You Were Made to Shine

Some girls are still learning just how brightly they shine.

Marisol is ten years old, with a big voice, a bigger imagination, and dreams of hosting her very own show someday. For now, the microphone is a hairbrush and the audience is family. And wherever Marisol goes, her rainbow suitcase goes too.

When her parents divorce, Marisol learns to bounce between homes, and her suitcase starts carrying far more than her things. Inside, she packs the words other people say about her: too loud, too dramatic, too much. Right beside them go the lies she tells herself: not enough, not normal.

So she does what many kids do when they're hurting. She zips it up tight, puts on a brave face, and carries the whole thing by herself. From the outside, she looks just fine. Inside, the load keeps getting heavier.

But some things were never meant to be zipped away. Marisol's village of family, friends, teachers, and neighbors shows her that heavy things grow lighter the moment you share them. And with their love, and a trumpet that becomes her voice, Marisol discovers the light inside her and finally lets it shine.

A note for parents, teachers, and counselors: Chapter 2 includes a scene in which an adult touches Marisol inappropriately, told without graphic detail, showing her getting away safely and later telling a trusted adult. Marisol's story also moves through divorce, life between two homes, a parent's remarriage, anxious moments, and hurtful words about skin color. Every hard moment is met by a safe adult, and every chapter ends in safety. A Note for Grown-Ups and a resource page are included.

Readers will find:

• A warm, relatable heroine rooted in a Mexican American family
• Gentle lessons in confidence, courage, and asking for help
• Real challenges handled with honesty and hope
• Thirteen short chapters, perfect for reading together or alone
• A meaningful gift for birthdays, holidays, or just because

For readers who loved Merci Suarez Changes Gears, Efren Divided, and Front Desk. Ages 9 to 12.

You were made to shine.