Lupe Throws Like A Girl

Teens

synopsis

Synopsis

Lupe Lopez has a big dream - to be the first in her family to graduate high school and earn a softball scholarship. But when she and her best friend Penny discover they're short on required community service hours, Lupe's college dreams are in jeopardy. Reluctantly, Lupe volunteers at the Villa Santa Barbara retirement home. There she meets Mr. Ramirez, a baseball fanatic who introduces her to the ghost of Hall of Famer, Roberto Clemente and teaches Lupe about empathy and the importance of community. At the same time, Lupe's softball team is on a losing streak, putting their chances of earning scholarships at risk. The pressure builds as Lupe also struggles to support her brother after an accident. Throughout this coming-of-age story set in 1990's Santa Barbara, Lupe grapples with her identity as a Latina athlete and the expectations placed on her both on and off the field. With memorable characters and themes of family, friendship, and perseverance, Lupe Throws Like a Girl is a heartwarming young adult novel that reminds us of the power of sports to unite people. If you love stories of self-discovery, the bonds of community, and the challenges faced by young women in sports, you'll be captivated by Lupe's journey. Join her as she learns the true meaning of strength, empathy, and achieving one's dreams against all odds.

bio

Author Biography

Dr. Perez Ferguson is a cross-cultural educator and consultant. Her fiction brings to life the voices of California inhabitants living 200 years ago. She has twice won the Best YA Fiction Award from the San Francisco Writers Conference, 2021 and 2022.

Regarding Broken Promises:

"The tightly wound plot flows effortlessly from one moment to the next.... readers will find themselves inspired by the future Sparrow creates for herself and those around her." — Kirkus Reviews

Her non-fiction promotes the voices of under-represented communities in the twenty-first century. This earned her the 2014 Lacayo Lifetime Achievement Award from the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute. She is an Advisor and Former Chair for the InterAmerican Foundation and a former Visiting Lecturer for the Council for Independent Colleges. She enjoys living and writing on the Pacific coast.

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Author Insight

Community Service

High school used to have three requirements for graduation, now another requirement has been added. It's not enough to show up to classes, complete homework, and pass exams. Now schools require community service hours before you can graduate. It's a good thing to get involved in activities you like, but what if you are given a service assignment you don't like? Lupe Lopez and her friend Penny love playing softball, so why are they assigned to volunteer at a senior's retirement community? Find out more when you read Lupe Throws Like A Girl. Learn how an old man helps to further Lupe's college softball career. Follow my free weekly newsletter about other Latino authors, Diverse Voices, at anitaperezferguson.substack.com

Book Excerpt

Lupe Throws Like A Girl

The two girls raced toward the counselor’s office. At 8:23, they knocked on Ms. Granger’s door.

“Close call, girls.” The counselor opened the door. “You are both in big trouble.”

“Both of us?” they said together.

“Why haven’t you done any community service hours? You know it’s required before graduation,” Ms. Granger said.

“What? Don’t sports count? We don’t have time for anything else when we have practice every day.” Lupe had a bad feeling about this.

“Sports are good, and if you were coaching little kids, that could count. But just being on the team? I’m afraid not. You are lucky I got a request for volunteers yesterday. The placement will be six hours a week for the last six weeks before graduation,” Ms. Granger said.

“But we’ve got practice. We can’t do this.” Lupe and Penny let their mouths drop open in disbelief.

“Oh yes, you can. Actually, you have to do it for graduation. It’s the law.” Ms. Granger was not budging. “You will volunteer on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from five to seven in the evening, after practice. It’s just down the street—Villa Santa Barbara.”

“What’s that?” Penny said.

“That’s the old people’s home—no way!”

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Anita Perez Ferguson

Lupe Throws Like A Girl

Synopsis

Author Biography

Author Insight

Community Service

Book Excerpt

Lupe Throws Like A Girl

Comment on this Bubble