Stef Soto, Taco Queen: A Delicious, Heartfelt Middle-Grade Novel

Summary: Stef Soto, Taco Queen

Stef Soto is a middle-schooler whose family owns a taco truck, Tia Perla. Like most kids her age would be, Stef finds Tia Perla embarrassing, especially as her once-best-friend Julia won’t stop teasing her about smelling like tacos.

When new food truck regulations threaten her family’s business, Stef realizes just how much Tia Perla means to her. She also learns to be proud of who she is and to appreciate the good friends in her life.

The Good

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.

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I loved Stef’s friendships with Arthur and Amanda and the fact that Torres makes Stef’s class come alive by incorporating tons of dialogue from multiple classmates. The kids also learn the value of fundraising and working together as a team. The best part of this book, hands down is all the mouth-watering food the author describes. I wanted to go buy a taco every time she described a day at the taco truck!

Finally, at under 200 pages, this book is bound to be inviting even for struggling or slower readers!

Overall: Stef Soto, Taco Queen

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!

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