NEWBERY HONOR AWARD WINNER • In this timely and moving novel in verse, a preteen girl navigates seventh grade while facing mental health challenges. A hopeful, poetic story about learning to advocate for the help and understanding you deserve.

"Powerful." —Lisa Fipps, Printz Honor-winning author of Starfish

How do you speak up when it feels like no one is listening?

The end of elementary school?
Worst time of my life.
And the start of middle school?
I just wasn’t quite right.
But this year?
YO VOY A MI.

Seventh grade is going to be Iveliz’s year. She’s going to make a new friend, help her abuela Mimi get settled after moving from Puerto Rico, and she is not going to get into any more trouble at school. . . .

Except is that what happens? Of course not. Because no matter how hard Iveliz tries, sometimes people say things that just make her so mad. And worse, Mimi keeps saying Iveliz’s medicine is unnecessary—even though it helps Iveliz feel less sad. But how do you explain your feelings to others when you’re not even sure what’s going on yourself?

Powerful and compassionate, Andrea Beatriz Arango’s debut navigates mental health, finding your voice, and discovering that those who really love you will stay by your side no matter what.

HONOR | 2023
John Newbery Medal

SCBWI Golden Kite Honor Award Winner
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
YALSA Best Book for Young Adults
Children's Book Council Best of Book of the Year
Association for Library Service Notable Children's Book

"A lyrical, vital, and spunky debut about mental health, grief, and the healing power of self-love. A must read.” —Mariama J. Lockington, Stonewall Honor-winning author of For Black Girls Like Me

★ "Superbly woven; a bold, deep portrayal of a young voice who needs to be heard.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "A compassionate, stirring story that readers will not forget." —School Library Journal, starred review

★ "A candid narrative told in quick-moving, rapport-like verse, made accessible by Iveliz’s sarcastically funny, authentically tween voice." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A great reminder that no one is truly alone." —Booklist

"Relatable and powerful. . . . Iveliz’s first-person account amplifies the need for finding one’s voice and asking for help at any age." —The Horn Book

"Deeply moving and honest." —CCBC Choices

Andrea Beatriz Arango is the author of Newbery Honor Book Iveliz Explains It All and the Pura Belpré Honor Book Something Like Home. She was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where she first became a teacher. She then spent a decade in the United States working in public schools and nonprofits. When she’s not busy writing about middle schoolers and their families, you can find her hoping to spot manatees at the beach. Andrea lives in Puerto Rico with her family and two dogs. View titles by Andrea Beatriz Arango

Alyssa Bermudez View titles by Alyssa Bermudez

Educator Guide for Iveliz Explains It All

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

About

Awards

HONOR | 2023
John Newbery Medal

Reviews

Author

Alyssa Bermudez View titles by Alyssa Bermudez

Guides

Educator Guide for Iveliz Explains It All

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources.