Todo o nada, Valentina

Gr 4-7–Newbery Honor Award-winning Arango’s Spanish-language translation of It’s All or Nothing, Vale introduces readers to Valentina “Vale” Camacho, a middle school fencing champion whose courage is tested after surviving a car accident. Family and friends rally around Vale, but she has new competition at the gym: Myrka. Vale hasn’t made a close friend in years, and Myrka’s presence is unsettling. Can Vale learn to be a team player and still keep her competitive edge? Arango gives her protagonist a telling nickname which is a play on words; by tale’s end, Valentina realizes her true value lies not in being perfect, but in demonstrating generosity of spirit. Written entirely in verse, this coming-of-age story focuses on two female athletes whose parents are from Puerto Rico and Cuba. It is a must-read for teen audiences seeking heroines who have close-knit families but branch out to find themselves through sport and new relationships. Arango’s third novel is a delight. She deftly explores the girls’ crushes, their competitive natures, and the ways diverse influences shape the choices they make. Readers who enjoy quick dialogue sprinkled with English and Spanish slang will appreciate how Vale gains strength to overcome her struggles and become the genuine article in her community.