Shine On, Luz Véliz!

Rebecca Balcarcel

Dec 2023 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Victoria Villarreal

About this audiobook

Have you ever been the best at something . . . only to lose it all? Luz Veliz is a soccer star-or rather, she was a soccer star. With her serious knee injury, it's unlikely she'll be back on the field anytime soon. But without soccer, who is she? Even her dad treats her differently now-like he doesn't know her or, worse, like he doesn't even like her. When Luz discovers she has a knack for coding, it feels like a lifeline to a better self. If she can just ace the May Showcase, she'll not only skip a level in her coding courses and impress Ms. Freeman and intriguing, brilliant Trevor-she'll have her parents cheering her on from the sidelines, just the way she likes it. But something-someone-is about to enter the Velizes' life. And when Solana arrives, nothing will be the same, ever again. Unforgettable characters, family drama, and dauntless determination illuminate Luz's journey as she summons her inner strength and learns to accept others and embrace the enduring connection of family. Through it all, Luz's light is a constant-a guide for others, a path forward through the dark, and an ineffable celebration of her own eternal self.

About the author

Rebecca Balcárcel is the author of The Other Half of Happy, winner of the Pura Belpre Author Honor. Her poems and essays have appeared in Third Coast and North American Review, and her book of poems is titled Palabras In Each Fist. She currently serves as associate professor of English at Tarrant County College.

Victoria Villarreal is a first-generation Mexican American bilingual voice-over and film and television actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she holds a BFA in musical theater with an acting emphasis. She is currently based in Los Angeles, California.