Shut Up, This Is Serious

By: Carolina Ixta

Narrated by: Frankie Corzo

WINNER OF THE PURA BELPRÉ YA AUTHOR AWARD

* A Morris Award Finalist * Parade Best Young Adult Books of All Time * Indie Next List Pick *

An unforgettable YA debut about two Latina teens growing up in East Oakland as they discover that the world is brimming with messy complexities, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Erika L. Sánchez.

Belén Dolores Itzel del Toro wants the normal stuff: to experience love or maybe have a boyfriend or at least just lose her virginity. But nothing is normal in East Oakland. Her father left her family. She’s at risk of not graduating. And Leti, her super-Catholic, nerdy-ass best friend, is pregnant—by the boyfriend she hasn’t told her parents about, because he’s Black, and her parents are racist.

Things are hella complicated.

Weighed by a depression she can’t seem to shake, Belén helps Leti, hangs out with an older guy, and cuts a lot of class. She soon realizes, though, that distractions are only temporary. Leti is becoming a mother. Classmates are getting ready for college. But what about Belén? What future is there for girls like her?

From debut author Carolina Ixta comes a fierce, intimate examination of friendship, chosen family, and the generational cycles we must break to become our truest selves.

Thought Provoking. This is art!!!! Brava!

This wasn't what I expected. But so what? The book was very very good. I have so many thoughts about the entire piece. Here's my main takeaway: Fathers are so very important to the development and happiness of their children. If that sounds preachy to you let me assure you that this book was not preachy at all - it just showed how children (and mothers) struggle when their fathers don't step up to their role as a loving, responsible parent.

The writing was spectacular and the narrator was the very best choice for this book. I've never been to this part of California but I really felt as if I were there...seeing, feeling, smelling...truly present in the moment with the writing. The narrator handled the "Spanglish" and other Spanish words interspersed throughout masterfully. She must be a native speaker for sure. With that said, adding the language and the culture really resonated and made it even more real. If you are a native Spanish speaker even if you aren't of Mexican decent, you'll "get it" at an even deeper level. But if you aren't Latino please don't be put off, you don't have to be Latin to understand and grow to love the characters.

This is one of those rare books that really stays with you. It's one I won't just forget. Absolute "Brava" to the author and narrator. THIS...this is ART. I'll be looking for more books from each.

Don’t let the title fool you

I really really liked the story! It’s high school girls BUT their stories are real. I identified with these girls and their families, their troubles. The author really captured a Mexican household, their cultures. The narrator was also pleased to listen to.

A painfully real story

I loved this book. It is a story that is happy at times, sad at times, but always real.

The vuneralibility of the characters

Appealed to a young audience. The discrimination and the ability to fight against their individual traumatic experiences.

A novel for the Bay

Being in my late 20’s, what I loved about this book was how much it brought me back to a period in my life I don’t think about too often. The author did an amazing job of bringing the characters to life, and I often had the thought of “Oh yeah, I totally remember feeling that way in high school.” I also really enjoyed the setting of Oakland. Being from the Bay Area, it was fun to visually be taken back down the streets that are so familiar, or to have a moment of recognition for locations like the donut shop where you can also get Chinese food in Fruitvale. I think anyone familiar with the area will enjoy this read for the setting alone and the story of challenging family dynamics only adds to the relatability. Looking forward to reading more from Ixta.