Author Profile
Angela Cervantes
6 Books
Angela Cervantes is an award-winning Mexican American author known for her engaging middle-grade novels and children's books. She frequently incorporates themes of family, Latine culture, and mystery into her storytelling, penning acclaimed original works like the Pura Belpré Honor book 'Lety Out Loud' and 'Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring'. In addition to her original mysteries and contemporary stories, Cervantes has contributed to popular franchises by writing Disney junior novelizations and authoring titles for the American Girl series.
Deep in the mountains of Colombia sits a magical house in a wondrous town called an Encanto. Here lives the extraordinary Madrigal family. Every child in this family has been blessed by the magic of the Encanto with a unique gift. Some have super strength, while others have the power to heal. Everyone has a special power, except for you, if you were Mirabel. Mirabel is the only ordinary Madrigal, and she often feels left out of her exceptional family's magical life. But the magic surrounding the Encanto is beginning to crack, and the miracle that protects her family is in terrible danger. When Mirabel discovers the threat, she realizes that she, the only ordinary child, might just be her family's last hope to save their home. Step inside the vibrant world of the Madrigal family in this exciting retelling of the animated film. You will follow Mirabel on a brave journey to uncover the truth about her family's magic and find her own special place in the world. It is a story about family, courage, and discovering that you do not need magic to be truly exceptional.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
136 Pages
Allie Velasco is desperate to be a trailblazer, a trendsetter, and above all else, a winner. She believes there is no better feeling in the world than stepping onto a podium and hoisting a golden trophy high in the air. The only problem is that Allie has never actually won anything. Everyone else in her family is incredibly special. Her younger sister is a rising television star, her brother is a soccer prodigy, and her great-grandfather is a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. Surrounded by all this success, Allie knows she has to make her mark or risk being left behind forever. When a prestigious school contest is announced, she finally sees her perfect opportunity to take first place. But there is one major obstacle standing in her way. Her biggest competition is her ex-best friend, Sara. You will root for Allie as she navigates the fierce competition and faces a difficult choice. Is taking the top prize really worth losing a friend?
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
208 Pages
Lety Munoz loves animals, and there's no place she'd rather be than volunteering at the Furry Friends Animal Shelter. It's the perfect spot for her because the dogs and cats don't mind that Lety sometimes takes her time finding the right words when she speaks. Her first language is Spanish, and sometimes English can be tricky.
At the shelter, Lety feels completely comfortable. She loves spending time with all the furry friends, helping them get ready for their forever homes. But then something exciting happens that could make Lety use her voice in a brand new way! Will she be brave enough to speak up, even when it feels hard? Join Lety as she discovers how her unique way of speaking can be a strength, not just for herself, but for her beloved animal friends too. This heartwarming story is all about finding your voice, embracing who you are, and the special connections we make with animals.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
208 Pages
Rafael Fuentes is not easily scared. He loves reading frightening books and entertaining his friends with terrifying tales he creates right on the spot. Real-life challenges, like his mother returning home from prison soon to live with him and his grandparents, are what actually give him a pit of fear in his stomach. To distract himself from his anxiety, Rafa spends an evening under an eerie blood moon crafting the scariest ghost story he has ever told. He invents The Caretaker, an evil spirit who lures unsuspecting kids into the neighborhood pond. Rafa is incredibly proud of his chilling new creation until strange things begin to happen in his own neighborhood. With a sinking feeling, he realizes his terrifying fictional monster has crossed over into the real world. You will be on the edge of your seat as Rafa realizes he has brought the evil ghost to life, and now he is the only one who can stop it. This chilling ghost story weaves together supernatural thrills with a deeply emotional journey about family, facing your fears, and the power of the stories we tell.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
224 Pages
Sixth grader Gaby Ramirez Howard loves spending her free time volunteering at the local animal shelter. She plays with the abandoned kittens, helps obedience train the energetic dogs, and writes heartfelt adoption advertisements to help these strays find their forever homes. Lately, Gaby has been feeling like a bit of a stray herself. Her mother was recently deported to Honduras, leaving Gaby stuck living with her deeply inattentive father. Gaby holds onto the confident hope that her mother will return soon so they can finally adopt her favorite shelter cat together and be a real family again. But when the cat's original owners suddenly turn up at the shelter to claim their pet, Gaby's perfectly planned future begins to unravel. You will feel Gaby's heartbreak and resilience as she navigates an incredibly difficult family separation while continuing to pour her love into the animals who need her. This touching story explores the deep bond between humans and their pets, the true meaning of home, and the strength it takes to keep hoping when everything falls apart.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
224 Pages
Hidden right next door to the notorious Area 51 is an even more secretive underground lab known as Area 53. This highly classified government facility holds the anomalies, which are Earth-born mythical creatures like fairies, wyverns, and manticores captured for careful study. Eleven-year-old Ollie Robles and his best friend Garen Jackson have grown up safely within these cement walls as the children of the lead researchers. Their quiet lives are thrown into absolute chaos when they accidentally free six magical anomalies, including a mischievous baby manticore, a golem named Henry, and a llamacorn. Now, it is entirely up to Ollie and Garen to chase down the escaped creatures before it is too late. You will journey alongside them as their high-stakes pursuit leads them out of the lab and through a mysterious portal into Shadowland. In this dangerous and amazing magical world, they must face down goblin armies and angry ogres while trying to bring the creatures home. Along the way, the two friends discover a shocking truth about their own past that changes everything.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
256 Pages
