Awards

• Commended for Pura Belpre Award (Author) 2022

Overview

As an aspiring pastry chef, Penelope Prado has always dreamed of opening her own pasteleria next to her father's restaurant, Nacho's Tacos. But her mom and dad have different plans -- leaving Pen to choose between disappointing her traditional Mexican-American parents or following her own path. When she confesses a secret she's been keeping, her world is sent into a tailspin. But then she meets a cute new hire at Nacho's who sees through her hard exterior and asks the questions she's been too afraid to ask herself. Xander Amaro has been searching for home since he was a little boy. For him, a job at Nacho's is an opportunity for just that -- a chance at a normal life, to settle in at his abuelo's, and to find the father who left him behind. But when both the restaurant and Xander's immigrant status are threatened, he will do whatever it takes to protect his new found family and himself. Together, Pen and Xander must navigate first love and discovering where they belong -- both within their families and their fiercely loyal Chicanx community -- in order to save the place they all call home.

Full Product Details

9780316460279

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Reviews

Wonderfully realized characters, a vibrant setting, and so much more. I loved this. --Melina Marchetta, award-winning author of Jellicoe Road Students will enjoy the food descriptions and community culture that lend the story a sense of authenticity and believability. --School Library Connection Pen and Xander's unforgettable love story refuses to sugarcoat difficult topics, but instead deftly explores them with a thoughtful hand. A cathartic read and new favorite author. -- Nina Moreno, author of Don't Date Rosa Santos Pen and Xander will steal your heart. One to savor. --Laura Taylor Namey, author of A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow Lush imagery celebrates Mexican culture and depicts how food can bring people -together. . . . not to be missed. --School Library Journal Like the delicious food and decadent desserts described within its pages, Kemp's debut explores the often bitter and sweet complexity of family, new love, and what it means to find home. --Mia Garcia, author of The Resolutions An affecting, timely debut....Add it to your 2021 TBR list immediately. --Liz Lawson, author of The Lucky Ones A bold new voice to watch in children's fiction. --Eric Smith, author of Don't Read the Comments

"A Pura Belpr� Honor Book YALSA's 2022 Best Fiction for Young Adults list KirkusReviews Best Books of 2021 list Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2021 list New York Public Library Best of 2021 list Kirkus Reviews Best YA of 2021 list Milwaukee County Teen Book Award, Nominee Georgia Peach Book Award Nominee 2022-2023 TAYSHAS High School 2022 reading list Eliot Rosewater HS Book Award Nomineee Georgia Peach Teen Readers 2022-2023 ""Wonderfully realized characters, a vibrant setting, and so much more. I loved this.""--Melina Marchetta, award-winning author of Jellicoe Road ""Recommended for readers who enjoy strong stories about found families, expectations, and food."" --Booklist ""Kemp's novel serves up finely rendered, stirring character arcs...as well as an intimate portrait of two teens grappling with mental health, complicated family relationships, and newfound love."" --Publishers Weekly, starred review ""A bold new voice to watch in children's fiction."" --Eric Smith, author of Don't Read the Comments ""An affecting, timely debut....Add it to your 2021 TBR list immediately."" --Liz Lawson, author of The Lucky Ones ""Like the delicious food and decadent desserts described within its pages, Kemp's debut explores the often bitter and sweet complexity of family, new love, and what it means to find home. "" --Mia Garc�a, author of The Resolutions ""Pen and Xander will steal your heart. One to savor."" --Laura Taylor Namey, New York Times bestselling author of A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow ""Pen and Xander's unforgettable love story refuses to sugarcoat difficult topics, but instead deftly explores them with a thoughtful hand. A cathartic read and new favorite author."" -- Nina Moreno, author of Don't Date Rosa Santos ""Fans of Elizabeth Acevedo's With the Fire on High will cherish Xander and Pen's love story and Pen's passion for food. This stellar debut offers a cathartic take on a relationship between a father and daughter. Authentic flavor inside and out.""--Kirkus Reviews, starred review ""Lush imagery celebrates Mexican culture and depicts how food can bring people ­together. . . . not to be missed.""--School Library Journal ""Students will enjoy the food descriptions and community culture that lend the story a sense of authenticity and believability.""--School Library Connection"

Wonderfully realized characters, a vibrant setting, and so much more. I loved this. --Melina Marchetta, award-winning author of Jellicoe Road Pen and Xander's unforgettable love story refuses to sugarcoat difficult topics, but instead deftly explores them with a thoughtful hand. A cathartic read and new favorite author. -- Nina Moreno, author of Don't Date Rosa Santos Pen and Xander will steal your heart. One to savor. --Laura Taylor Namey, author of A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow Like the delicious food and decadent desserts described within its pages, Kemp's debut explores the often bitter and sweet complexity of family, new love, and what it means to find home. --Mia Garcia, author of The Resolutions An affecting, timely debut....Add it to your 2021 TBR list immediately. --Liz Lawson, author of The Lucky Ones A bold new voice to watch in children's fiction. --Eric Smith, author of Don't Read the Comments

Author Information

Laekan Zea Kemp is a Latinx author and ESL teacher living in Austin, Texas. Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet is her debut YA contemporary novel.

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