Lulu and Milagro's Search for Clarity
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Angela Velez's Lulu and Milagro's Search for Clarity is a hilarious, heartfelt coming-of-age story. It switches points of view from Peruvian American Lulu Zavala, a straight-A student who is fascinated by science and wants more than anything else to go to a prestigious college, and Milagro, her older sister, who wants nothing to do with college and has recently broken up with her boyfriend. Together, the sisters embark on a college tour, traveling from their home in Baltimore to San Francisco, and a journey of self-discovery that will turn everything they thought they knew about themselves upside down, and even dismantle their bigger sister Clara's secret. The writing is vibrant and full of humor, and young readers will definitely enjoy getting to know the Zavala family and their heartwarming love for one another. There's some swearing, the sisters drink at parties, and Milagro talks about wanting to lose her virginity to her boyfriend and comes close.
Community Reviews
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
In LULU AND MILAGRO'S SEARCH FOR CLARITY, sisters Lulu and Milagro go on a life-changing trip that highlights their stark differences but also the love and deep sisterhood that holds them together. On a journey from Baltimore to San Francisco, they make unlikely and wonderful friends, discover that the life they'd imagined isn't set in stone, and unearth a shocking family secret.
Is It Any Good?
This lively coming-of-age story is filled with humor, heartfelt life lessons, and unforgettable characters. Lulu and Milagro's Search for Clarity will stay with readers long after the last page. Teens can relate to Lulu's search for academic perfection and her need to be a high-achieving daughter, as well as see themselves in Milagro's fascination with art and her journey to accept herself as she truly is. Both sisters' journeys can show readers that our potential is not determined by those around us but by our own selves. The Zavala family is a tight-knit immigrant family from Peru that will resonate with Latino readers, from their familiar phrases in Spanish to the mother's fascination with Gloria Estefan.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how family pressure is portrayed in Lulu and Milagro's Search for Clarity. What's it like to feel pressure from family members who most likely only want what's best for you? Do you ever feel pressured to be someone or achieve something just to keep your family happy?
Are there certain things you want to do or try but are too scared to because of wanting to fit in within your friend group? Is there something you think is off-limits to you because of who you're told you need to be?
How well do you think Lulu and Milagro's Search for Clarity captures the immigrant experience, specifically the Latino immigrant experience? How can we bring culture with us wherever we go?
Book Details
- Author: Angela Velez
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, High School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publishers: harper teen, Balzer + Bray
- Publication date: February 8, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 17
- Number of pages: 400
- Available on: App
- Last updated: February 24, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Solimar: The Sword of Monarchs
Exciting, courage-filled fantasy steeped in Mexican culture.
-
Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything
Compelling coming-of-ager blends sci-fi and folklore.
-
Tigers, Not Daughters
Grieving sisters find strength in enchanting, ghostly drama.
For kids who love Latino stories and coming-of-age taes
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate