Rebecca Balcárcel’s Moving Debut Novel is a Bicultural Exploration of Growing Up, Finding Your Joy, And Learning What it Means To Belong

“Balcárcel’s well-rounded characters, complex friendships, and nuanced family dynamics will resonate with many readers. This is a title that will remain relevant long past its publication date. A must-have for all library collections.” – School Library Journal 

“A lovely, moving, and realistic view of the struggles and insecurities – as well as the beauty – that comes from being bicultural.” – Booklist

Quijana is a girl in pieces. One-half Guatemalan, one-half American: When Quijana’s guatemalan cousins move to town, her dad seems ashamed that she doesn’t know more about her family’s heritage. One-half crush, one-half buddy: When Quijana meets Zuri and Jayden, she knows she’s found true friends. But she can’t help the growing feelings she has for Jayden. One-half kid, one-half grown-up: Quijana spends her nights Skyping with her ailing grandma and trying to figure out what’s going on with her increasingly hard-to-reach brother.

In the course of this immersive and beautifully written novel, Quijana must figure out which parts of herself are the most important, and which pieces come together to make her whole. This lyrical debut from Rebecca Balcarcel is a heartfelt poetic portrayal of a girl growing up, fitting in, and learning what it means to belong.

Rebecca Balcárcel received the Jane Kenyon Poetry Prize, and her work has appeared in journals such as the North American Review. She is and associate professor of English at Tarrant County College. She lives in Bedford, Texas.

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