texas

In 1986, siblings Elena and Joaquin Finney struggle with their manipulative, alcoholic mother and look for any way to escape Mariposa Island. Elena starts babysitting for a visiting family and sneaking off with a new boyfriend while Joaquin dreams of finding his estranged father in California. Meanwhile, their mother reflects on life in the 1950s as the daughter of wealthy white Cubans who sent her to the United States during the Cuban revolution where she experienced the turmoil of being an outcast immigrant in Texas. After Joaquin makes a startling discovery, the lies and secrets that have defined their family come to light.

After visiting her father on death row for twelve years, seventeen-year-old Riley is determined to find out if he is guilty or not before he is either executed or retried and, perhaps, released.

In an adventure reminiscent of Homer's "Odyssey," fifteen-year-old Odilia and her four younger sisters embark on a journey to return a dead man to his family in Mexico, aided by La Llorona, but impeded by a witch, a warlock, chupacabras, and more.

When thirteen-year-old Erica "Chia" Montenegro finds out her mother has breast cancer, she makes a promise to God to raise money for breast cancer awareness and discovers that when family and friends work together, miracles can happen.

At the end of the Vietnam War, hundreds of children were airlifted out and taken to America as refugees. Hang and her three-year-old brother Linh were to be two of those children, but Hang was deemed too old and denied a spot on the helicopter while Linh was taken to family in Texas. Now eighteen, Hang travels to Texas to find her brother, but is devastated to learn that he does not remember her or Vietnam, and has no interest in either. Along with an aspiring cowboy named LeeRoy, Hang gets a job at a ranch and tries to reconnect with her brother with LeeRoy's help.

"December comes to Texas and there is a catfish fishing contest at Arrowhead Lake with a special prize awaiting the winning adult/child team; Kylie's brother and father are entered as one team, and Kylie Jean convinces her grandfather to enter with her as another team--and Kylie dreams of catching Granddaddy Whiskers, a legendary blue catfish that has eluded fishermen for years."--Publisher.

Kylie Jean Carter is making her special pecan pie for Thanksgiving when Aunt Susie suggests she enter the cooking contest for kids on the Good Morning Texas television show. Kylie makes it to the final which she really wants to win so she can donate the winnings to a local food pantry.

"In Texas, slaves found out they were free on June 19, 1865. This day is known as Juneteenth. While it was first a holiday in Texas, today people celebrate Juneteenth all across the United States. Learn about the history of the holiday as well as how it is celebrated. In addition, try your hand at preparing a delicious recipe for corn muffins and constructing Juneteenth flag pinwheels to place in a garden, yard, or window in commemoration of this historic day."--Back cover.

After one last fight, the Guardian Angel will retire as the most famous luchador but his nephew, eighth-grader Maximilian, hopes to one day take over his name and his mask.

Introduces readers to the people and events behind Emancipation Day and Juneteenth.