Grow Up, Luchy Zapata

A funny, relatable middle school drama about two Colombian American girls who have always been BFFs-until sixth grade turns everything upside down.

Luchy Zapata is starting middle school, and she's muy excited. She and her two best friends, Cami and Mateo, will finally be at the same school. Luchy and Mateo will be in art class together, and she and Cami can try out for the same soccer team! As long as they're all together, Luchy can handle anything.



But Cami has been acting weird ever since she got back from visiting family in Colombia. She's making new, "cool" friends who just seem mean. And suddenly, everything about Luchy and Mateo is too immature for her.



Luchy is determined to help Cami remember how special their friendship is. They've been BFFs their whole lives, and that can't just disappear in a poof of glitter! But…what if Cami doesn't even want to be friends anymore? Alexandra Alessandri is the award-winning author of The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejía; Grow Up, Luchy Zapata; Isabel and Her Colores Go to School; and Feliz New Year, Ava Gabriela!. The daughter of Colombian immigrants, she is also a former associate professor of English, a writer for Curriculum Associates, and a poet. Alexandra lives in Florida with her husband and son. "Narrator Dominique Franceschi creates a youthful and passionate voice for 11-year-old Colombian American Luchy, who encounters exciting and difficult changes as she enters middle school. Luchy struggles with the pressure of connecting to her Colombian heritage and living up to her family's expectations. To make matters worse, it seems like her longtime best friend, Cami, is perfect. Franceschi captures Luchy's tumultuous emotions as she makes the soccer team and forms friendships but finds herself drifting away from Cami. Listeners will cheer on Luchy as she learns about the importance of family and friendships, both old and new, in this coming-of-age story."