When Lola is accepted to a new school, Mama thinks it's an "excellent opportunity." Lola isn't so sure, especially since it means changing schools-in the middle of the school year! She'll have to say goodbye to her old school and her old friends. Abuelita tries to convince Lola that she can conquer anything, but can Lola handle a new school and a bully all on her own?
"When Lola Lopes starts at a new school in Texas, she faces the usual conflicts: riding the bus, getting lost at school, making friends, and making peace with mean kids. Lucky for Lola, she has a supportive family, including her abuelita. Abuelita encourages Lola to be kind, even to kids who are mean to her. Lola's kindness pays off, and she learns to look forward to school. Lola is Guatemalan-American; the book opens with an introductory page that includes facts about Guatemala. Chapters are 4-6 pages in length and include frequent full-color illustrations. The text is written at a higher reading level, and with more words per page, than the average books marketed toward 5-7 year olds, making this a book to share or an independent reader for advanced readers. A Spanish glossary, lemonade recipe, and discussion questions are included in the back matter. VERDICT A nice addition to an early chapter book collection, especially for advanced young readers."
