Emilio
Written by Julia Mercedes Castilla
Published by Piñata Books
Emilio is not just the new kid on the block, he’s new to the entire country.
He and his family have just come from Central America to Houston, and everything is terribly different in the big city — unlike anything he had ever imagined. Uncomfortable with his looks, his size, his unfamiliarity with everything, Emilio shrinks into the shadows in his classes.
He does find friends among other immigrants, and he tries to keep out of the way of the rough crowd. But only when his teacher introduces him to the world of numbers does he begin to find himself. Yet there is danger even in embracing the world of math studies, too, and Emilio once again faces hardship and isolation.
Emilio is a tale of overcoming fear of the unknown to adapt and prevail over circumstances through will and perseverance. As Emilio makes his own way in this new world, his trials, failures, and successes become a model for all young readers who would accept and embrace responsibility for their own lives.
Primary ISBN:
Publication Date: October 1999
Available As: Paperback, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 09 or older
Community Represented: Salvadoran/Salvadoran American
Themes: Coming of Age, Cross-Group Friendship, Education & Literacy, Family Relationship: Parents, Family Relationship: Siblings, Identity: Body Image, Mental Health, Multilingual: Spanish Featured Words, Own Voices/Lived Experience, STEM, Welcoming by Individual
Setting: United States (Houston TX)
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Immigrant
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
Click here for details about how we define our titles.
Engagement Projects & Resources:
Share your favorite resources for this book with info@imyourneighborbooks.org.