On These Magic Shores
Minerva must take care of her sisters after her mother's disappearance in this magical middle grade story that pairs perfectly with Peter Pan.
Minerva Soledad Miranda is determined to reach her goals, despite shouldering more responsibility than the other kids at school--like caring for her two sisters while her mom works two jobs. But one night, Minerva's mom doesn't come home, and Minerva has to figure out what to do. Was Mamá snapped up by immigration enforcement? Will the girls be sent to foster homes or holding centers for migrant kids? Minerva and her sisters can't let anyone know Mamá has disappeared. They'll just pretend everything is normal until she comes back.
Minerva's plan to go it alone falls apart the first afternoon, when her baby sister throws a tantrum during Minerva's audition for Peter Pan. But as the days pass and Minerva grows ever more worried about her mother, something magical seems to be watching out for them: leaving them cupcakes, helping Minerva find money, even steering them to friends and distant family who can help. Eventually, Minerva must make the hardest choice of her life. And when she does, she'll be prepared to face life's challenges--with friendship, hope, and a little bit of fairy magic.
Earn by promoting books
Earn money by sharing your favorite books through our Affiliate program.
Become an affiliate
Yamile (sha-MEE-lay) Saied Méndez is a fútbol-obsessed Argentine American author who loves meteor showers, summer, astrology, and pizza. She lives in Utah with her Puerto Rican husband and their five kids, two adorable dogs, and one majestic cat. An inaugural Walter Dean Myers Grant and a New Visions Award Honor recipient, she's also a graduate of Voices of Our Nations (VONA) and the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adult program. She's a founding member of Las Musas, a marketing collective of women and non-binary Latinx children's authors. Find her online at yamilesmendez.com.
"Méndez tackles problems of racism, discrimination, income inequality, immigration, and ethnic and cultural stereotypes. There is much to like, and readers will find a strong and resilient character they can root for in this story." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Fast-paced chapters are driven by the mystery of Mamá's whereabouts and the suspense of Minerva's struggle to maintain all of her responsibilities. Distinctive characters will delight readers, who will find themselves laughing at the cleverness of Minerva's little sisters. A strong addition to middle-grade collections, with a unique point of view and memorable characters." -- Booklist
"Mendez manages to successfully weave multiple story lines and characters throughout the novel, and each is satisfactorily resolved at the end. Minerva's predicament will reach many readers grappling with similar insecurities or uncertainties in this timely, emotionally charged story." -- School Library Journal
"This is such a magical, beautiful book that, after reading it, all I can say is ... I believe in fairies--special, magical chispitas like Yamile, who make this broken world livable. I do. I do!" -- Guadalupe García McCall, Pura Belpré Award-Winning Author of Summer of the Mariposas
"A beautifully written story about hard times, friendship, and the transcendent magic of family ... with a bit of fairy dust thrown in. Readers will love Minerva's strength, ambition, and quirky humor, and will cheer for her as she bears huge responsibilities at home, faces challenges at school, and learns how to allow herself to be a kid." -- Rajani LaRocca, Newbery Honor winning author of Red, White, and Whole
"Yamile Méndez has woven a magical story about love and determination and the power we all have within. Her beautiful words and Minerva's mighty character, even in the face of unimaginable loss and pain, grasped my heart from the first page... Gorgeous and powerful." -- Kacen Callender, author of National Book Award winner King and the Dragonflies
New Visions Award Honor - Lee & Low Books
Whitney Award Finalist - Storymakers Author Guild
