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The Girl, the Ring, & the Baseball Bat
Rosie: Capricorn. Does great in class. Wants nothing more than to get into the prestigious Innovation Technical Institute and kiss this awful school goodbye. Her talisman: a magical jacket from her mother’s past that gets people to do whatever she says.
Caro: Leo. Rosie’s older sister. Always been closer to their estranged father – and always butted heads more with their strict mother. A trip to Dominican Republic for her father’s wedding leads her deep into family history that clears up any illusions about her parents she’s ever had. Her talisman: a baseball bat that fixes whatever it breaks.
Zeke: Certified Triple Pisces. Up in cold-ass Jersey City living with his aunt after his grandmother dies and his father moves to London to take care of his mother. He crushes on EVERYone – he knows he’ll find happiness in love, and maybe a way out of this depression. His talisman: a manifestation stone that will make anyone fall in love with him.
Rosie, Caro, and Zeke – and their talismans – find themselves intertwined in a magical, hilarious, and whip-smart Outsiders for the modern day, written by Camille Gomera-Tavarez, a 2022 Publishers Weekly Flying Start.
Caro: Leo. Rosie’s older sister. Always been closer to their estranged father – and always butted heads more with their strict mother. A trip to Dominican Republic for her father’s wedding leads her deep into family history that clears up any illusions about her parents she’s ever had. Her talisman: a baseball bat that fixes whatever it breaks.
Zeke: Certified Triple Pisces. Up in cold-ass Jersey City living with his aunt after his grandmother dies and his father moves to London to take care of his mother. He crushes on EVERYone – he knows he’ll find happiness in love, and maybe a way out of this depression. His talisman: a manifestation stone that will make anyone fall in love with him.
Rosie, Caro, and Zeke – and their talismans – find themselves intertwined in a magical, hilarious, and whip-smart Outsiders for the modern day, written by Camille Gomera-Tavarez, a 2022 Publishers Weekly Flying Start.
408 pages, Hardcover
Published February 6, 2024
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February 11, 2024EDIT: Tik Tok
about this one!
WOAH. Hard to believe this is YA! Full review to come.
about this one!
WOAH. Hard to believe this is YA! Full review to come.
March 12, 2024
Review to come
December 22, 2023
I received an ARC of their book from Netgalley and I’m posting this review voluntarily. I was excited to read this book after finishing the first novel by this author, ‘High Spirits’. The characters in this book remind me of the ones in ‘What happened to Ruthy Ramirez’. This story is about three teens in New Jersey, who find different magical talismans that help them navigate life and their current issues. Zeke was my favorite character, he brought joy to the book. The description of life in the Dominican Republic is very accurate, especially about the huge family’s and the unsavory relatives. The book did not do a good job explaining what actually happened to the sisters in the past, maybe I need to review again. I loved the magical aspect of the book.
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October 20, 2023
I loved the premise of this book and was looking forward to reading a school story from the perspectives of 3 very different characters as they navigated the turbulent waters that is high school. But before I finished 7 pages there were 3 uses of ass, 2 shits and 6 f-bombs. I realize that the main characters were in an inner-city school set in New Jersey, but does that mean that cursing is that ubiquitous there? I wanted to finish to see what happened to the trio but that much profanity just gets in the way of my enjoyment of what I think could be a good story.
Thanks for providing me with a print arc, Levine Querido.
Thanks for providing me with a print arc, Levine Querido.
March 5, 2024
good read
This book gave me the feels of the tv show East Los High and On My Block. The way Rosie, Zeke, and Caro grew and found their strength was so mud fun to watch and that bat scene was the topping on the cake.
This book gave me the feels of the tv show East Los High and On My Block. The way Rosie, Zeke, and Caro grew and found their strength was so mud fun to watch and that bat scene was the topping on the cake.
February 26, 2024
I like that there are three narrators. My favorite character is Rosie, but then it's Zeke, and then Caro, meaning they all have their moments, even their mom. She has a great grumpy personality) Also, Yolanda is awesome.
Rosie is an exceptional student but is treated unfairly by the patriarchal authorities of the school who acting in spite can ruin her future with a simple order. I am glad they got some justice on this front. Her talisman is a jacket that makes people do what she says, but it also makes her feel with more intensity, including rage. These talismans in a way help the three teens face the turbulence and injustices of coming of age and growing up but sometimes they need to navigate the consequences.
