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thenextgenlib's review
4.0
This book starts off as your typical girl-being-bullied looking for a happy ending type story, but becomes so much more. I love that it was chosen for the Bluebonnet list for Texas because a large population of our students can see themselves in the Soto family. Latinos and artists need to be represented in our libraries. This book will tug on your heartstrings, teach kids to be proud of their heritage and where they come from. Stef ended up being a girl more mature than most adults I know with a moral compass that pointed due north. Great debut novel!
miszjeanie's review against another edition
5.0
Stef Soto, Taco Queen is real about the challenges some immigrant families face to make ends meet financially. Stef’s parents work hard — they worked hard to save for the food truck and to run it — as does Stef. Author Jennifer Torres also highlights other immigrant challenges. For example, Stef often has to translate important information for her father who isn’t confident about his English-speaking skills. Her parents are also extremely protective, fearing for their child in a new country, even though Stef is American.
I loved Stef Soto, Taco Queen and would highly recommend for food lovers, readers who enjoy books about the immigrant experience, and anyone whose parents have worked hard so they can pursue their dreams. Stef Soto, Taco Queen is an engaging, heartfelt, and delicious middle-grade novel. I’m excited to read what author Jennifer Torres writes next!
https://readingmiddlegrade.com/stef-soto-taco-queen-review/
I loved Stef Soto, Taco Queen and would highly recommend for food lovers, readers who enjoy books about the immigrant experience, and anyone whose parents have worked hard so they can pursue their dreams. Stef Soto, Taco Queen is an engaging, heartfelt, and delicious middle-grade novel. I’m excited to read what author Jennifer Torres writes next!
https://readingmiddlegrade.com/stef-soto-taco-queen-review/
katieproctorbooks's review
4.0
A cute, middle-grade story about a girl growing up, wanting independence, figuring out how to exist within her family and school. There’s great family and tween angst. A fun read!
carnisht's review
4.0
Stef Soto, Taco Queen was a very nice, simple book. There was nothing complicated about it, but it still had some great themes to discuss and read about related to family and friendship. This book really just had a sweet story that would make a great addition to any library.
Stef was a great narrator! I found it incredibly easy to connect with her and empathize with her. She felt very realistic and like she could’ve been one of my students. Seeing her struggles and conflicts explained through her POV was extremely effective and, to me, really strengthened the book beyond what it would’ve been with a 3rd person narrator.
Along with Stef being a believable narrator, I also found that the various conflicts in this story felt very grounded in reality. There were helicopter parents, planning a school dance as a fundraiser, the regulations being imposed on the food truck, getting anxious about a school dance, and broken friendships. None of these things are outlandish, and most all are fairly commonplace enough that anyone could find something to connect with within the story. Sometimes books can really blur the lines of reality, so I really appreciated that from Torres.
To read more of my thoughts on this book, check out https://yalitreader.wordpress.com/2021/08/06/stef-soto-taco-queen-by-jennifer-torres/
Stef was a great narrator! I found it incredibly easy to connect with her and empathize with her. She felt very realistic and like she could’ve been one of my students. Seeing her struggles and conflicts explained through her POV was extremely effective and, to me, really strengthened the book beyond what it would’ve been with a 3rd person narrator.
Along with Stef being a believable narrator, I also found that the various conflicts in this story felt very grounded in reality. There were helicopter parents, planning a school dance as a fundraiser, the regulations being imposed on the food truck, getting anxious about a school dance, and broken friendships. None of these things are outlandish, and most all are fairly commonplace enough that anyone could find something to connect with within the story. Sometimes books can really blur the lines of reality, so I really appreciated that from Torres.
To read more of my thoughts on this book, check out https://yalitreader.wordpress.com/2021/08/06/stef-soto-taco-queen-by-jennifer-torres/
adeleighpenguin's review against another edition
This was such a lovely story. And I think a really smart, engaging middle grade book. My favorite I’ve read for the institute of reading development so far
mariathelibrarian's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
compass_rose's review
4.0
The 10yo rates it 4-star. She didn't like that Stef didn't like Tia Perla and thinks instead that it would be cool to have a Taco Truck. But that's not a criticism, that's just how she's different than Stef.
We read this together for a book club where she will get to invent her own food truck menu (and present a sample dish) based on her family traditions. We'll also discuss some of the main ideas of the book, of course.
We read this together for a book club where she will get to invent her own food truck menu (and present a sample dish) based on her family traditions. We'll also discuss some of the main ideas of the book, of course.
afro8921's review
4.0
This book is a great middle grade book about standing up for yourself and for your family. It's also about finding the courage to embrace all of the different parts of your identity.
sc104906's review
3.0
Stef's family owns a taco truck called, Tia Perla. She takes some flack from people at school and added to that, she struggles with independence from her parents. Stef wants to walk home alone, go to a concert with her friends, and stay for a few hours in her house alone. The power dynamics between Stef and her parents enter a tug-of-war. Stef is showing more responsibility by helping to plan a dance to get her school's art class donations and helping her parents fight against possible new food truck regulations.
This was a quick easy read about many issues that tweens face when seeking independence.
This was a quick easy read about many issues that tweens face when seeking independence.