(1) 4-6 Illustrated by Kat Fajardo & Azzi Mariana. All Sue (Suyapa Yisel to her family) Gutiérrez wants to do this summer is hang out with her Comics Club buddies at Camp Willow. But her overprotective mom has planned a family trip to Honduras to see Abuelita Rita and celebrate Sue's quinceañera--a party she never asked for and would rather skip. Feeling doomed to a boring and uninspiring summer, Sue finds that spending time with her abuelita, an artist herself, is anything but dull. Rita's consejos--advice, wisdom, and family stories--help Sue gain a new closeness to her family and learn to cherish cultural traditions. With the coming-of-age ceremony, she resolves to "be braver and embrace [her] true colors," adapting the longstanding tradition in a way that lets it remain relevant to her own life. Fajardo's deft graphic-novel paneling and expressive use of line and Azzi's color palette of cool blues and pinks convey the complexity and full range of Sue's feelings, both in important moments and in more mundane ones. An author's note, additional information about quinceañeras, and photographs are appended.

Reviewer: Lettycia Terrones | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022

(4) YA As Middie begins her senior year, her older boyfriend, Nate, leaves for a gap year volunteering in Honduras; the two plan to be together again for freshman year of college. But when Nate goes missing, Middie turns to his best friend, Lee, for support. The plot drags, but fans of contemporary realism with happily-ever-after conclusions should be pleased with this tale of grief and moving on.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(3) 4-6 When her mom is deported, Gaby must learn to adjust to life with her estranged father while also enduring the taunting of school bullies. However, she finds solace in her work with the local animal shelter where she writes advertisement profiles of the abandoned pets. This bighearted book tackles the controversial topic of illegal immigration in a light but thoughtful and personalized way.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(4) YA This is a harrowing story of the dangers faced by one teenager when he traveled illegally from Honduras to the U.S. to be with his immigrant mother. Enrique's story mirrors that of many young undocumented Latinos; the narrative graphically depicts violence and brutality. Originally a Pulitzer Prize–winning series of newspaper articles, this adaptation of Nazario's adult book is sometimes repetitious but always heartbreaking.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Sylvie Daigneault. In Honduras, when María Luz's father goes in search of work, he leaves her in charge of the floundering family farm. A new teacher gets María Luz to try some techniques that revive the garden, which in turn inspires other villagers. The well-meaning text is wordy. Each spread contains a full-page colored-pencil illustration, sometimes with surreal elements. Glos.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) YA Central America Today series. Useful for reports but less than scintillating in writing style, these books provide lots of information about Central America. Main texts focusing on history, geography, and people are supplemented with maps, sidebars, photos, recipes (geared toward experienced cooks), events listings, report ideas, and organizations to contact. There are four other spring 2009 books in this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Central America Today titles: Belize, Central America, Guatemala, and Honduras.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) YA Modern World Nations series. These books discuss each country's geography, history, politics, government, and culture, in addition to examining its challenges and possible solutions. The volumes are aimed at report writers and, though the texts aren't particularly engaging, they will assist students in completing their assignments. Photographs help break up the pages. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Modern World Nations titles: Honduras and Colombia.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 In the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, thirteen-year-old José must quell his fears as he leads his family and small Honduran village in rescue and recovery. Trueman realistically presents his protagonist's anxieties and concerns in the face of disaster. A happy ending for José and his family is never in doubt, though, which dilutes the story's impact.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 Cultures of the World series. In accessible texts and clear color photographs, these overviews explore each country's history, geography, culture, inhabitants, food, and festivals. Uruguay emphasizes the ways the smallest South American country differs from its neighbors. Honduras addresses issues such as the extreme poverty of the Central American country. Maps and a page of basic facts round out these useful volumes. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta