Shine On, Luz Véliz!
on Goodreads (640)
What’s inside...
Shine On, Luz Véliz! is a captivating coming-of-age novel that follows Luz Véliz as she navigates life after a serious knee injury takes her off the soccer field. As Luz struggles to redefine her identity, she discovers a passion for coding, which provides a new path for her self-discovery and personal growth. Amidst family drama and cultural ties, Luz learns to embrace her heritage and find her own inner light. With a backdrop of immigration issues in the United States, this novel offers a thought-provoking look at the challenges faced by vulnerable communities. Written by Pura Belpré Honor winner Rebecca Balcárcel, this story is perfect for young readers interested in family dynamics, coding, and cultural identity.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
8-12
Length
276 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How did Luz Véliz show courage and perseverance throughout her journey?
What challenges did Luz face and how did she overcome them?
Can you think of a time when you had to solve a problem like Luz did?
Why do you think teamwork was important in Luz’s story?
How do you think Luz changed from the beginning of the book to the end?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate their personal experiences to Luz's challenges and victories to enhance empathy and connection.
Use open-ended questions to facilitate deeper thinking and reflection about the themes of resilience and teamwork.
Discuss Luz’s character traits and ask your child to identify which traits they see in themselves.
Highlight moments in the story where Luz shows growth or learns a lesson, prompting your child to think about what they can learn from her experiences.
After reading, ask your child to draw a scene where Luz was being brave, helping them visually express their understanding of courage.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: Luz Véliz faces various challenges but learns to overcome them with persistence and courage.
Real-World Application: Children can understand the importance of trying again despite difficulties, whether in schoolwork, sports, or personal goals.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: Throughout the book, Luz shows empathy by understanding and sharing the feelings of others, helping friends in need.
Real-World Application: Kids can practice putting themselves in others' shoes to better understand their peers and build stronger friendships.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: Luz collaborates with her friends to solve problems, demonstrating that many goals are more easily achieved with help.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to participate in group activities and appreciate the value of working together towards common objectives.
Example Lesson: Creativity
Explanation: Luz uses her imagination to find unique solutions to problems, showcasing creativity.
Real-World Application: Children can be inspired to use their imagination in play, projects, and problem-solving tasks in everyday life.
Example Lesson: Honesty
Explanation: Luz learns the importance of being truthful even when it is difficult, which earns her the trust of her peers.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children understand the impact of honesty on relationships and trustworthiness among friends and family.