Laritza

by Kristy Placido

Sixteen year old Laritza is never happier than when she is singing. When she and her undocumented father move to a new town, she is thrilled that the choir director at her new school has noticed her talent. She is encouraged to audition for a solo and is also excited to compete in ‘Elmerton Idol,’ a school-wide singing competition. When racist bullies try to undermine Laritza’s success, she loses heart. Can she find happiness in her new school in spite of the obstacles she faces?

70 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Connor Pell]

Laritza is about a girl who attends a school named Elmerton High, and her struggles to overcome the racist attitude present at the school. Some of the most important aspects of the book seem to be... nothing at all. Throughout the book, no one grows past who they started the book as. The sort of epilogue at the end of the book even makes it clear that things go on exactly how they started. No one at Elmerton changes, including the primary antagonists Claire, Ainsley, and Cody. Usually what is the moment of triumph for the main character isn't given to Laritza either. Instead, she is only given the satisfaction that her bullies are now hospitalized, which isn't a very good message. This book, given the plot with almost no changes aside from the ending, could have been an inspiring tale about a young girl, at odds with society, rising above the people who bully her to succeed. The bullies may have even been given a sort of redemption as well, apologizing to Laritza, and the eventual moral of the story is that it doesn't matter what background people come from, they are still exceptionally talented and work hard just like everyone else. Instead, Laritza focuses on getting revenge against your enemies, celebrating when they fail, and seemingly making a point that it is impossible for an immigrant, or an immigrants daughter, to be successful in America because the odds are so stacked against them that trying isn't even an option.

[Kimberly Huynh]

Laritza is a teenage girl coming to a new Highschool. She had a very rough start until the end. Many people made fun of her by the way she looked. But one person made her feel happy, her new friend Jackie. Jackie supported her in the singing and was with Laritza from the first day she came. Laritza joined the school singing competition wanting to win for her family. She ended up losing to Noah another contestant but she believes he deserved it.

The most important aspect of this book is don’t judge a person on just the way they look or how their family looks, get to know them before you send offending remarks their way.

I quote that stuck out to me was “Laritza ¡tú canta como un ángel!”
This quote stuck out to me because it is used throughout the book.

In conclusion Laritza is a new student of a new school. She meets enemies and friends. The enemies will try to do everything they can to make laritza hate the new school. But her new friend Jackie helps her fit in. Laritza joins a singing competition wanting to win for her family. She losses but thinks the winner deserved it more than her. She is happy at the end.

I think teenagers in Highschool would enjoy this book because it is relatable for some people.

[Erin Sheehy]

Summary: A sixteen year old girl named, Laritza, finds happiness in singing. She moves to a new town with her supportive father. She goes to school at Elmerton High, and faces bullies and a lot of adversity. She meets Jackie and knows she has her back as well as her father. Throughout the book, Laritza ignores the bullies and finds what she loves, which is singing.

Aspects: Don’t judge someone and assume someone by the way they look. She ignored the bullies and kept moving forward, which I think everyone should do.

Quotes: “Laritza ¡tu canta como un ángel!” This quote stuck out to me because her friend, Jackie and her father were always supporting her throughout the book.

Summary: At the end of the novel, Laritza tried out for the “Elmerton Idol”. She didn’t win the competition, but her friend Noah did. She soon realized she had a supportive father and friend, who were very proud of her.

Enjoy: I think any girls who love singing, or anyone who deal with bullies should read this.

Ratings 4 stars.

[Shaye Butler]

Laritza is a young girl whose father is from the Honduras. He moved to the US for more opportunities. Laritza is attending Elmerton, her new school. Claire and Ainsley are two girls who continue to be rude to Laritza throughout Throughout the novel. Jackie is Laritzas friend. Laritza is a very good singer and she signs up for an audition for a solo. Claire and Ainsley tried to ruin her audition but ended up getting expelled. Laritza, however, did not get the solo.

The book had important aspects of friendship, and it also talked about racism, and how you should always respect others.

¡tu canta como un ángel! This “stuck out to me because it demonstrated how supportive her father was, and how he always wanted Laritza to have more opportunities.

Claire and Ainsley got expelled, and Noah got the solo, not Laritza.

Anyone who likes a good story would like this book.

[Josie]

Laritza is a young girl, who is nervous for her first day at a new school. She overcomes those nerves with the help of her father and her newfound friend, Jackie. She pushes past her bullies and continues with her school.

Her father helping her out through her tough times is one of the most important things.

The many people that call her rude and racist things are proof that she had the ability to get through her troublesome times.

Laritza’s bullies, Claire and Ainsley, end up getting expelled for trying, yet failing, to hang up a racist banner for Laritza. Although Laritza doesn’t win, she still had fun singing her heart out!

