Diana Lopez

This novel is a 2024 Lone Star selection.

Most people have heard of La Llorona, the woman who drowned her children and now cries out for them, luring other children to their deaths. That's at least one version of the folk tale from Mexico. In this adaptation, Felice is the daughter no one knows about who didn't drown. Her uncle saves her that night. They leave and she is raised by him, only knowing that her mother is dead and her father sends child support. It's only when her uncle's friend arrives from their hometown, Tres Leches, twelve years later and needs him to return. His friend needs help getting re-elected as mayor; if he can calm the ghost, the town will re-elect him. Felice knows little about her mother and wants to meet her. Her uncle Clem says that she's dead while this friend says that she's not dead. When Uncle Clem turns down the request, Felice sneaks out and leaves a note that she's going with her uncle's friend to meet her mother. They're both somewhat right; her mother is a ghost.

It's immediately clear that Tres Leches is magical. There's a strange muddy pass, no signs, and strange things that happen as they eventually arrive in Tres Leches. Feliece must promise to abide by three rules. Always pay cash and don't bargain for anything. Run if you see a giant owl. Don't dance at this one place. She agrees. Upon arriving, Felice sees that bakeries abound and the air smells sweet. The rival for mayor is the lady pharmacist. The real time poll that appears constantly in town shows that she's gaining and may become mayor. A showdown begins immediately between the two people vying for mayor. Felice immediately get separated and meets two teens who end up helping her. One friend is the devil's son who cannot be denied when he asks people to dance and stinks because he smells like sulphur. The other is the daughter of a giant owl. Over two days meets the unusual inhabitants of Tres Leches, brings the river back by making it rain, and heals the town of its curse that robs them of their personalities. The three rules play into what's really going on in this cursed town--it's more than the ghost of Felice's mother.

In the end, the novel is about not judging people and being kind to people in order to have good friendships and a good community. The nice part of this story is that La Llorona is healed. I enjoy magical realism and think this book does a good job incorporating the magic with the folk tale.… (meer)

The true story of how 'The first family of taekwondo' made Olympic history.

'If there was an Olympics in family togetherness, the Lopezes might also win the gold.'-People

As the family who made history inthe 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, with three siblings on the same U.S. Olympic team in the sport of taekwondo-and a fourth sibling as their coach-the Lopezes showed the world that discipline, dedication,determination, strength and a family who loves one another canconquer all. Mark took the silver medal, and Ste ven and Diana both broiught home the bronze, with big brother Jean bursting with prifde fo rhte siblings he coached to victory. Hre, for the first time,is the insiriing story of a family united by a draem.

In 1972, Julio Lopez and his wife, Ondina, emigrated from Nicaragua to New York, before settling in Sugar Land, Texas, hoping for a sweeter life for their family, and a piece of the American dream. Julio enrolled his oldest boy, Jean, in taekwondo classes to teach him self-confidence, respect and discipine. By age twelve, Jean had a black belt. Soon his younger siblings were emulating him. In an atmosphere of love, support, mutual respect and healthy competition, the siblings trained hard, daring to dream they might reach the pinnacle of their athletic field in the Olympics. In 2000 and 2004, Steven won the Olympic gold medal. Then came the victories and history for the four siblings in 2008.

Told in turn by Mark, Steven, Diana and Jean, this is the incredible story of how one family's boundless determination and rock-solid support system helped them make history as the first family ever to have four siblings on the same U.S. Olympic delegation. For the Lopez family, there's only one thing sweeter than winning the medals-sharing them.

'We found strength and perspective in something bigger than each of us...We made history in Beijing, but we built it long before we arrived. It's amazing how high you can reach when you stand on the shoulders of someone you love...We succeeded. Our dreams came true...We're still the same people, only now we have made Olympic historiy. We're still the same family.'-From Family Power

Contents

Preface by Brian Cazeneuve
Introduction by Jean Lopez
1 A land of hope by Diana Lopez
2 Follow the leader by Jean Lopez
3 Looking good by Steven Lopez
4 Behold the conueror by Mark Lopez
5 As I was saying by Diana Lopez
6 A long, strange trip by Jean Lopez
7 Heavy medal by Mark Lopez
8 From garage to penthouse by Steven Lopez
9 Hey, Mom, guess what? by Steven Lopez
10 The best and the worst by Jean Lopez
11 Against the script by Diana Lopez
12 Repeat after me by Steven Lpez
13 Good things happen in threes by Mark Lopez
14 First of its kind by Jean Lopez
15 Sharing the dream by Mark Lopez
Epilogue by Jean Lopez
Acknowledgments… (meer)

I dont know if this came out before or after the movie did (2017) but it pretty much follows the movie story. I think it probably came out after the movie. The chapter headings have illustrations that came directly from the Movie opening credits. I remember watching the movie on netflix and being in tears at the end. It was such a lovely story.

The only reason I gave this 4 stars is because of all the spanish words being used, many of which did not have a translation. There is also no glossary in this book either.

This is a story about a boy whose family banned music after his great grandfather left home to become a famous musician. He never returned. The boy (Miguel) goes to the Land of the Dead and discovers that the reason his great grandfather never returned home is because he was poisoned. And that someone else stole his songs.

After a few trips to the land of the dead, during the day of the dead celebrations, Miguel brings the truth and music back to the family.… (meer)