Language: R (100+ swears 37 'f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Intimacy); Violence: PG13 (Intimidation, physical assault)
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
18yo Pen loves her dad's restaurant, Nacho's Tacos, she grew up there and dreams about someday running the place. But her parents want her to go to nursing school, they feel that she would have a better chance at succe - only she can't/doesn't/won't. So when Pen's brother is promoted to Manager, she decides to finally tell her parents that she's not going to school - that she wants to run the restaurant. It backfires, and Pen finds herself out of a job and out of the house.
It seems that 18yo Xander, (also Latinx) has been looking for his father his whole life. Zander needs money to hire a detective to find out what happened, but he has to be careful because he's undocumented. Getting a job at Nacho's Tacos is the perfect chance to earn some money and become independent. But someone is trying to shut down the restaurant.
I've seen a bunch of "kids working in family restaurant" books lately, and my favorite is the food descriptions - Kemp did not disappoint, I think I ate out twice last week because I was reading "Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet." Yes, there's a romance, but this is also a complicated novel about family responsibilities, doing what's right and looking out for your community. There were several parts that shocked me, the level of abuse Pen's father endures from the loan shark is heartbreaking - it's like they can never get out from under desperate decisions they made years ago. An eye opening story that my Latinx students will connect with, and other students will gain empathy and understanding.
Lisa Librarian
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