This book is great for beginning Spanish students or anyone attempting to start learning to read. It’s easy to read with a few trickier words to comprehend.

5 Stars - it was amazing

[Tori Thomas]

Laritza is about the story of a girl who has to find her way in a new school. Although she faces adversity in many different ways, Laritza is able to overcome it because she knows her father and good friend, Jackie, have her back. Through her confidence, Laritza blocks out racist bullies and finds true happiness in her life. The most important aspect to me is that although Laritza was hurt by the bullies, she stood her ground and did not crumble under them. Quotes that stuck out to me were "La vida no es perfecta, pero Laritza tiene una gran amiga, una buena familia, y muchos oportunidades" and "Tengo flores para ti, Laritza." At the end of the novel, Laritza does not win the singing competition she entered, but she is able to reflect on her life and realize she has great family, friends, and opportunities. I think young readers, especially girls, would enjoy reading about Laritza's story. 5 stars!

[Rachel Theisen]

Laritza is about a young girl who is nervous about going to a new school. Her father moved them so he could find a job and so Laritza could have more opportunities. Laritzas first day of school wasn’t the best because she got made fun of for being a different race. This is a common problem in today’s world and I learned from this book that there are a lot of people in the world that are racist, even younger children. Laritza finds a new friend named Jackie. She gets a solo in the school play and also tries out for the “Ídolo Elmerton.” Claire and Ainsley are two girls that are jealous of Laritza and make fun of her. They try to stop Laritza from having a solo, but it doesn’t work and Laritza gets the solo.
14-18 year olds would like this book

[Hailey Reifert]

Sixteen year old Laritza is a new student at her new high school, Elmerton High. Her and her father moved to the US so that Laritza could have more opportunities. At this new high school, she is faced with racist bullies. Throughout the book she overcomes her bullies with the support of her father and best friend, Jackie. She eventually finds her happiness and her passion, singing. The most important aspect of the book was how she overcame her adversity and never lost sight of who she was. A quote that stuck out to me was “Success is the best revenge.” Laritza entered in the “Elmerton Idol” at the end of the novel. Even though she didn’t win she was still happy knowing she had the support from her father and best friend. I think people of all ages would enjoy this book. I rate it 3 stars!

[Braden]

The books main character is Laritza and she is moving to a new school and loves to sing. She is not from America so she gets bullied. Then she enters a singing contest and makes a new friend to help her with bullies.

I would say the most important aspect is when she overcomes the bullies and her life becomes easier.

A quote that stands out to me is Al día siguiente, Laritza llega a la escuela, va a su lócker y ve que hay un papel.

She gets a friend that helps her for the singing contest but she ends up loosing but the bullies get expelled and her life becomes much easier.

People who would in joy this book would be people who like short and a little challenging storys.

[Henry Schreiner]

Laritza is a very good book about racial problems in our society today. Laritza is a girl whose father moved in to the United States from Honduras. He moved so that he could find a better job and a better life for Laritza. Laritza must go to a new school but is nervous to do so. She gets to school and does not have a good time but her new friend Jackie is there for her. She gets a solo in the school play and two girls, Claire and Ansley, are jealous. She also signs up for a spot in the Elmerton Idol. Claire and Ansley are not happy about this either. I would recommend this book to kids in 10th grade and below.

[Magdalen]

This is a story about a girl named Laritza. Her father is an illegal immigrant who came to the Us to make a better life for his daughter. They have just moved to a new town and Laritza will be attending a new high school. There, she encounters bullying for her heritage, but also manages to find a true friend. When the opportunity arises to compete in her school’s singing competition, Laritza is determined to show that she can shine. One of the most important aspects of the book is the theme of ethnic diversity and tolerance. In the end, Laritza competes in the singing competition and defeats the racist bullies who have hurt her. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

[Alayna]

Laritza is about a girl who doesn’t want to go to her new school. She’s an amazing singer. Her father moved them away from where he was born so he could find a job and so he could get Laritza more opportunities. Laritza didn’t have a good first day of school ecause she got bullied for being a different race. I learned in this book that even your age can’t prevent racism. Laritza finds a new friend named Jackie. She excelled in chorus class and was given a solo in the school play and also tries out for the “Ídolo Elmerton.” Claire and Ainsley are bullies that are jealous of Laritza. They try to stop Laritza from having a solo, but it doesn’t work and Laritza gets the solo. I think high schoolers would like this book.

[Rachel Benal]

Laritza moved to a new school. She loves to sing and is very talented. While she was at school, lots of kids made fun of her. She wanted to leave school but her dad convinced her to stay. She learned that it didn’t matter what the other kids thought of her it only matter what she thought of herself.

The most important aspect if the book is that she stayed true to herself instead of letting the other kids get to her.

