Luci Soars

As a baby, Luci is surrounded by supportive, loving voices who praise her with the familiar Spanish phrase, “¡Qué linda!” They are so enraptured in their love for her that they don’t realize a remarkable aspect about her—in their world of black and white hues, Luci doesn’t cast a shadow. But as she grows, Luci becomes aware of her lack of a shadow, and she knows that others notice, too. Indeed, they don’t merely notice, but they stare, so she learns “to walk always in other people’s shadows.” But one day at school, she summons the courage and chooses to step into the sunlight. Though she’s met by derisive laughs and scorn from classmates, her courage helps her gain a new perspective—shadows merely keep people tethered to the ground—and she soars into a colorful sky. Delacre’s story is rich with meaning, and in the story’s closing lines, she makes sure readers understand what it is: “I can change how I look at things . . . and you can too.” Delacre skillfully uses the mostly gray-scale illustrations to create both vague discomfort about strangers and open hostility toward Luci, while also setting the stage for Luci’s impactful entry into a world of vibrant color when she gains her new perspective.