Look Both Ways in the Barrio Blanco

Twelve-year-old Jacinta is the child of undocumented immigrants and lives in the barrio. As she encounters life beyond that familiar community, she must navigate new possibilities, difficulties, and uncertainty. The novel centers on her coming of age between two cultures and on the courage involved in shaping a future for herself. At a youth center, the Spanish word amiga, meaning friend, takes on a particular meaning: a woman who takes young people places. Jacinta’s changing world brings questions of identity, friendship, and belonging.