Additional information
by Jennifer Degenhardt (Author)
Kamila is a 9-year-old girl living with her parents in a little blue house in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. Their life is simple and easy. Both of her parents work and she attends school nearby. The family is very close, especially given that Kamila's abuela, whom she loves dearly, lives just blocks away. Life goes along at a beautiful pace, as it does on the island, until a family matter in Connecticut requires Kamila's mom, Stefany, to travel there to spend a few weeks helping her sister recover from surgery. Though Stefany's absence is an upset to regular life for the family, the situation is further intensified by the impending arrival of Hurricane Maria, the storm that decimated many islands in the Caribbean. Learn how this family prepares for the coming of the storm and deals with its aftermath. Through these experiences, some of which are tremendous losses, Kamila gains knowledge of what it means to be boricua (Puerto Rican), both as a daughter of the island and in spirit.Teachers: depending on your students this can be a level 2 or a level 3 book.
Author Biography
Jennifer Degenhardt taught middle and high school Spanish for 24 years. She recently decided to combine her language skills with those of storytelling, specifically involving kids and culture. Her books highlight cultural, social, economic and political themes necessary for continued conversation, both in the classroom and outside. She hopes her stories will provide a platform for discussion, as anything can be solved - to some degree - with a conversation. She is the author of the following: La chica nueva, La niñera, El viaje difícil, Los tres amigos, Three Friends (for ELLs), La chica nueva Ancillary/Workbook and The New Girl (for ELLs), and La lucha de la vida and her latest, Maria Maria: un cuento de un huracán, and María María: A Story of a Storm, the English version of this title. If you would like to sign up for my newsletter and receive news and special offers, then please head to: puenteslanguage.com