The book gets even better around the 60% mark and it has a lot of relatable family scenes, school life moments that make me rethink that I missed some experiences in my school life, and relationship trauma (from boyfriends to parents) that we understand well.
The author has a good idea of how teens struggle with the uncertainty of their future, and life, and how they communicate. Although some readers may think characters curse a lot it is a great representation (and very genuine) to teens's reality.
I am glad the author points out that being angry is OK because, when used properly it can bring good change.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the e-arc.
Rosie is an exceptional student but is treated unfairly by the patriarchal authorities of the school who acting in spite can ruin her future with a simple order. I am glad they got some justice on this front. Her talisman is a jacket that makes people do what she says, but it also makes her feel with more intensity, including rage. These talismans in a way help the three teens face the turbulence and injustices of coming of age and growing up but sometimes they need to navigate the consequences.
The book gets even better around the 60% mark and it has a lot of relatable family scenes, school life moments that make me rethink that I missed some experiences in my school life, and relationship trauma (from boyfriends to parents) that we understand well.
The author has a good idea of how teens struggle with the uncertainty of their future, and life, and how they communicate. Although some readers may think characters curse a lot it is a great representation (and very genuine) to teens's reality.
I am glad the author points out that being angry is OK because, when used properly it can bring good change.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the e-arc.
March 11, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Levine Querido for this ALC. This novel is timely, diverse, and literally and figuratively magical. The novel incorporates magic realism to illumniate themes of loss, acceptance, friendship, family, and the pervasive nature of race and funding in education. Young adults will navigate towards Caro, Zeke, and Rosie, and their quest to uncover the secret behind their mother's past, and Rosie's missing application money. I was taken with the poetic language and magical items in this novel. These tailsmans help each character realize who they are, and what they need. It was a wonderful story, that young readers will love.
April 4, 2024
The book was all over the place but it's one of those books you can't help but pick up every now and then.
November 5, 2024
This one sounded right up my alley, but it was rather convoluted in execution (rotating POVs, not always syncing timelines, awkwardly dropped in characters, and inconsistent pacing). Also, Rosie’s audio narrator mispronounced multiple words. No reflection on the writing, but annoying for the format I chose.
December 15, 2023
This was a great read! It was quite different from most of the novels I have read this year which was refreshing. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone to read.
The story follows, and is told from the alternating points of view of, Rosie, Caro, and Zeke. The three characters are navigating their own issues and circumstances while also crossing paths and getting tangled up in their mutual story (along with some other notable important characters). The author blended realistic and down-to-earth situations with some fantastical magical elements and did so successfully in a way that really worked.
The reader is given enough information about the background setting and magical elements for it to feel real and believable, but not so much that we got stuck in the details. Part of me wishes that we received more of an explanation and that the story was longer so we could see where it went beyond the end of the book; at the same time however the way these elements were handled resulted in the novel's world feeling very rich and real, and like there was a lot going on beyond the limits of the story that we were told. I walked away from this book feeling satisfied despite my continued curiosity and a LOT of questions; I would happily read more novels set in this world as my interest has been piqued.
My one gripe would be the amount of Spanish that was used by characters in the book. I realize that this was authentic to the characters (and it DID make it seem more realistic and genuine) however as I only speak English it was a detriment to my enjoyment of the novel. At times I just tried my best to understand by context however there were scenes where I couldn't guess what was being said and was unable to follow the scene as a result. At other times I typed everything into a translator (which made me realize how much I likely missed in the scenes where I didn't) which was an annoying process (and I wouldn't always have access to while reading).
The story follows, and is told from the alternating points of view of, Rosie, Caro, and Zeke. The three characters are navigating their own issues and circumstances while also crossing paths and getting tangled up in their mutual story (along with some other notable important characters). The author blended realistic and down-to-earth situations with some fantastical magical elements and did so successfully in a way that really worked.
The reader is given enough information about the background setting and magical elements for it to feel real and believable, but not so much that we got stuck in the details. Part of me wishes that we received more of an explanation and that the story was longer so we could see where it went beyond the end of the book; at the same time however the way these elements were handled resulted in the novel's world feeling very rich and real, and like there was a lot going on beyond the limits of the story that we were told. I walked away from this book feeling satisfied despite my continued curiosity and a LOT of questions; I would happily read more novels set in this world as my interest has been piqued.
My one gripe would be the amount of Spanish that was used by characters in the book. I realize that this was authentic to the characters (and it DID make it seem more realistic and genuine) however as I only speak English it was a detriment to my enjoyment of the novel. At times I just tried my best to understand by context however there were scenes where I couldn't guess what was being said and was unable to follow the scene as a result. At other times I typed everything into a translator (which made me realize how much I likely missed in the scenes where I didn't) which was an annoying process (and I wouldn't always have access to while reading).
March 24, 2024
The book was okay, mostly forgettable. I read it once & won't pick it up again. I started losing interest by the 65% mark. My favorite part of the book was Zeke and his story line. Caro and Rosie were not the most like-able characters. They didn't have much character growth by the end of the book, Caro in particular. The big lesson learned, the epiphany moment of the coming of age story fell flat for most of the characters. Honestly the most interesting character was the mom & we didn't get much of her story until the very end. While not my most enjoyable read it did have wonderful accurate representation & for those that complained about the amount of cursing in a YA book sorry to tell you guys teens really do talk like this!
March 26, 2024
A Heartwarming Tale of Friendship and Magic
Camille Gomera-Tavarez's "The Girl, the Ring, and the Baseball Bat" is a captivating coming-of-age story that seamlessly weaves together elements of magic, humor, and heartfelt relationships. Set against the backdrop of contemporary Jersey City, the novel follows the intertwined lives of Rosie, Caro, and Zeke as they navigate the complexities of adolescence, family dynamics, and personal identity.
At the heart of the narrative are the three main characters, each with their own unique challenges and talismans that aid them along their journeys. Rosie, a determined Capricorn, dreams of escaping her mundane life and securing a spot at the prestigious Innovation Technical Institute. Her magical jacket, inherited from her tia, becomes a powerful tool that helps her command authority and navigate tricky situations.
Caro, Rosie's fiery Leo sister, grapples with her relationships with her estranged parents and her own sense of identity. A trip to the Dominican Republic for her father's wedding unravels family secrets and provides her with much-needed clarity. Her talisman, a baseball bat that possesses the power to mend what is broken, serves as a metaphor for her journey of healing and reconciliation.
Zeke, a charming Triple Pisces, finds himself adrift in cold Jersey City after the death of his grandmother and his father's move to London. Crushed by depression and yearning for love, he discovers solace and hope in his manifestation stone, which promises to make anyone fall in love with him. Through Zeke's perspective, the novel explores themes of love, longing, and the quest for happiness.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book is its portrayal of friendship and solidarity among the protagonists. Despite their differences, Rosie, Caro, and Zeke form a tight-knit bond that provides them with strength and support in times of need. Their journey together highlights the importance of community and the transformative power of genuine connection.
Gomera-Tavarez also addresses important social issues such as racism, injustice, and the struggles faced by queer youth with sensitivity and nuance. The novel sheds light on the challenges that young people encounter as they navigate an imperfect world and the resilience they demonstrate in the face of adversity.
While the novel's multiple perspectives offer depth and complexity to the story, some readers may find the pacing uneven, particularly in the exploration of the talismans. While Rosie's magical jacket is prominently featured throughout the narrative, Caro's baseball bat and Zeke's manifestation stone are underutilized, leaving readers wanting more insight into their powers and significance.
In conclusion, "The Girl, the Ring, and the Baseball Bat" is a delightful and thought-provoking read that blends elements of fantasy, humor, and social commentary. With its richly drawn characters, engaging plot, and themes of friendship and resilience, it is sure to resonate with readers of all ages. Gomera-Tavarez's debut novel is a testament to the enduring power of love, friendship, and the magic that lies within us all.
Camille Gomera-Tavarez's "The Girl, the Ring, and the Baseball Bat" is a captivating coming-of-age story that seamlessly weaves together elements of magic, humor, and heartfelt relationships. Set against the backdrop of contemporary Jersey City, the novel follows the intertwined lives of Rosie, Caro, and Zeke as they navigate the complexities of adolescence, family dynamics, and personal identity.
At the heart of the narrative are the three main characters, each with their own unique challenges and talismans that aid them along their journeys. Rosie, a determined Capricorn, dreams of escaping her mundane life and securing a spot at the prestigious Innovation Technical Institute. Her magical jacket, inherited from her tia, becomes a powerful tool that helps her command authority and navigate tricky situations.
