Undercover Latina
“Social criticism is woven into a fun read centered on kids of color. . . . An engaging, insightful adventure with a heartfelt conclusion.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Fourteen-year-old Andréa Hernández-Baldoquín hails from a family of spies working for the Factory, an international organization dedicated to protecting people of color. For her first solo mission, Andréa straightens her hair and goes undercover as Andrea Burke, a white girl, to befriend the estranged son of a dangerous white supremacist. In addition to her Factory training, the assignment calls for a deep dive into the son’s interests—comic books and gaming—all while taking care not to speak Spanish and blow her family’s cover. But it’s hard to hide who you really are, especially when you develop a crush on your target’s Latino best friend. Can Andréa keep her head, her geek cred, and her code-switching on track to trap a terrorist? This smart, entertaining, and politically astute novel is fast-paced Young adult fare from an established author of heist and espionage novels for adults, in a paperback edition offering discussion questions and an excerpt from the sequel in the back matter.
# of Pages: 336
Book Binding: Paperback
Year of Publication: 2023
Publisher: Candlewick
Language: en
ISBN: 9781536233018
Aya de León is a multi-talented author, activist, and educator. She has written a variety of works, including poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, all exploring themes of race, gender, and social justice. Her writing has been featured in numerous publications, such as Essence, Guernica, and Bitch Media. In addition to her writing career, de León is also a highly respected activist and speaker, using her platform to advocate for marginalized communities and inspire others to take action. She currently teaches creative writing at the University of California, Berkeley, and is the director of the Poetry for the People program. Undercover Latina is her debut novel, a thrilling and thought-provoking work that showcases her talent for storytelling and her passion for social justice.