RICA BAPTISTA

Rica Baptista must convince her parents to get her a pet, but the reason why is a secret.

Nobody knows, not even Rica’s best friend, Laini Shanahan, but Laini is going to move away. Rica isn’t supposed to know either, but she overheard Laini’s parents talking, and now she’s made a plan so she won’t be lonely: convince her parents to finally get her a pet. She’s not picky about what animal it is—she’d be fine with an iguana, a llama, a potbellied pig, or anything else. She already picked a name: Frederica. (It is her name, but everybody calls her Rica, so she figures that’s fine.) Rica is flexible about the details, though, as long as the pet can keep her company when Laini eventually leaves. Her parents aren’t going to say yes easily, though, so she and Laini come up with plans to change their minds. In this engaging and fast-paced narrative, Rica proves herself a smart protagonist with a big heart and great sense of humor. As she goes through her schemes, she offers lessons in responsibility. Rica is Cabo Verdean and Black; Laini is White. Winsome illustrations from Jose break up the text.

A satisfying story of friendship and kindness.