Read It and Eat It: Somewhere Between Bitter and Cocada
Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp is a mouth-watering love story that will leave you craving every dish between its pages. But don’t you worry! We’ve got you covered with this very special Read It and Eat It! Laekan shared her Cocada recipe with us, and now we’re sharing it with you! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to stuff my face with sweet coconutty goodness!
You can find even more fabulous recipes from the book on Laekan’s website here!
I'm Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter meets Emergency Contact in this stunning Pura Belpré Honor Book about first love, familial expectations, the power of food, and finding where you belong.
Penelope Prado has always dreamed of opening her own pastelería next to her father's restaurant, Nacho's Tacos. But her mom and dad have different plans—leaving Pen to choose between not disappointing her traditional Mexican American parents or following her own path. When she confesses a secret she's been keeping, her world is sent into a tailspin. But then she meets a cute new hire at Nacho's who sees through her hard exterior and asks the questions she's been too afraid to ask herself.
Xander Amaro has been searching for home since he was a little boy. For him, a job at Nacho's is an opportunity for just that—a chance at a normal life, to settle in at his abuelo's, and to find the father who left him behind. When both the restaurant and Xander's immigrant status are threatened, he will do whatever it takes to protect his newfound family, and himself.
Together, Pen and Xander must navigate first love and discovering where they belong in order to save the place they all call home.
This stunning and poignant novel from debut author Laekan Zea Kemp explores identity, found families, and the power of good food, all nestled within a courageous and intensely loyal Chicane community.