Caro, Rosie's fiery Leo sister, grapples with her relationships with her estranged parents and her own sense of identity. A trip to the Dominican Republic for her father's wedding unravels family secrets and provides her with much-needed clarity. Her talisman, a baseball bat that possesses the power to mend what is broken, serves as a metaphor for her journey of healing and reconciliation.
Zeke, a charming Triple Pisces, finds himself adrift in cold Jersey City after the death of his grandmother and his father's move to London. Crushed by depression and yearning for love, he discovers solace and hope in his manifestation stone, which promises to make anyone fall in love with him. Through Zeke's perspective, the novel explores themes of love, longing, and the quest for happiness.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book is its portrayal of friendship and solidarity among the protagonists. Despite their differences, Rosie, Caro, and Zeke form a tight-knit bond that provides them with strength and support in times of need. Their journey together highlights the importance of community and the transformative power of genuine connection.
Gomera-Tavarez also addresses important social issues such as racism, injustice, and the struggles faced by queer youth with sensitivity and nuance. The novel sheds light on the challenges that young people encounter as they navigate an imperfect world and the resilience they demonstrate in the face of adversity.
While the novel's multiple perspectives offer depth and complexity to the story, some readers may find the pacing uneven, particularly in the exploration of the talismans. While Rosie's magical jacket is prominently featured throughout the narrative, Caro's baseball bat and Zeke's manifestation stone are underutilized, leaving readers wanting more insight into their powers and significance.
In conclusion, "The Girl, the Ring, and the Baseball Bat" is a delightful and thought-provoking read that blends elements of fantasy, humor, and social commentary. With its richly drawn characters, engaging plot, and themes of friendship and resilience, it is sure to resonate with readers of all ages. Gomera-Tavarez's debut novel is a testament to the enduring power of love, friendship, and the magic that lies within us all.
February 16, 2024
The Girl, The Ring, and The Baseball Bat is a story about three teenagers that are living in New Jersey. The main characters are Rosie, her sister Carl, and Zeke, a school mate of Rosie. As the story develops, each character discovers a magical item, their talisman, which contains a different magical power
Rosie, named after a relative that she has never heard of, discovers a vintage Jacket, that calls to her.
Caro, Rosie’s sister, discovers that her talisman is a baseball bat.
Zeke discovers a vintage ring that calls to him, and he can’t pass up the opportunity to have it, so he spends $20 to purchase it.
As they discover the magical powers that each object holds, they have to learn how to use them. Will they learn to control the objects? How will they wield the power that they now possess?
I was super excited to read this as it’s not only a paranormal style ya book, but it’s based in New Jersey. Unfortunately I was disappointed in a few ways. This book should not be YA. The amount of curses in this book is extremely excessive with the f bomb dropping every few minutes. In some spots it’s even more than that. I feel the amount of cursing detracts from the story and is unnecessary, especially when you take in mind that these are high schoolers. I felt that the author tried to make it ghetto with the curses, and didn’t consider that the cursing could be a major deterrent to people. The way in which Rosie interacts with people is cringy. She is rude and over the top.
The cursing had a large part in my rating. It soured me to the story, and could easily been left out. It had no value to the story, which is a shame because the storyline had so much potential.
The characters are well developed ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The storyline is interesting ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The magical items are intriguing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Imagery ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The cursing ⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I enjoyed the audible narration. They use different narrators and I was easily able to follow which character was speaking.
I received this ARC as an audio version in exchange for an honest review.
Rosie, named after a relative that she has never heard of, discovers a vintage Jacket, that calls to her.
Caro, Rosie’s sister, discovers that her talisman is a baseball bat.
Zeke discovers a vintage ring that calls to him, and he can’t pass up the opportunity to have it, so he spends $20 to purchase it.
As they discover the magical powers that each object holds, they have to learn how to use them. Will they learn to control the objects? How will they wield the power that they now possess?
I was super excited to read this as it’s not only a paranormal style ya book, but it’s based in New Jersey. Unfortunately I was disappointed in a few ways. This book should not be YA. The amount of curses in this book is extremely excessive with the f bomb dropping every few minutes. In some spots it’s even more than that. I feel the amount of cursing detracts from the story and is unnecessary, especially when you take in mind that these are high schoolers. I felt that the author tried to make it ghetto with the curses, and didn’t consider that the cursing could be a major deterrent to people. The way in which Rosie interacts with people is cringy. She is rude and over the top.
The cursing had a large part in my rating. It soured me to the story, and could easily been left out. It had no value to the story, which is a shame because the storyline had so much potential.
