Manzano, Sonia

It is 1969 in Spanish Harlem, and fourteen-year-old Evelyn Serrano is trying hard to break free from her conservative Puerto Rican surroundings, but when her activist grandmother comes to stay and the neighborhood protests start, things get a lot more complicated--and dangerous.

When Iris, her family, and the neighbors take a trip to Enchanted Lake, everyone brings what they think is needed, but the family dog turns out to present a problem.

Ruthie is sent to spend the day with her Aunt Juanita who is about to have a baby, and does a great job running errands for her aunt until she is distracted by a litter of new kittens at the store.