Josefina. 1824.
Meet Raquel Reyes!
Raquel is excited to learn more about her family at a big reunion on the East Coast. Everyone she loves will be there, including her cousins and her dog, Luzita. The summer is bound to be full of seashells, stories, and a few surprises.
Leo & Julia Reyes
Raquel’s parents, who own a popular paleta shop in Kansas City. Her mom is a descendant of Samantha Parkington and her dad is Mexican American.
Sol Reyes
Raquel’s energetic and playful 7-year-old brother. He’s full of confidence and loves performing, especially alongside their dog, Luzita.
Luzita
Raquel’s beloved Pomeranian, a small but brave rescue dog. She is the official taste-tester for all of the shop’s dog-safe flavors.
Sloan
Raquel’s cousin, who is one year older. She is a great pickleball player, loves drawing, and dreams of creating graphic novels.
Harper
Raquel’s oldest cousin, a marine biologist. She and her fiancé organize the dolphin rescue and inspire Raquel.
Jordan
Harper’s fiancé, also a marine biologist. He helps educate the family about dolphins and assists with the rescue operation.
Liam
A 14-year-old cousin who comes out of his shell during the family reunion. Liam is an avid pickleball player.
Grandma Meg
The family’s matriarch on Raquel’s mom’s side. She owns an old mansion in Mount Bedford that’s filled with family history.
Abuela Rosie
Raquel’s grandmother on her dad’s side. She stays behind to run Paleta-Palooza while the family travels.
Samantha Parkington
Raquel’s great-great-grandmother, whose diary Raquel discovers in the old family mansion. Her words help Raquel understand family in a deeper way.
Author Angela Cervantes
Angela Cervantes began writing stories featuring Latina main characters when she was nine years old because she wanted books that reflected her friends and community. Like Raquel, Angela is Mexican American on one side of her family and lives in Kansas City, Missouri. Learn about her at www.AngelaCervantes.com.
Illustrator Fátima Anaya
Fátima Anaya was born in El Salvador and currently resides in Montréal. As a child, she loved to illustrate the magical moments around her. She gets inspiration from her childhood, the things she loves, and sometimes from historical events.
Illustrator Maike Plenzke
Maike Plenzke studied illustration at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences Department of Design. She currently lives in Berlin with her partner and their dog, where she loves to create colorful illustrations for book covers, magazines, comic books, and other exciting projects.
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