The characters are well developed ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The storyline is interesting ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The magical items are intriguing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Imagery ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The cursing ⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I enjoyed the audible narration. They use different narrators and I was easily able to follow which character was speaking.
I received this ARC as an audio version in exchange for an honest review.
March 20, 2024
This is a delightful rollercoaster of fun! With three unique perspectives and their magical talismans, Caro, Rosie, and Zeke's adventures kept me laughing and engaged throughout. I loved the incorporation of Spanish words, adding authenticity to the story. Each character's journey, especially Caro's, felt relatable and well-developed. I really enjoyed Caro's scene with the baseball bat? Amazing!! I was cheering for her!! Let's get crazy, loca!! It truly showcased her strength and determination. The vivid depiction of life in the Dominican Republic with a big family felt so authentic and how quick our parents react to some situations or sweep it under the rug. Rosie and Zeke made a great team, and I loved how Rosie is a book nerd, and smart. I loved her story about her future and how the school let her down. Zeke, Oh Zeke…he just wanted to be loved. I wanted to keep him close and just hug him. The supernatural elements were fun and certainly drew me in, especially after that party! OMG.
Narrated by a talented trio, Amanda Alcántara, Melania Luisa, & André Santana. I really loved how each had their own unique voices and the tones and inflections were great. They kept me engaged till the very end!
This book reminded me a bit of On my Block, especially after I heard a certain sentence. So if you enjoyed that vibe and a trio of friendship, and love diverse reads, then pick this one up.
March 26, 2024
So happy to be back with @hearourvoicestours on tour for this book! I was so excited for this release and thank you for the #gifted ARC!
We follow three teens, Carolina, Rosie, and Zeke. Each teen is trying to survive high school. Carolina just wants to be able to live life to the fullest but feels restricted by her strict mother. When she gets the opportunity to make amends with her father, she travels back to her native land to attend his wedding. Rosie is trying to do her best to get into a rigorous high school but discovers her school may not be on her side. Zeke has just moved from Miami and is trying to adjust while moving through his grief from losing a family member. Each character runs into a talisman that helps them navigate through each other issues.
I absolutely loved the magical realism in this book. It really enhanced the strength of each character and propelled them forward in their self discovery journey. This was also used as a tool to combat the institutional racism each teen faces at their school.
One of my favorite characters was Yolanda as she was able to guide each teen through their spiritual journey and help them process each of their backgrounds. She was also the glue to the trio and helped them come together as friends as they began to understand themselves as individuals.
This broke the reading slump I have been struggling with and recommend this if you’re looking for a Latinx YA!
We follow three teens, Carolina, Rosie, and Zeke. Each teen is trying to survive high school. Carolina just wants to be able to live life to the fullest but feels restricted by her strict mother. When she gets the opportunity to make amends with her father, she travels back to her native land to attend his wedding. Rosie is trying to do her best to get into a rigorous high school but discovers her school may not be on her side. Zeke has just moved from Miami and is trying to adjust while moving through his grief from losing a family member. Each character runs into a talisman that helps them navigate through each other issues.
I absolutely loved the magical realism in this book. It really enhanced the strength of each character and propelled them forward in their self discovery journey. This was also used as a tool to combat the institutional racism each teen faces at their school.
One of my favorite characters was Yolanda as she was able to guide each teen through their spiritual journey and help them process each of their backgrounds. She was also the glue to the trio and helped them come together as friends as they began to understand themselves as individuals.
This broke the reading slump I have been struggling with and recommend this if you’re looking for a Latinx YA!
March 26, 2024
Happy to share this new YA novel — The Girl, The Ring, and The Baseball Bat by Camille Gomera-Tavarez — thanks to @hearourvoicestours ! This novel is an adventure told through three narrators: sisters Rosie and Caro, and new kid at school, Zeke. Moving through their day to day lives and teenage struggles, each of them encounter a talisman that will guide them through specific moments in their lives. The writer integrates this magical realism in a way that feels aligned with the characters voices, perspectives, and circumstances, and highlights how they see themselves through the eyes of others. I was particularly drawn to Rosie as a narrator— she struggled to feel seen, to make a mark socially and academically as she lives under the shadow of her sister. Her skepticism, curiosity and observant nature drove this book for me. The summary compares the novel to The Outsiders, and I can see it. I would recommend this book to late teen readers who want to feel immersed in story just beyond reality—to feel connected to characters and to dream about possibility.
