Stella Díaz Has Something to Say is the story of a Mexican-American 3rd grader living in Chicago. While she was born in Mexico, she moved to the US when she was a baby. Her family speaks a mix of English and Spanish, which is illustrated in the book's dialogue as well as Stella's first-person narration. I am a softie for bilingual books, and I always enjoy seeing the way that the author goes about writing a book in two languages in a way that is accessible for both bilingual and monolingual readers. I believe that Angela Dominguez was very successful in accomplishing this goal.

Stella's life is fairly routine when we enter into the story. We hear about life at home with her mom and her older brother Nick, who enjoy eating albondigas (meatballs), dancing salsa, and going on family outings. I love the affection and kindness illustrated by the family, even with the hint of sadness with her dad living in another state. It is clear Stella is very loved and very comfortable in her own skin at home.

When she arrives at school, however, Stella struggles to make her voice heard. She struggles with pronunciation, insecurity, and shyness. Stella has one best friend, Jenny, but longs to make a friend in her own class. We follow Stella as she frequently gets embarrassed and turns "roja" in different situations like school presentations, a class bully, and school competitions. Eventually Stella finds her voice, makes some new friends, and even begins to shine in her class.

I loved this sweet story and would highly recommend it to elementary children. As a teacher of English learners, I think that my students could identify. I also feel like it is a wonderful glimpse into the life of an immigrant for those who do not have this life experience. I look forward to reading more books in the series. 

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