They Call Her Fregona
A Border Kid's Poems
1 of 1 copy available
“You can be my boyfriend.” It only takes five words to change Güero’s life at the end of seventh grade. The summer becomes extra busy as he learns to balance new band practice with his old crew, Los Bobbys, and being Joanna Padilla’s boyfriend. They call her “fregona” because she’s tough, always sticking up for her family and keeping the school bully in check. But Güero sees her softness. Together they cook dollar-store spaghetti and hold hands in the orange grove, learning more about themselves and each other than they could have imagined. But when they start eighth grade, Joanna faces a tragedy that requires Güero to reconsider what it means to show up for someone you love.
Honoring multiple poetic traditions, They Call Her Fregona is a bittersweet first-love story in verse and the highly anticipated follow-up to They Call Me Güero.
* This audiobook includes a downloadable PDF that contains a glossary of terms from the book.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
September 6, 2022 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593610169
- File size: 86071 KB
- Duration: 02:59:18
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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This poetry collection is a companion to THEY CALL ME GERO. Mexican actor Andres Zuno shines as the narrator. Middle-schooler G�ero begins a romance with Joanna "Fregona" Padilla. As their romance progresses, they share their first kiss, hang out with their diverse friends, and meet the other's family. Their bubble bursts when Joanna's father is deported. Zuno has a slight Mexican accent that pairs nicely with the setting. He seamlessly shifts from the voice of a middle schooler to that of an adult without distracting listeners from the absorbing story. Zuno's strength lies in the deep and complex emotions he aptly expresses for the diverse characters and their situations. In one passage, he beautifully sings a lullaby, infusing it with a sweetness that listeners will relish. A.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine -
January 1, 2023
Gr 5-9-Pura Belpr�-honored Bowles and Mexican actor Zuno reunite, guaranteeing continuity from They Call Me G�ero (2021) to this expressive novel-in-verse companion. Introduced in G�ero, Joanna is the titular fregona, "tough girl." She and G�ero are now a solid couple, sharing kisses and integrating into each other's families and friend groups-Los Bobbys and Las Morras. When ICE grabs Joanna's father at school on the first day of eighth grade, the pair will need to galvanize their entire community-and beyond-to help. Bowles again showcases a linguistic feast, storytelling via various forms (sonnet, heroic quatrain, haiku, sestet) and multiple languages. Oh, but the Korean: Zuno's lightly accented English complements his Spanish fluency (plus he sweetly sings!), but his Korean mispronunciations prove particularly jarring. The popularity of Korean culture engenders multiple poems; shame on producers for eliding accuracy. VERDICT Dissonant laziness mars an otherwise lyrical performance.
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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