May 26, 2024
Three New Jersey teens find a trio of magical talismans that help them achieve their desires. Rosie is an earnest student who gets ignored or discounted because of her background and race. When she wears the magical jacket from her mom’s past, everyone has to do exactly what she says. Zeke is new to the neighborhood and falls in love with everyone he meets, it seems. His ring will make the wearer fall in love with him. Caro is Rosie’s older sister, headstrong and often in trouble. While visiting her father in the Dominican Republic, she finds a magical bat that fixes whatever it breaks. As the three try to figure out their objects, they discover that friendship can be the most powerful magic. With evocative details and sharply drawn characters, this celebration of Latinx culture touches on timely topics like generational trauma, and underfunded schools. Readers who enjoyed the atmospheric feel of How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe, or the quirky magical realism of Miss Meteor will find much to love in this offbeat narrative.
April 22, 2025
A super interesting concept, but I’m ultimately going three because it took me a full week to trudge through this one and I do have some qualms that prevented it from being a winner. I really loved the voice and all the social/political (high school concerned) commentary. Some really solid stuff in here! But the magical aspect (I know, I know… also kinda the entire point) bogged it down. I believe, for me, it was maybe a case of “it’s trying to do too many things, so some aspects suffered and didn’t hit the mark”. A few plots felt unresolved, others unnecessary, and some even annoying rushed. I also can always appreciate authenticity and don’t mind when a book includes a language I don’t speak, but this one had a decent amount of Spanish without immediate translation. I felt like I couldn’t always “read the context” and mentally translate, so I think I felt gaps and probably lost meaning. A+ for creativity and I DO think it had a cool concept and foundation even if it didn’t all click for me. I hope the author continues to hone her craft and writes more.
September 17, 2023
Caro and younger sister Rosie are making their different ways through high school. Caro is quick to fight, does just enough to get by, and can’t quit unreliable boyfriend JJ. Rosie is doing everything she can to get into a better high school though she has been turned down several times, and though she is losing faith in the system she has not figured out any better way to achieve her goals. When Zeke moves from Florida into their neighborhood to live with a relative after his mom’s death, he figures out how to become Rosie’s friend and how to navigate his grief. These characters and a cast of unforgettable other friends and relatives are brilliantly brought to life and infused with magical realism in the form of objects that are just the nudge each main character needs to be more fully themself. Multiple narrators, lots of theme work about institutional barriers, what it means to be silent or take up space, and family secrets. EARC from Edelweiss.
March 20, 2024
This YA magical realism book about navigating high school, family, and trauma was a real treat! I simultaneously read the print and listened to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed the audio narration by
Amanda Alcántara, Melania Luisa, and André Santana.
Our three main characters Rosie, Caro, and Zeke each discover magical talismans that end up helping them overcome obstacles that they each face. One has to face crushing systemic racism and injustice in school, one deals with difficult relationships and friendships and strong feelings and how to control them, and the last deals with loneliness, healing, identity and love. While I enjoyed the perspectives and stories of all three, I found Zeke to be my favorite. He brought a positive and fun energy to the group.
Additionally, I loved all the representation in the book. There are strong Dominican characters represented as well as queer characters and I love finding this representation, especially in YA books.
Amanda Alcántara, Melania Luisa, and André Santana.
Our three main characters Rosie, Caro, and Zeke each discover magical talismans that end up helping them overcome obstacles that they each face. One has to face crushing systemic racism and injustice in school, one deals with difficult relationships and friendships and strong feelings and how to control them, and the last deals with loneliness, healing, identity and love. While I enjoyed the perspectives and stories of all three, I found Zeke to be my favorite. He brought a positive and fun energy to the group.
Additionally, I loved all the representation in the book. There are strong Dominican characters represented as well as queer characters and I love finding this representation, especially in YA books.
April 3, 2024
Content Warning: Grief, violence, death of a love one, domestic abuse, institutional racism, and homophobia.
This is a YA, LGBTQ, Afro-Latinx Contemporary story that follows three teenagers living in New Jersey and is told in alternating first person perspectives.
I really enjoyed this story and loved the way Spanish was incorporated into the book. Each character tackled a unique set of challenges but relied on the friendship and family in their small group.
I’d like to thank Hear Our Voices book tours and also Levine Quierido for sending me The Girl, The Ring and The Baseball Bat by Camille Gomera-Tavarez, which is described as a magical, hilarious and whip smart Outsiders for the modern day. This is my honest review.
For additional thoughts, check out my video review.
This is a YA, LGBTQ, Afro-Latinx Contemporary story that follows three teenagers living in New Jersey and is told in alternating first person perspectives.
I really enjoyed this story and loved the way Spanish was incorporated into the book. Each character tackled a unique set of challenges but relied on the friendship and family in their small group.
I’d like to thank Hear Our Voices book tours and also Levine Quierido for sending me The Girl, The Ring and The Baseball Bat by Camille Gomera-Tavarez, which is described as a magical, hilarious and whip smart Outsiders for the modern day. This is my honest review.
For additional thoughts, check out my video review.
March 19, 2024
Rating: 4.25/5
Thank you Levine Querido Publishing and Hear Our Voices for a gifted copy.
Synopsis: Rosie, Caro, and Zeke each find their own talismans that help guide them through their internal struggles.
As soon as I read the dedication, I knew I was going to like this book. The writing and every topic this book contained shows how much this book meant to the author. It shows how much time and dedication went into writing and researching. The plot and the growth of all three characters was written thoroughly.
This book covers how messed up the school system is to those in struggling communities. It also talks about anger and how being angry isn't as bad as adults make it out to be. Now add in some magical realism -with their talismans- and multiple POVs! So well thought out and passionately written.
Thank you Levine Querido Publishing and Hear Our Voices for a gifted copy.
Synopsis: Rosie, Caro, and Zeke each find their own talismans that help guide them through their internal struggles.
As soon as I read the dedication, I knew I was going to like this book. The writing and every topic this book contained shows how much this book meant to the author. It shows how much time and dedication went into writing and researching. The plot and the growth of all three characters was written thoroughly.
This book covers how messed up the school system is to those in struggling communities. It also talks about anger and how being angry isn't as bad as adults make it out to be. Now add in some magical realism -with their talismans- and multiple POVs! So well thought out and passionately written.
November 25, 2024
I was SO excited about this book and really wanted to love it. And I did for the first ~150 pages. I thought the characters were refreshingly realistic and multifaceted. The only frustrating part of the beginning was the way the character POV rotated seemingly at random. There would be multiple chapters focusing on Rosie, then a couple on Zeke, then one on Caro and so on. But I kept going because I wanted to love the story. And then it just… didn’t go anywhere? For a book about magical items, the items didn’t seem important, and it took ~300 pages for all the items to be found. The characters also felt like they didn’t have goals anymore. For instance, it didn’t seem like Rosie cared about getting into the other school anymore, or about the history of the jacket. I DNF after about 330 pages because I began to loathe reading and I can only read one book at a time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2024
A solid 3 star, average book.
Overall, the story was fun and I liked the idea of magical items showing up in the next generation without their prior knowledge of them. That said, the magical items that the book is named for are more side characters to a plot that didn’t really go anywhere. I was expecting Rosie, Zeke, and Caro to really grow up throughout the book, but they all stayed pretty much the same even after learning their lessons.
The narrators for Rosie and Zeke did a great job throughout the book! The narrator for Caro was just okay. She definitely got more comfortable/better as it went on, but for the first half of the book her cadence was way off.
Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the audiobook ARC.
Overall, the story was fun and I liked the idea of magical items showing up in the next generation without their prior knowledge of them. That said, the magical items that the book is named for are more side characters to a plot that didn’t really go anywhere. I was expecting Rosie, Zeke, and Caro to really grow up throughout the book, but they all stayed pretty much the same even after learning their lessons.
The narrators for Rosie and Zeke did a great job throughout the book! The narrator for Caro was just okay. She definitely got more comfortable/better as it went on, but for the first half of the book her cadence was way off.
Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the audiobook ARC.
March 25, 2024
From the start, I was drawn to the immediate sister dynamic that was Rosie and Caro. They really reminded me of how life was for my sister and I. Polar opposite but always there for one another.
Zeke, I definitely wanted to give him a hug. He was such a Ray of sunshine brought to the little friend group.
So much trauma, racism and dealing with tough situations being discussed in this book.
I felt like I could relate to the sisters and their fight with trying to overcome the stereotypes of being “crazy” and not enough all because of the color of their skin.
Amazing book, great representation!
Huge thank you to my amigos over at @hearourvoicestours & @levinequerido for this amazing gifted copy!
