Tag: middle grade

Book news

Book news — new novel in the works!

Rebecca Balcarcel

In Fall of 2022, I started drafting a new novel about an adoptee who visits her home country of Guatemala to meet her birth family for the first time. With ten chapters and an outline, my agent submitted the book, and by December we had a handshake agreement.

Now it’s official! Neal Porter Books will release SUNCHILD in fall 2024. I’ve just finished the first draft, and it’s on my editor’s desk. (which always makes me nervous! will she like it?)

Next steps: Editor Taylor will analyze the whole book — characters, themes, and wording — and send me feedback. After a couple of rounds of editing, we can move on to copyediting, proofreading, and cover design. Hopefully, we’ll have a new book on the shelves in Fall 2024!

(banner photo is Arco Santa Cristina in Antigua, Guatemala)

Book news, Latina Heritage, Uncategorized

Cover reveal for SHINE ON, LUZ VÉLIZ!

Rebecca Balcarcel

I must admit: I squealed with joy a couple of weeks ago to learn that Mr. Schu, THE John Schu, had agreed to host the cover reveal of my new novel on his blog. A rock star of the kid lit world, a teacher and blogger, Mr. Schu has done posts about almost all of my favorite middle grade books! I did my fangirl dance in private, lol.

John Schu, cover revealer!

But the next thing I did would be very public. My mission: answer his interview questions in a way that would connect with the audience, make my book sound fun and interesting, and also wouldn’t take up a dozen screens! No one wants to scroll forever, no matter how clever my writing is!

Well, how did I do? Check out the interview and let me know! I hope you enjoy the tidbits about the book and especially its cover! Artist Caribay Marquina and the Chronicle design team deserve a 60-second round of applause and probably ten pounds of chocolate, but my deep gratitude will have to do. 🙂

Click here for Rebecca and Mr. Schu in a short conversation about Shine On, Luz Véliz!

Book Reviews

CATERPILLAR SUMMER by Gillian McDunn — book review!

Rebecca Balcarcel
Caterpillar Summer by Gillian McDunn

Compelling and charming! When Cat and her brother get dropped for three weeks at their OTHER grandparents’ house — the ones they’ve never even met! — both of them grow in ways they couldn’t have predicted.

On a North Carolina island, Cat learns some big things: 1) how to fish 2) how to get silent-type Grandpa to talk 3) how to see a bully for more than his meanness 4) how to let her special needs brother fend for himself a little 5) how to eat hushpuppies!

McDunn writes with on-point honesty and a knack for capturing real kid thoughts. The mom-written books within the book add another lens through which both readers and the characters themselves can see the family dynamics. Packed with human insight and tenderness, this book is sure to be a favorite of anyone who loves to see a family knit itself back together, while enjoying bike rides, mini-golf, and hot chocolate! 

Find Caterpillar Summer on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40046075-caterpillar-summer?from_search=true#other_reviews

Did you enjoy this post? Want to know my own book news? Click here for the latest updates. I’ll send in short, infrequent emails. Promise!

Book Reviews

THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF COYOTE SUNRISE by Dan Gemeinhart — book review!

Rebecca Balcarcel
cover of MG novel by Dan Gemeinhart

When I found out that I would be on a panel with author Dan Gemeinhart, I thought, “Who is this guy?” I ordered his book and found out!

This guy is an author who tells a good story with sensitivity and artistry. I thought I would like his novel because I have homeschooled, have a cat, and once spent a couple of years in a semi-nomadic state — just like the father and daughter in this book. BUT, I didn’t expect that Coyote’s tale would be told with such emotional honesty. Gemeinhart walks right up to hard truths and writes them down. And the best part? Coyote comes across as a real kid with a funny, smart voice, and the resourcefulness to reach her goals.

If you’re in the mood for a road trip and the chance to meet a crew of inspiring misfits with troubles of their own, this book will be a joy. If you’ve ever noticed that kids and parents sometimes switch roles and have trouble switching back, you’ll recognize the crux of Coyote’s problem — how to protect people she loves from the pain of the past while also coming to terms with it. If you’ve ever wondered how to live in a school bus, you’ll learn that, too!

I highly recommend The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise. It’s a stand-out. Find it on Goodreads here.

Did you enjoy this post? Want to know my own book news? Click here for the latest updates. I’ll send in short, infrequent emails. Promise!

Book Reviews

WAITING FOR UNICORNS by Beth Hautala — book review!

Rebecca Balcarcel
Waiting for Unicorns

Waiting for Unicorns by Beth Hautala

A summer in the arctic isn’t just exotic, it’s dangerous. For Talia, it’s also the place where she will learn more about herself than she expected. Somewhere between making wishes and making a friend, between mourning her mother’s death and mourning her father’s absence, between bird-watching and whale-searching, Talia starts to heal. Written in an immersive, literary style, this book gives glimpses of Inuit life, the arctic spring, and a girl whose life appears frozen, but is about to flow.

View all my reviews on Goodreads