Stella Diaz Has Something to Say

Stella Diaz, Book 1

By: Angela Dominguez

Narrated by: Kyla García

In her first middle-grade novel, award-winning picture book author and illustrator Angela Dominguez tells a heartwarming story based on her own experiences growing up Mexican American.

Stella Diaz loves marine animals, especially her betta fish, Pancho. But Stella Diaz is not a betta fish. Betta fish like to be alone, while Stella loves spending time with her mom and brother and her best friend, Jenny. Trouble is, Jenny is in another class this year, and Stella feels very lonely.

When a new boy arrives in Stella's class, she really wants to be his friend, but sometimes Stella accidentally speaks Spanish instead of English and pronounces words wrong, which makes her turn roja. Plus, she has to speak in front of her whole class for a big presentation at school! But she better get over her fears soon, because Stella Diaz has something to say!

©2018 Angela Dominguez (P)2020 Tantor

Five stars

Really good book. My favorite thing about the story is that the author said it was about her real life.

okay

Stella Diaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez
Stella Diaz #1
3h 16m narrated by Kyla Garcia, 208 pages

Genre: Middle-Grade Fiction

Featuring: Chicago, Illinois; School Setting, Family Life, Immigrants, Spanish, Mexican American MC, Bilingual MC, Divorced Kids, 8-Year-Olds, Teasing, Shyness, Anxiety, Multicultural Foods, Sightseeing, Friendships, Author's Note

Rating as a movie: G

Songs for the soundtrack: Beach Boys, "The Star-Spangled Banner" by Francis Scott Key

Books and Authors mentioned: The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene - Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #1, A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle - Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson #1, Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder - Little House #1, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz aka The Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum (Lyman Frank Baum) - Oz #1, James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

My rating: ⭐️⭐️½👧🏽🏫📚

My thoughts: I didn't like this one, it was a bit childish for a chapter book, like it was written for a younger group than it was marketed for. Stella came to the US as a baby and has trouble speaking both English and Spanish and fitting in at school. I haven't known anyone with that issue, so that was the most interesting part of the story for me. The author based this series on her own experiences, about 82% true, and she struggled with speaking in both languages.

Recommend to others: Not unless I came across someone who could benefit from reading this story or is looking for a book like it.

Stella Diaz
1. Stella Diaz Has Something to Say (2018)
2. Stella Diaz Never Gives Up (2020)
3. Stella Diaz Dreams Big (2021)
4. Stella Diaz to the Rescue (2022)
5. Stella Diaz Leaps to the Future (2023)