Review by Booklist Review
The second book in the Bodega Cats series focuses on Yesenia and her cat, Candy. Having three overachieving sisters and Dominican parents with high expectations leaves fifth-grader Yesenia feeling overwhelmed and anxious. To mitigate the anxiety, her pediatrician recommends that Yesenia get a pet, something to care for and love. As luck would have it, Yesenia's aunt and uncle have kittens to give away at their bodega. ¡Vamos! The cat Yesenia picks and names Candy proves to be an unruly handful, to her parents' dismay; however, all their scolding results in Candy running away. Chapters alternate between Yesenia's and Candy's perspectives, and Burgos deals with realistic situations with gentle humor and tenderness. This slim chapter book will work well for independent readers ready for more text, but the fifth-grade protagonist also makes it appealing to those who may be reading below grade level. Spanish phrases are sprinkled throughout, as are grayscale chapter illustrations that provide an adorable portrayal of Yesenia's world. A sweet, relatable series.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A young girl riddled with anxieties adopts an energetic kitten. Yesenia worries about the recent D she got on a social studies test, and she wishes she had more time to spend crocheting. Unfortunately, she can't confide in her strong-willed parents, immigrants from the Dominican Republic who won't tolerate anything that threatens the family's "straight-A streak." Yesenia's cousin Miguel's cat, Lolo, has just had a litter of kittens (Miguel and Lolo starred in the first series installment), and per her doctor's orders, Yesenia soon adopts one to destress a bit. But the mischievous little yellow furball--named Candy--claws the curtains at home and wreaks havoc at her parents' store, Niña Rosada Bodega. Mami and Papi's threat to get rid of Candy looms over Yesenia as she struggles to balance obligations at school and at home, making some questionable choices along the way. Can Yesenia find her voice and convince her family to embrace her for who she is? Meanwhile, roguish Candy wants freedom to explore the world, but she quickly discovers that independence comes at a cost. Like its predecessor, this tale set in New York City explores familiar themes--the weight of parental expectations in immigrant families, finding the courage to be oneself--in a lighthearted package; chapters switch between Yesenia's and Candy's first-person perspectives. Returning characters add much to the community-building, reinforced through Faison's lively, family-oriented illustrations. A meow-velous tale laced with meditations on family and identity.(Fiction. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
