Lola Reyes Is So Not Worried - by Cindy L Rodriguez (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Lola Reyes doesn't want to leave Guatemala, a place full of warmth and sun, laughter and music--where her abuela and prima and tíos and tías surround her with love. Back in Sunnyside, it's cold. There's schoolwork and chores. And her mama transforms into Lola's super-serious school principal, Dr. Reyes. Back at home... Lola can see, crystal clear, the empty place where Pop used to be. So Lola decides to bring a little bit of Guatemala--and Pop--back with her. She discovers his box of childhood worry dolls and sneaks them into her luggage, ignoring the warnings on the box not to use them. Later, when she tells them all her worries, from her friendship woes to the way Mama won't talk about how sad she is, the worry dolls come to life! Worse--they escape! Lola has to enlist her neighbor and nemesis, Chance Townsend, to recapture the dolls because she discovers they're cursed! And as they absorb worries, they'll grow bigger and bigger. If Lola can't find a way to stop them, they'll burst, releasing all the worries they've absorbed a hundredfold on everyone in town! But when breaking the curse might mean confronting her own anxieties and grief, will Lola be able face her emotions before it's too late?"--

Book Synopsis

In this magical middle grade adventure by Cindy L. Rodriguez, a Guatemalan American girl fights to stop her cursed worry dolls before they blanket her friends and neighbors in anxiety--and the grief she carries over the loss of her father. Perfect for fans of The Doll People and The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez!

Lola Reyes doesn't want to leave Guatemala, a place full of warmth and sun, laughter and music--where her abuela and prima and tíos and tías surround her with love. Back in Sunnyside, it's cold. There's schoolwork and chores. And her mama transforms into Lola's super-serious school principal, Dr. Reyes.

Back at home...Lola can see, crystal clear, the empty place where Pop used to be. So Lola decides to bring a little bit of Guatemala--and Pop--back with her. She discovers his box of childhood worry dolls and sneaks them into her luggage, ignoring the warnings on the box not to use them. Later, when she tells them all her worries, from her friendship woes to the way Mama won't talk about how sad she is, the worry dolls come to life. Worse--they escape.

Lola has to enlist her neighbor and nemesis, Chance Townsend, to recapture the dolls because she discovers they're cursed. And as they absorb worries, they'll grow bigger and bigger. If Lola can't find a way to stop them, they'll burst, releasing all the worries they've absorbed a hundredfold on everyone in town. But when breaking the curse might mean confronting her own anxieties and grief, will Lola be able to face her emotions before it's too late?

Review Quotes

"Fast-paced and fun." -- Anna Meriano, author of the Love Sugar Magic series

"A perfect blend of humor and adventure." -- Adrianna Cuevas, author of the Pura Belpré Honor Book The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez and the Edgar Award-winning The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto

"Wildly imaginative." -- Angela Dominguez, author of the Stella Díaz series

"Full of laugh-out-loud humor." -- David Bowles, award-winning author of They Call Me Güero and The Prince & the Coyote

"A magical tenderhearted tale." -- Guadalupe García McCall, Pura Belpré Award-winning author

"Its easy to relate to this plucky, earnest fifth grader." -- Anika Fajardo, author of What If a Fish and Meet Me Halfway

"Lola Reyes is everything I want in a book--magic, culture, and kids with big hearts. Read this book! -- Zoraida Córdova, author of Star Wars: The High Republic: Beware the Nameless

"Rodriguez seamlessly marries supernatural adventures with realistic, universal themes of grief and human connection. A relatable, high-energy journey through grief and magic." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)