The Go-Between
(Libby/OverDrive eAudiobook)

Chambers' (Plus, 2010) latest offers a distinct perspective on the complex and current issue of Mexican immigration to the U.S. Cammi's mother is one of the most famous telenovela stars in Mexico, and her family enjoys a decadent lifestyle in the heart of Mexico City. The problem is, she has never quite fit in with the other #RichKidsOfMexicoCity at her school, who flaunt their wealth on social media for attention. When Cammi's mother lands a role on a popular American sitcom, the whole family gets the opportunity to reinvent themselves in L.A. When she arrives at her new school, Cammi must decide how to confront being stereotyped. Cammi's sharp but sincere voice guides readers through her reasoning to, at first, play the part of poor housemaid's daughter, but eventually explore her identity as both a Mexican and an American. Cammi's is a short but rich tale that illuminates the nuanced experience of a girl who, despite her privilege, still grapples with who she is and where she belongs.--Kling, Caitlin Copyright 2017 Booklist

Gr 7 Up-Camilla de Valle's mom is a big star on telenovelas, while her dad does voice-overs. Despite her sensible older brother's warnings, Cammi enjoys running with the flashy crowd in Mexico City. When her mother gets an offer for an American television series, the family moves to Los Angeles, landing Cammi at Polestar, a chic private high school. Most of Cammi's classmates assume she is on scholarship, and Cammi doesn't reveal her family is renting in zip code 90210. Cammi's interest in helping Chef Rooney in the school kitchen further convinces classmates that she fits their "poor Mexican" stereotypes, and their awkward attempts to help don't outweigh snarky comments and racist assumptions. Cammi pretends to ride the bus, while dodging around a corner to call an Uber. A growing friendship with a classmate who really lives the working-class life Cammi is only playing at forces her to reevaluate the charade. Narrator Karla Souza does a fabulous job. VERDICT This story doesn't push too hard on tough immigration issues since Cammi and her family are in the country temporarily and legally, and have plenty of resources, though the exploration of racist stereotypes is engaging and discussible. Ideal for collections needing an escapist story with a Latinx perspective.-Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The daughter of a Mexican telenovela superstar pretends to be a poor scholarship kid at a posh Los Angeles prep school. In Mexico City, everyone knows Camilla's A-list family: her mother, Carolina del Valle, is a paparazzi-besieged leading lady, and her father, Reinaldo, is a voice-over actor for Hollywood movies dubbed in Spanish. When the tabloids find out Camilla's mom is on anti-anxiety meds, the family decides to temporarily move to Beverly Hills, so Carolina can work on her first English-language project: an American sitcom. At tony private school Polestar Academy, Camilla befriends Rooney, the sweet and talented African-American school chefcausing two classmates (one biracial, one white) to mistakenly believe Camilla is a low-income studentand the daughter of "a domestic." Equally annoyed and amused, likable if nave Camilla plays along with their misconceptions, since her mom is a maidon television. A bottle blonde with designer clothes, Camilla never thought of herself as a person of color in her native Mexico, but pretending opens her eyes to how Latinos in the U.S. are treated and underestimated. There's a well-researched authenticity to the author's descriptions of everything from Mexican culture to couture clothing, but it's the story's exploration of stereotypes that makes it memorable. One misstep, however, is the romance, which is so light it's ultimately unnecessary. There's much to appreciate in this teen soap with heart, even if it wraps up a little too neatly. (Fiction. 12-16) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Chambers' (Plus, 2010) latest offers a distinct perspective on the complex and current issue of Mexican immigration to the U.S. Cammi's mother is one of the most famous telenovela stars in Mexico, and her family enjoys a decadent lifestyle in the heart of Mexico City. The problem is, she has never quite fit in with the other #RichKidsOfMexicoCity at her school, who flaunt their wealth on social media for attention. When Cammi's mother lands a role on a popular American sitcom, the whole family gets the opportunity to reinvent themselves in L.A. When she arrives at her new school, Cammi must decide how to confront being stereotyped. Cammi's sharp but sincere voice guides readers through her reasoning to, at first, play the part of "poor housemaid's daughter," but eventually explore her identity as both a Mexican and an American. Cammi's is a short but rich tale that illuminates the nuanced experience of a girl who, despite her privilege, still grapples with who she is and where she belongs. Copyright 2017 Booklist Reviews.

Gr 7 Up—Fifteen-year-old Camilla and her wealthy family live in a mansion in Mexico City, complete with bodyguards and staff. She wears designer clothes and participates in the "Rich Kids of Mexico City" Instagram account, where teens flaunt wealth and status. The family's prosperity is the result of Cammi's mother's career as a renowned telenovela actress and her father's success as a voice-over artist in movies. Even her older brother, now living in Switzerland, excels academically, while Cammi rides the current of their fame. When a jealous "friend" outs the teen's mother's anxiety issues, Cammi and her family decide to take a sabbatical, which coincides with a television sitcom job for her mother in Los Angeles. Once there, Camilla discovers that immigrating to a new country is not easy: her mother struggles with her acting role of a maid, her father misses home, and Cammi feels slapped by the racist perceptions toward Mexicans at her elite private school. In fact, she realizes that it is simpler to go along with their stereotypical assumptions that she is a poor "chola" on scholarship than to explain the truth and lose her newfound anonymity. Yet the constant strain of spinning lies becomes wearing, and when the inevitable happens, Camilla is forced to reconsider what she values, make amends, and accept her own identity. This book presents a fairy-tale lifestyle not often seen in Latinx literature, while also exploring themes of biculturalism/biracialism and racist stereotypes about Mexican immigrants. VERDICT A light read for fans of realistic fiction, and a good choice for general purchase.—Ruth Quiroa, National Louis University, Lisle, IL