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Quijana likes to say that she used to be Pangaea. Unsplit. Not half white or half Latina. But that was before her Guatemalan cousins moved to town. Before her dad seemed ashamed that she isn’t more in touch with her heritage. Before her parents planned a family trip to Guatemala where she’ll feel like a failure from first tortilla to last. Now her continents are splitting apart. With the help of two new friends and kid-powered ingenuity, Quijana makes a plan to ditch the trip. Will she find happiness by staying half?

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

Contemporary
Ages 8-12 years
Grades 5-9
Chronicle Books
ISBN-13: 978-1452169989

Purchase at Indie Bound, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, BAM, or wherever books are sold.

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Fun Stuff!

For fans of THE OTHER HALF OF HAPPY! Hand Rhyme Videos! THE OTHER HALF OF HAPPY includes Mirabel and Crista doing a hand rhyme called “Cho co la te.” Here’s a video of one version of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWCLNACNObg Quijana wants to teach them an American hand rhyme called “Say, say, my Playmate.” Watch one version… Continue reading Fun Stuff!

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A community college English teacher and regular presenter, Rebecca Balcárcel leads adventures for grade-schoolers through adults. As part of her upbeat, interactive presentations, attendees can explore the writing process, craft elements, and behind-the-scenes secrets of her novel, The Other Half of Happy. School VisitsThe Story of The Other Half of Happy Memories and photos from my… Continue reading Author Visits

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“Prof. Balcarcel is such a sweetheart! I am currently taking her class and it exceeded expectations. She manages to engage all students with very interesting lessons. Her grading is amazing; she gives good feedback. She really strives to improve your writing. Would take this again!” — Composition I student