in verse.
July 29, 2023
Warrior Girl is a beautifully written coming of age story written in verse. I found this to be a quick and cute read.
September 28, 2023
Lyrical free verse, powerful pov for Chicana girl, her family and friends. Newbery shortlist? Good recommend.
October 16, 2023
Great novel in verse! Loved the fact that it was about poetry writing, history and the pandemic. Can’t wait to share it with my readers.
October 23, 2023
Didn't really do much for me. I liked it at first, but it felt like too much time passed and it made for undeveloped characters
I got an ARC of this from ALA but it didn't effect my opinion
I got an ARC of this from ALA but it didn't effect my opinion
November 5, 2023
I had trouble getting into the book, but after about 20 pages, when Tere starts junior high, the book changed for me and I loved the rest of it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews