SALSA MAGIC

A 13-year-old experiences upheaval within herself and her family.

Café Taza in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, is owned by the close-knit Calderon family and is where Maya Beatriz Montenegro Calderon spends most of her time when she’s not busy being a star soccer player. Maya and her lively Puerto Rican family do their best to keep the cafe running despite the rapid gentrification of their neighborhood. Maya’s eighth grade year brings new developments—her friendship with teammate Kayla grows, a soccer rivalry intensifies, and she has strangely vivid dreams involving water and an unknown woman that evoke feelings of déjà vu. As if she’s been summoned, the mystery woman—her estranged great-aunt Titi Yaya—suddenly appears, dredging up a decades-old feud with Maya’s abuela. Maya determinedly seeks to understand why her family became so divided and why she feels a connection to Titi Yaya and the water. Defying Abuela’s command to never speak to her great-aunt, Maya starts sneaking around, trying to learn about her Yoruba heritage and the destiny that awaits her. The energetic, bilingual dialogue is welcoming, textured, and accessible; combined with the story’s fast pace, it will keep readers engaged through an expertly written exploration of an Afro-Latine family’s history and the pantheon of West African gods. Marrero’s debut beautifully weaves together themes of family trauma, first crushes, spirituality, and history as Maya embarks on her journey of self-discovery.

An uplifting, beautifully rendered story of family bonds and embracing the unknown.