Warrior Girl
Written by Carmen Tafolla
Published by Penguin Young Readers Group
Celina and her family are bilingual and follow both Mexican and American traditions. Celina revels in her Mexican heritage, but once she starts school it feels like the world wants her to erase that part of her identity. Fortunately, she’s got an army of family and three fabulous new friends behind her to fight the ignorance. But it’s her Gramma who’s her biggest inspiration, encouraging Celina to build a shield of joy around herself. Because when you’re celebrating, when you find a reason to sing or dance or paint or play or laugh or write, they haven’t taken everything away from you.
Of course, it’s not possible to stay in celebration mode when things get dire—like when her dad’s deported and a pandemic hits—but if there is anything Celina’s sure of, it’s that she’ll always live up to her last name: Guerrera—woman warrior—and that she will use her voice and writing talents to make the world a more beautiful place where all cultures are celebrated.
También disponible en Español, Guerrera.
Primary ISBN: 9780593354711
Publication Date: September 2023
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 10 or older
Community Represented: Mexican/Mexican American
Themes: Accolades & Awards, Accolades & Awards: Starred Review, Activism, Allyship, Coming of Age, Cultural Empowerment, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Identity, Detention & Deportation, Discrimination: Racial, Family Relationship: Grandparents, Family Relationship: Parents, Family Separation: Different Immigration Status, Family Separation: Living with Other Family or Friends, Format: Audiobook, Format: Novel In Verse, Generation: 1st, Identity: Multilingual, IYNB Recommends: ASCA School Counselors 2026, IYNB Recommends: Justice & Belonging, Own Voices/Lived Experience, Trauma & Healing, Trauma & Healing: Death of Family or Friend, Trauma & Healing: Illness
Setting: United States
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation
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.