Sing It Like Celia

By Mónica Mancillas

A girl finds her voice and identity through music and friendship after her mother's sudden departure.

4.3/5 Goodreads · 84 ratings

240 pages

$17.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Twelve-year-old Salva Sanchez, a devoted fan of salsa queen Celia Cruz, faces a new life in an RV campground after her mother vanishes. Struggling to understand her mother's absence, Salva befriends a group of kids who form a band. Discovering her own remarkable singing talent, Salva joins them, embarking on a journey of self-discovery. With the support of her friends, her father, and the inspiration of Celia Cruz, Salva learns to embrace her voice and identity. Will she uncover the truth behind her mother's disappearance and find her place in this unfamiliar world?

From the publisher

Perfect for fans of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise and Merci Suárez Changes Gears, Sing It Like Celia is a revelatory story about a Mexican American girl who finds her voice and herself with the help of her role model and icon, Celia Cruz. Twelve-year-old Salva Sanchez has always been a fan of Celia Cruz, also known as “the queen of salsa.” Her love of Celia stems from her mother, who leaves Salva without explanation one awful day. Now Salva is stuck with her investigative journalist father in an RV campground. In the middle of nowhere. As Salva acclimates to her new environment and desperately tries to figure out why her mother left, she befriends a posse of campground kids who have started a band. When the kids discover that Salva has an amazing singing voice, they convince her to join their group. Soon, Salva learns how to find her voice–and herself–with the help of her newfound friends, her dad, and the one and only Celia Cruz.

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