PLOT SUMMARY
Five students who feel they have nothing in common are forced to meet in the cafeteria each day before school to do community service. They have more in common than they realize and learn that you cannot judge a person by what they show on the outside.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
If you are a fan of the 80’s movie The Breakfast Club, you will enjoy this innovative book about 5 students who learn that people are not always what they seem. Gonzalez’s use of side-by-side Spanish and English makes this book accessible to both English and Spanish readers. Emerging bilingual readers who are hesitant to read will love this book for this reason and for the context given in the expressive illustrations from Epstein, as well. This story is told in flashback as the students recount what happened while they performed their community service in and outside of the cafeteria to the principal and another person that they do not know. It reveals how people can tend to lump all Hispanic people together when there are truly many different Hispanic cultures, but ALSO deals with how every person is fighting a battle that they do not show to the world. Readers will be able to experience empathy and inclusiveness while enjoying the surprise ending.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
School Library Journal Best Book of 2022
2022 ALA Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table Top Ten Graphic Novel
2023 Notable Book for a Global Society Award
2022 Cybills Award Winner
2022 Nerdy Book Club Award
2023-24 Texas Bluebonnet List
2022 Virginia Library Association Graphic Novel Diversity Award Winner
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Truly unique… An entertaining and spirited reading experience.”
BOOKLIST: “Illuminating and engaging. With a sweet twist at the end, multifaceted characters, and moments of genuine comedy, this is pitch-perfect for anyone who loves Raina Telgemeier or Varian Johnson.” 

CONNECTIONS
*Have students make connections between the Spanish and English words on the page.
*Look for these other books by Christina Diaz Gonzalez:
Gonzalez, C. CONCEALED. Scholastic, Inc., 2022. ISBN 978-1338647228
Gonzalez, C. THE RED UMBRELLA. Yearling Publishers, 2011. ISBN 978-0375854897