A Colombian girl takes on her greatest challenge-the English language-in this cheery series opener. Juana lives in Bogotá, where she enjoys life with her family and dog, Lucas. When English is introduced in school, Juana asks everyone she knows if she really has to learn another language. Medina (1 Big Salad) incorporates italicized Spanish words throughout Juana's first-person narration, always providing enough context clues so that English-speaking readers can do some language-learning of their own ("When a grown-up says something is going to be a ton of fun, it means there will be no fun at all. Not even a single bit of fun. Nada de fun"). Enlarged words and phrases creative type placement help emphasize Juana's lively attitude as she discovers the ways that English can be useful. Medina's loose, full-color cartoons and interspersed profiles of the people in Juana's life add to the overall playfulness of the story. It's an inviting look at life in Colombia, and readers will probably be struck by just how much they have in common with Juana. Ages 5-8. Agent: Gillian MacKenzie, Gillian MacKenzie Agency. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Gr 2-4-Juana is learning English in school and she hates it. She hates it more than gym class, dance class, and math. She does, however, love her home in Bogotá, Colombia; her friends; and her dog Lucas. Juana is a spirited protagonist; she is opinionated, smart, and an avid reader. After much grumbling, Juana tackles her English lessons head-on by studying and conversing with her grandparents and neighbors. Juana is relatable and funny. She eventually discovers how a new language can transform her world. Almarie Guerra does a fantastic job narrating the audiobook. Her voice uses various tones and accents, and her pronunciation of Spanish words is excellent; context clues help readers decipher their meaning. Juana's fun personality and relatable experiences make this a winning story. VERDICT Recommended for libraries looking to add diverse characters and stories about children learning languages.-Katie Llera, Bound Brook High School, NJ © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

THANK YOU FOR BEING LATE: An Optimist's Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations, by Thomas L. Friedman. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $28.) The Times columnist offers a readable and cohesive explanation of the forces upending our world. THE UNDOING PROJECT: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds, by Michael Lewis. (Norton, $28.95.) The psychologists who overturned economists' belief in rational man. WRITING TO SAVE A LIFE: The Louis Till File, by John Edgar Wideman. (Scribner, $25.) An investigation of the execution of Emmett Till's father by the United States military during World War II. A NATION WITHOUT BORDERS: The United States and Its World in an Age of Civil Wars, 1830-1910, by Steven Hahn. (Viking, $35.) Hahn's challenging new history presents the United States as an imperialistic nation from the start. THE PURSUIT OF POWER: Europe 1815-1914, by Richard J. Evans. (Viking, $40.) Evans's sweeping account traces complex, interconnected forces - political, economic and cultural - at work. BEFORE MORNING, by Joyce Sidman. Illustrated by Beth Krommes. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $17.99; ages 4 to 7.) A child wishes for a blizzard to keep her mother at home in this book-length poem. THE PRIVATE LIFE OF MRS. SHARMA, by Ratika Kapur. (Bloomsbury, paper, $16.) A middle-class Delhi woman takes a lover and reflects on her life in this novel of a changing India. IN THE COUNTRY OF THE BLIND, by Edward Hoagland. (Arcade, $22.99.) A man copes with diminished vision in Hoagland's emotionally complex novel. JUANA AND LUCAS, written and illustrated by Juana Medina. (Candlewick, $14.99; ages 5 to 8.) A vivid novel about a Colombian girl who learns English. The full reviews of these and other recent books are on the web: nytimes.com/books.

This brisk, episodic (in the best way) chapter book introduces Juana, a young girl living in Bogot, Colombia, who loves many things: her city, her family, reading, Brussels sprouts, and her dog, Lucas. She does not like school, though, and especially not her English classuntil her grandfather announces that they will be traveling to the United States to visit Spaceland. Juanas determination to work muy, muy hard to learn todo the English that I can possibly fit into the space between my pigtails provides a loose framework for what follows. The first-person narration is distinctive, filled with understated humor ([Lucas] eats math homework like a pro. The harder the homework, the faster hell eat it) and frequently interspersed Spanish words which the reader is left to identify in context. Dynamic ink and watercolor illustrations bring Juanas sometimes misdirected energy to life, playing it against the amused affection of those around her, while vivid prose (one teacher has a voice that sounds like it travels from down in her high heels all the way up to her mouth), spacious design, and varying typeface underscore Juanas infectious enthusiasm for language and all its possibilities. Both comfortably familiar (this will be an easy sell for fans of Pennypackers Clementine, for instance) and keenly specific in its setting and characters, Juana Lucas is much needed for the gap it fills in American childrens literature, but it will be much beloved for its warmly depicted family relationships, eminently read-aloud-able high jinks, and sunny protagonist. claire e. gross (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

*Starred Review* Juana loves many things, but learning English is not one of them. In this early chapter book, Medina introduces Juana, a spirited young Colombian girl and her lovable dog, Lucas. Juana prefers playing fútbol outdoors to wearing an itchy uniform and learning English, a language she feels is too clunky and complicated. The reluctant student finally finds some much-needed motivation when her grandfather reminds her of their upcoming trip to Spaceland, in the U.S., where she must speak English if she wishes to talk to her hero, Astroman. Through this strong, adventurous, and smart female protagonist, Medina presents an extraordinary story about the many opportunities learning a new language can bring. Full-color illustrations provide excellent depictions of Juana's life in Bogotá and allow readers to connect with her character and culture. The artwork playfully interacts with the dynamic text, which often arcs across the page, employs large fonts for emphasis, and smoothly incorporates Spanish words. Fans of Judy Moody and Lola Levine will absolutely love Juana. This upbeat new series for young readers is a must-buy.--Rodríguez, Sonia Alejandra Copyright 2016 Booklist