Peruvian American sisters Lulu and Milagro aren’t exactly close and certainly weren’t planning to spend spring break together. Stellar student and aspiring marine biologist Lulu is going on a school-sponsored trip to visit colleges, intent on acing her interview for a summer program at Stanford while also getting their older sister, college freshman Clara, to help convince their mom to let Lulu go if she gets in. Milagro is looking forward to staying home and sleeping with her boyfriend for the first time. Stunned when she learns he’s cheating, and forced to go on the trip at the last minute, Milagro, smart but uninspired by school, decides having fun with some college boys is the perfect antidote to heartbreak. All the St. Agnes high school girls on the trip are paired with high school boys from St. Anthony’s. Milagro hits it off with her partner, Lucas, a talented musician who is gay. Lulu’s partner is popular, good-looking Leo, with whom she’s sure she has nothing in common. Alternating chapters from Lulu’s and Milagro’s perspectives chronicle a journey that covers many miles, numerous escapades, a developing romance between Lulu and Leo, and the deepening mystery surrounding Clara, who is clearly harboring some secrets. Punctuated by sharply funny observations and witty dialogue, this delightful, insightful work that also examines some of the challenges of first-generation college students is a story of discovery and self-discovery in which revelations and realizations for both sisters strengthen their relationship and the bonds within their family. (Age 13 and older)

Booksmart meets Never Have I Ever in this Latinx road trip adventure—a big-hearted, voice-driven YA about two sisters who couldn’t be more different, but become begrudging partners on their school’s cross-country college trip—from debut author Angela Velez. Perfect for fans of Lilliam Rivera, Jenny Han, and Sandhya Menon. 

Overachiever Luz “Lulu” Zavala has straight As, perfect attendance, and a solid ten-year plan. First up: nail her interview for a dream internship at Stanford, the last stop on her school’s cross-country college road trip. The only flaw in her plan is Clara, her oldest sister, who went off to college and sparked a massive fight with their overprotective Peruvian mom, who is now convinced that out-of-state-college will destroy their family. If Lulu can’t fix whatever went wrong between them, the whole trip—and her future—will be a waste.

Middle sister Milagro wants nothing to do with college or a nerdy class field trip. Then a spot opens up on the trip just as her own spring break plans (Operation Don’t Die a Virgin) are thwarted, and she hops on the bus with her glittery lipsticks, more concerned about getting back at her ex than she is about schools or any family drama. But the trip opens her eyes about possibilities she’d never imagined for herself. Maybe she is more than the boy-crazy girl everyone seems to think she is.

On a journey from Baltimore all the way to San Francisco, Lulu and Milagro will become begrudging partners as they unpack weighty family expectations, uncover Clara’s secrets, and maybe even discover the true meaning of sisterhood.