She entered into a singing competition. She had a lot of fun and she loved singing.

I think some high schoolers and middle schoolers would enjoy this book because some people may be able to relate to it.

[Benal]

1. Laritza attends a new school where she is bullied. She defends herself from the bullies, and enters into a singing competition. She enjoys singing and is nervous at first but overcomes that to put on a good show. Although she does not win the competition, she does not give up singing.
2. The most important aspect is that Laritza never gave up singing just because she did not win a competition. She will work to improve herself later on.
3. "Success is the best revenge"
4. As she prepares for the competition, she is nervous. She put on a great performance, however still did not win the competition. Although she does not win the competition, she does not give up singing.
5. I think that people who enjoys singing will really enjoy this book.

[Hayden]

1. Laritza is moving to a new school and she loves to sing. But she faces problems of racism because she is an immigrant. She has one friend Jackie who helps her enter a singing contest and in she doesn’t win but the two biggest bullies get expelled.
2. The most important aspects of the book is Laritza learning to overcome the racists at her school.
3. Two quotes that stuck out was ILEGAL and Laritza tiene un voz de angel.
4. In the end Laritza did not win the singing contest but Claire and Ainsley were expelled and this made Laritza life easier even though their was still racism in the school.
5. People who like to read a simple, easy, and inspiring book.

[Etta Schreiner]

The novel was overall pretty good it was about a girl being bullied and learning how to stick up for herself throughout her book. I think an important aspect was having people read from her point of view of being bullied. When her dad laughed at her I thought that was kind of funny because he is just use to getting called illegal and stuff like that. It’s also nice how Jackie stays her friend through the whole process.

[Lisa Tran]

In this novel, the protagonist, Laritza goes through a series of events that challenge her experience as a new student at her school. She encounters racism and prejudice from her peers but learns to ignore their remarks as she pursues her passion for singing. The whole novel was centered around her character development and how she overcame her obstacles which I believe to be admirable. I would recommend this book to someone who is interested in seeing the perspective of a person who deals with racism and it affects on them. The novel gives accurate insight on what some people suffer nowadays, and that makes this novel very special. Overall, a very good novel!!

[Jill Parr]

In this novel, Laritza moved to the U.S. with her supportive dad. She had to go to a new school and was very nervous. There were many racist kids at her school but she found a Spanish speaking friend, Jackie. She battled many racist comments and actions throughout the book with the help of Jackie and her dad. A couple racist girls put a paper in her locker that said <>. There were many similar incidents. Laritza is an amazing singer who participated in a singing competition.
Anyone wanting to read a good, easy Spanish book should read this.

[Carson Kudlacek]

Laritza is a 16 year old girl attending a new school. She is very good at math and even better at singing. Laritza wants to enter in a singing competition but two girls name Claire and Ainsley don’t like the idea and try to do anything to stop her. “Illegal” The two girls wrote this note to try and sabotage Laritza. Laritza in the end didn’t end up winning but Claire and Ainsley ended up getting hurt trying to make laritaz performance bad. People that would like to read this book are people who want a quick and easy novel.

[Katharine Hamburger]

This book is a super easy level Spanish read! The plot was something a lot of us can relate to in our own life and in our one world. I also learned many great lessons from the characters in this book that I can use In real life and i think many other kids should learn. I would suggest that anyone who knows good Spanish read this book, you will enjoy it. I would say ages 14-18 would enjoy this book the most.

[Conchita]

Great

[Madelyn Strong]

I enjoyed this book because the girl the same age as us and some people can relate to her. And sometimes stories leave out the bad parts and make there life seem great but in this one they explored the bad parts of her experience in school.

[Keegan]

It was an okay book. You can use her method of just walking away from bullies instead of fighting and getting in trouble. In my opinion, I just didn't really like it.

[Brayden Schropp]

It was very good kept me intrigued for the most part and it was not to long which I liked also

[Terran]

I thought the book was really good because it was based on a topic that still happened to this day and no one really does anything about it.

[Chloe]

I thought this was a really good book and it wasn’t too hard to understand.

[Jammy]

I really liked how lartiza is getting bullied but ignores them and still sings at the competition.

The most important part was when she still singed at the competition even when people were bringing her down and told her not to.

My favorite quote was “success is the best revenge”

Conclusion: lartiza is bullied and made fun of but she ignores them and over come those obstacles. She competes in a competition even tho Ashley and Claire told her not to because they thought her singing was bad.

[Jacovo Schaefer]

I liked the book. It was very interesting and the chapters fit well with each other.

[Grace Sullivan]

I really liked this book lots of excitement and fun, but it was also sad.

[Jordan Whitlock]

I thought it was a good book about not bullying others.