Sofía Acosta Makes a Scene

By Emma Otheguy

A young girl uncovers secrets that challenge her family's place in their community.

4.0/5 Goodreads · 223 ratings

288 pages

$16.99Save 7%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Sofía Acosta, a Cuban-American girl, struggles with her place in a ballet-loving family and a suburban town. When her family hosts Cuban dancers, Sofía discovers their secret plan to defect. Confiding in her friend Tricia backfires, revealing hidden prejudices. As Sofía grapples with her community's true feelings about immigrants, she must decide whether to stay silent or speak up to find where her family truly belongs. Will Sofía's voice be enough to bridge the divide?

From the publisher

A poignant, coming of age story about a Cuban-American girl trying to figure out where she belongs–both in her ballet-loving family and the wider world. Perfect for fans of Front Desk and Merci Suárez Changes Gears. It’s a good thing Sofía Acosta loves dreaming up costumes, because otherwise she’s a ballet disaster–unlike her parents, who danced under prima ballerina Alicia Alonso before immigrating to the suburbs of New York. Luckily, when the Acostas host their dancer friends from Cuba for a special performance with the American Ballet Theatre, Sofía learns there’s more than dance holding her family together. Between swapping stories about Cuba and sharing holiday celebrations, the Acostas have never been more of a team. Then Sofía finds out about the dancers’ secret plans to defect to the United States, and makes a serious mistake–she confides in her best friend, only to discover that Tricia doesn’t want outsiders moving to their community. Now Sofía wonders what the other neighbors in her tight-knit suburban town really think of immigrant families like hers. Sofía doesn’t want to make a scene, but if she doesn’t speak up, how will she figure out if her family really belongs?

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