Lupe Wong Won't Dance

Lupe Wong dreams of becoming Major League Baseball's first female pitcher. The seventh-grader must earn straight A's to meet her idol Fu Li Hernandez, but square dancing in gym class threatens to derail her perfect grades. Middle school social dynamics, cultural identity, and family relationships shape Lupe's experience as she navigates this challenge. Her Chinese-Mexican heritage and passion for baseball set her apart from many of her classmates at Issaquah Middle School. The story follows Lupe's attempts to change the square dancing requirement while maintaining her academic goals and relationships with friends and family. Her determination to stand up for her beliefs leads her to examine traditions, fairness, and compromise. This middle-grade novel explores themes of persistence, cultural identity, and the balance between pursuing personal goals and understanding other perspectives. Through Lupe's journey, readers encounter questions about tradition versus change and the courage to challenge established systems.

Readers connect with Lupe as a relatable middle school character navigating cultural identity, family relationships, and self-discovery. Many appreciate the authentic portrayal of a biracial Mexican-Chinese protagonist and her determination to achieve her baseball dreams. Readers liked: - Natural dialogue and humor - Realistic middle school dynamics - Representation of multicultural families - Sports elements woven into the story - Discussion of anxiety and social pressure Common criticisms: - Some found Lupe's initial attitude toward square dancing too negative - A few readers wanted more development of secondary characters - Pacing felt slow in middle sections Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (180+ ratings) Kirkus Reviews: Starred Review One reader noted: "The square dancing storyline could have been heavy-handed, but instead it becomes a vehicle for exploring identity and compromise." Another mentioned: "My students love Lupe's voice - she sounds like a real seventh grader."

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🌟 Square dancing became a common part of American PE classes in the 1920s, when auto magnate Henry Ford sponsored a nationwide campaign to promote it as "traditional American dance" 🌟 Author Donna Barba Higuera won the prestigious Newbery Medal and Pura Belpré Award in 2022 for her later book "The Last Cuentista" 🌟 The first female pitcher to play in integrated men's professional baseball was Lizzie Arlington in 1898, paving the way for aspirations like Lupe's 🌟 The character Fu Li Hernandez was inspired by real-life MLB players who share mixed Asian and Latino heritage, like Bruce Chen and Tim Lincecum 🌟 The book draws from the author's own experiences growing up as a Mexican-American in central Washington state, where she still lives today