Camila Núñez’s Year of Disasters

Gr 9 Up–Queer Cuban American author Pérez’s YA debut is thoughtfully paired with Cuban American voice actor Ann, whose bilingualism is immediately evident as Cuban American protagonist Camila comfortably peppers her first-person narration with plenty of Spanish words throughout. Camila has always spent her summers with her Miami grandparents; at 15, she’s allowed to travel alone from North Carolina. Alas, a toxic romance defines this latest visit, and she returns home with heightened anxiety, further exacerbated by a 16th-birthday gift of tarot cards from her bff Cindy that predict “disasters” will continue—proving prescient when trouble with friendships and family multiply. Camila must learn to command her own hopeful changes. Ann remains a mindful cipher, adroitly acknowledging Camila’s simmering anxiety. She animates energetic, unpredictable Cindy, reveals manipulative Sonia, becomes confident to wary as Devon, warms as liltingly accented Abuela.