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Undercover Latina by Aya de Leon - Jenny Betten
Undercover Latina final - Thomas Jefferson Middle School Teachers
About the Author
Aya de LeĂłn is the Afro-Latina author of several suspense novels for adults, as well as The Mystery Woman in Room Three, an open-source online novel about two undocumented Dominican teens who uncover a kidnapping plot to stop the Green New Deal. She teaches creative writing at the University of California, Berkeley, and is active in movements for racial, gender, and climate justice. She lives in Northern California.
About the Book
A Latina teen spy goes undercover as a white girl to stop a white supremacist terrorist plot in a fast-paced young adult debut from a seasoned author of contemporary crime fiction.
In her debut for younger readers, Aya de LeĂłn pits a teen spy against the ominous workings of a white nationalist. Fourteen-year-old AndrĂ©a Hernández-BaldoquĂn hails from a family of spies working for the Factory, an international organization dedicated to protecting people of color. For her first solo mission, AndrĂ©a straightens her hair and goes undercover as Andrea Burke, a white girl, to befriend the estranged son of a dangerous white supremacist. In addition to her Factory training, the assignment calls for a deep dive into the son’s interests—comic books and gaming—all while taking care not to speak Spanish and blow her family’s cover. But it’s hard to hide who you really are, especially when you develop a crush on your target’s Latino best friend. Can AndrĂ©a keep her head, her geek cred, and her code-switching on track to trap a terrorist? Smart, entertaining, and politically astute, this is fast-paced young adult fare from an established author of heist and espionage novels for adults.
Praise for Undercover Latina:
2023 Winner Book for Older ChildrenÂ
Jane Addams Children’s Book Award - WINNER 2022
Junior Library Guild Selection - SELECTION 2022
Notable Books for a Global Society Award - SELECTION 2023
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults - SELECTION 2023
Vermont Golden Book Award, 2023-2024 Award, Grades 4-8
MISelf in Books, 2023, Middle School - Michigan
Social criticism is woven into a fun read centered on kids of color; the narrative is accessible and engaging, never shying away from difficult conversations about race and privilege or the many forms White supremacy can take. . . . An engaging, insightful adventure with a heartfelt conclusion.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Readers will be intrigued and compelled to the very last page. . . Activist and author Aya De Leon, who typically writes for adults, has not shied away from taking on current and weighted issues while still delivering a novel for middle grade readers that is easy to read and which is sure to be a hit. . . . With strong male and female characters, suspense, and gaming, this novel is sure to appeal.
—School Library Connection (starred review)
Portraying Andréa as a spy skilled in espionage, quick problem-solving, and making visual connections, De León (A Spy in the Struggle, for adults) adeptly interrogates themes of ageism, colorism, institutional racism, and sexism, layering them with a thrilling tale of a teenage girl.
—Publishers Weekly
A fast-paced, resonant story that touches on inter- and Âintra-community discrimination. . . . A strong selection for gamers and middle graders who enjoy action-packed narratives. With broad appeal to fans of spy novels, this title will engage tweens while offering a thoughtful conversation-starter. Highly Ârecommended.
—School Library Journal
A fast-paced spy novel that weaves difficult issues like race, identity, and belonging into a fun, engaging, and geeky adventure. . . Undercover Latina takes the fantastical idea of a teenage spy and grounds it in the emotions and issues faced by contemporary teens. Its social commentary feels neither heavy handed nor patronizing to younger readers, and its honest, earnest conversations about tough topics make excellent jumping-off points for class discussions.
—BooklistÂ
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