I'm excited to share this book with students. Salva learns valuable lessons that can be hard to learn even as an adult. This will be the perfect book for middle grade students.

I loved this heartwarming story that tackled hard topics in such a gentle, tactful manner. The characters are written with so much depth and the story has a beautiful and satisfying ending.

Salva's world has been completely disrupted. Her mom disappeared one day and no one will tell her where she went, so she's now living with her journalist dad in a caravan at a campground. Salva loves to listen to and sing Salsa music, especially by Celia Cruz. She meets some local kids and joins their band, but has to be brave enough to perform. This book explores themes of friendship, belonging, being brave and taking risks, activism, immigration, racial prejudice, and complicated family issues (no spoilers about where the mom is!) Overall, I thought this was good -- I think kids who enjoy realistic fiction by authors like Kelly Yang, Hena Kahn, and Jasmine Warga will be into this!

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group for letting me read an ARC of this book through NetGalley!

Sing It Like Celia
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (3.5/5) or 7.42/10 overall

Characters - 7
The characters in this book were mostly enjoyable and relatable. While I did find the group of kids in the band blurred together for me, the rest of the characters had clear and unique personalities.

Atmosphere - 8
The atmosphere in this book was splendid. The way Mancillas described the setting made it abundant how the different places (campground, diner, grocery store, etc.) were laid out and perceived through Salva's eyes.

Writing - 8
I really enjoyed the writing style. There was enough attention to detail and description that most elements were easy to visualize throughout the story, but there was plenty of well-written dialogue too.

Plot - 7
The plot was entertaining, even if some parts were predictable. The one main twist of the story worked well and was unexpected, but it still made enough sense as well.

Intrigue - 8
I was intrigued by the cover and the description. I've never heard of Celia Cruz before, but the way Salva talked about her made me understand her passion for singing that much more. The added intrigue from the disappearance of Salva's mom paid off in a reveal/twist.

Logic - 7
This book was fairly logical. Most of the actions and consequences were thought out and seemed realistic.

Enjoyment - 7
I enjoyed many aspects of this book, from the bittersweet realistic moments to the interactions between characters. Celia's growth in the novel as she slowly stood up for herself more was inspiring and it was easy to root for her.

Salva's life is turned upside down with the disappearance of her mother and the reappearance of her father taking her on the road in an RV to follow his career as an investigative journalist. So many unanswered questions in her life. She finds friends and follow's the inspiration of her idol, singer Celia, to make her way in the midst of the unknown and bullying and growing up.

In Sing it Like Celia, Salva finds her world turned upside down when her mom unexpectedly disappears. She must live with her absentee father, whose job as a reporter has him on the road following a story. They wind up living in a van on a campsite. As Salva gets reacquainted with her father and settles into life at the campground, she meets some local kids who have a band. When they hear Salva sing the salsa music she loves, they invite her to join them. Conflict arises with one of the group’s members when the other band members want to highlight Salva in their performances.

This book handles some challenging topics including deportation/immigration, parental incarceration, and prejudice, but also includes easily relatable situations like moving to a new community and conflicts with peers, which helps to keep the content appropriate and engaging. Readers will cheer for Salva as she learns how to use her voice to overcome adversity and to stand up for herself.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for an eARC of the book to read and review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

I thought this book was really charming. It teaches children that they can be whatever they want to be and to not give up on their dreams, These are both important life lessons. Even as an adult, I really enjoyed this story!
–

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Sing It Like Celia is going to made me want to sing about how great this book is! Salva learns to use her voice and stand up for herself to her own family (isn't that the toughest thing to do?). She deals with a mean girl but gains amazing friends along the way! I can't wait to share this book with my students!

Sing is Like Celia is a modern tale of a girl named Salva, who has had her world turned upside down. Living with her father suddenly after only living with Mami her entire life has her questioning his early abandonment and her mother leaving her in his care. Salva handles several challenges that middle grade readers can relate to, as well as some that others may not have experienced. With her love for Celia Cruz, we follow Salva through a myriad of tough topics, all while being able to listen along to the songs she loves. Sing It Like Celia is an excellent book, and I would recommend it for Middle School Library shelves.

A coming of age story about a young girl named Salva as she dealt with some massive changes in her life. As the story progresses we watch her grow and become more confident in herself as she finds her community and people after her mother disappears all of a sudden and she is thrusted into a new way of living with new and unfamilar people. I loved reading it and i saw myself in Salva. I would recommend to any child above the age of 10, it is a lovely read and even an adult like myself will enjoy the book. Well written, the characters all felt real and fleshed out and all with different personalities.

I really enjoyed watching Salva's confidence grow over the course of this novel, and how her passion for music connected her to others. I also loved the welcoming community that accepted and supported her. The book addresses big topics such as mental health, incarceration, and the treatment of undocumented individuals in the United States, but it didn't feel like a heavy story. I thought it was well-written, and I hope to read more middle-grade books by the author.

Poignant coming of age story about learning how to find your voice even when it seems like no one is willing to listen. Salva pushes through some tough moments: her mom mysteriously disappears and now she needs to learn what it's like to live with her father, an on-the-road journalist. Not only does she have to get reacquainted with her dad, but she must also acclimate to an entire new way of living and group of friends. While difficult at first, Salva finds her strengths and greatest support in music

Song It Like Celia by Mónica Mancillas is the Perfect book for younger readers. It is so easy yo find something for you and about you and this book. I was reading it with my little sister and we both enjoyed it so much, I can't wait to read it with my nephews!

SING IT LIKE CELIA is so inspiring and compelling! Mancillas' lyrical prose brings the reader right into Salva's emotions as she deals with her absent mother and discovers her relationship with her father. Salva's journey into understanding incarceration and finding hope in music and new friends will reach right into readers' hearts. The depth of story, authentic characters, and exploration of feelings in SING IT LIKE CELIA make Monica Mancillas a MG author to watch!

Sing It Like Celia is a perfect middle-grade book. Young readers will find many things to relate to and discover a hugely entertaining story. The book contains everything a stellar middle-grade book often has – conflict with parents, new friends, new enemies, new surroundings, and love of something, in this case, music. Twelve-year-old Salva has been completely uprooted from the life she has known. Her mother has disappeared, and she must live with the father she scarcely knows in a camper van in the middle of nowhere. Celia experiences many surprises along the way, both good and bad. She learns many life lessons and matures throughout the story. This book may be relished by many ages. I loved it, and I am sixty-six!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Workshop. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by the publisher, Penguin Workshop, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.