Common Sense Media Review
Romance falls flat in tale of Mexican authenticity, culture.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Ella Cerón's VIVA LOLA ESPINOZA is the story of how 17-year-old Lola spends her summer in Mexico City, where her parents sent her to live with her abuela and to work on her Spanish. While in Mexico, she works at her cousin's restaurant, explores her identity, and starts up relationships with two very different guys. She also investigates her family's curse -- starting with whether or not it even exists.
Is It Any Good?
This thoughtful book digs into authenticity and culture, but the romance sometimes feels underdeveloped. Viva Lola Espinoza's exploration of race and cultural dynamics may spark relevant conversations and counter stereotypes. Lola navigates her family's expectations, while defining what she feels and thinks. As she explores the family curse, readers can decide whether they believe in an unseen world or scientific knowledge. Teens may also appreciate Lola's observations about how people's phones and online life can influence them. The story has some Pride and Prejudice parallels, like the themes of class and family, but explores its own themes of race and authenticity.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about internalized colonialism, a major topic in Viva Lola Espinoza. How does it affect the way people think and what they pay attention to?
Digital communication is a big part of life, but the person you are online isn't exactly the same as the one offline. What are some of the differences between the two, and how do they influence each other?
Lola shows integrity as she learns to choose who she wants to be, from doing makeup for herself to being less dependent on her family's opinions. Do you depend on other people's opinions, or are you making choices based on what you really want?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School ) , History
- Character Strengths : Integrity
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Kokila
- Publication date : April 11, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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