Common Sense Media Review
Girl deals with change in hopeful coming-of-age tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
SHINE ON LUZ VÉLIZ tells the story of a sixth grade soccer player dealing with a knee injury and family changes. She starts to figure out who she is when she can't play soccer, finding new interests, like coding. She also navigates the changes in how people, especially her dad and her soccer team, treat her. Just when she thinks that she's figuring things out, a stranger comes to live with her family. Once again, Luz will have to decide what kind of person she is as she faces big changes.
Is It Any Good?
This tender, hopeful coming-of-age story is relatable: like Luz, many of us have, or will, face unexpected and unwelcome changes in our lives. Rebecca Balcárcel's Shine On Luz Véliz shows a beautiful way to face these changes, as characters face their own private struggles and realizations. Despite her imperfections, Luz learns to find her own way, shining a light for others and the reader as she goes. Children on the border of teen independence are headed for change, and this book may help them be ready.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about this quote from Shine On Luz Véliz: "The self is not discovered but created." How can you create who you are?
Luz goes through a lot of changes. What's a change that you've faced, and how did you feel about it?
Luz learns to communicate with people she didn't think she could talk to. Is there anyone in your life that you want to talk to more, or understand better?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : STEM , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Curiosity , Empathy , Integrity , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Chronicle
- Publication date : May 3, 2022
- Number of pages : 276
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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