Lou with the Band

Gr 10 Up–Luisa “Lou” Samalea is ready for life on the road. Uncle Arty got her a job doing laundry for pop star Zaiya’s international tour. Lou is heading out to see Europe and Asia and leaving her life in El Viajero, TX, behind. Although she is leaving her ita Juju, mother, and best friend Molly, she is beyond excited for “New Lou” to start the adventure of a lifetime. When Lou falls for Chris, the drummer that her uncle and her friends on the crew cautioned her about, she ignores the warning signs and stays with him on her world adventure. Yet, her new life puts her in direct conflict with Molly, whom she is struggling to maintain a connection with, and her grandma and mom, who want her to come back home, go to college, and run the family’s Cuban bakery. Although Lou is a fun character to follow, the choices she makes about her love interest often run opposite to her character, making it frustrating.