Zeke, I definitely wanted to give him a hug. He was such a Ray of sunshine brought to the little friend group.
So much trauma, racism and dealing with tough situations being discussed in this book.
I felt like I could relate to the sisters and their fight with trying to overcome the stereotypes of being “crazy” and not enough all because of the color of their skin.
Amazing book, great representation!
Huge thank you to my amigos over at @hearourvoicestours & @levinequerido for this amazing gifted copy!
March 13, 2024
As a child of Dominican parents, I loved the Dominican presence in this book. There were so many references I not only understood but experienced: rolos and tubis for hair, bathing with a bucket when there’s no water, Las Americas airport, etc. I would say the “Dominican-ness” of this book is its strongest quality and also my favorite.
I liked the three main characters but preferred Rosie and Caro’s chapters. I felt that Zeke’s chapters were more filler.
I think the climax could’ve been fleshed out more. It was fun to see the characters come together and find a solution Disney Channel style, but more scene instead of summary would’ve strengthened the ending.
Thank you to Hear Our Voices and Levine Querido for the ARC.
I liked the three main characters but preferred Rosie and Caro’s chapters. I felt that Zeke’s chapters were more filler.
I think the climax could’ve been fleshed out more. It was fun to see the characters come together and find a solution Disney Channel style, but more scene instead of summary would’ve strengthened the ending.
Thank you to Hear Our Voices and Levine Querido for the ARC.
March 19, 2024
The Girl, The Ring, & The Baseball Bat by Camille Gomera-Tavarez is a multiple perspective YA book that addresses themes of family and learning to trust yourself.
This book is a work of magical realism and it was a wild ride! Parts of the story shared your average high school experiences, while other parts were full of magic (yes, real magic!).
At the core though, characters related to each other in a really real way and learned to trust themselves. There was good LGBTQIA+ representation (more than one character!) without it being the central theme of the book. And good commentary and awareness of some major issues and inequities found in SO many schools in our country.
This book is a work of magical realism and it was a wild ride! Parts of the story shared your average high school experiences, while other parts were full of magic (yes, real magic!).
At the core though, characters related to each other in a really real way and learned to trust themselves. There was good LGBTQIA+ representation (more than one character!) without it being the central theme of the book. And good commentary and awareness of some major issues and inequities found in SO many schools in our country.
February 25, 2024
First off, I want to thank NetGalley and Levine Querido for sending me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I don’t think I’ve read magical realism before, but I had a good time reading it! There are three alternating POVs: Rosie, Caro and Zeke. Each one had a very distinct voice, and I was invested in each one. I felt like I could relate so much to Rosie with how hard she worked in school, and I could understand her desire to attend the other school, thinking it would give her better opportunities. The book had great commentary on how these institutions treat students of color, as well as showing how there are other pathways that a student can take, as well as a different way of looking at future plans. Zeke had a different way of looking at his future than Rosie. His journey was more focused on his grief and feelings of love. The two are very different, but they complement each other. Right away, Zeke could sense that Rosie was going to be important in his life, and I’ve always believed that soulmates don’t have to be platonic, so they are soulmates to me. Caro was grappling with realizing who her father really is and that her mother’s past is very different from how she made it seem. While Rosie was also shocked by what they learned about their mother, it really affected Caro since she has more of a strained relationship with her mother. Each one had a talisman that helped them navigate the problems going on in their lives, but it also got them into interesting situations.
I was very invested in learning more about their mother’s past, and I felt like more could’ve been explained. I do feel like the book could’ve been longer so we could also see how everything went down with the school and the principal. I like the ending the characters each got, but I just wish we could’ve seen more of it.
I’m not from Jersey City, but I am from NJ, so it was also cool reading a book that takes place there! And while I’m a little past my teen years now, the way the characters were written felt very accurate!
Overall, I give the book 4 stars and am looking forward to more of Camille Gomera-Tavarez’s work!
I don’t think I’ve read magical realism before, but I had a good time reading it! There are three alternating POVs: Rosie, Caro and Zeke. Each one had a very distinct voice, and I was invested in each one. I felt like I could relate so much to Rosie with how hard she worked in school, and I could understand her desire to attend the other school, thinking it would give her better opportunities. The book had great commentary on how these institutions treat students of color, as well as showing how there are other pathways that a student can take, as well as a different way of looking at future plans. Zeke had a different way of looking at his future than Rosie. His journey was more focused on his grief and feelings of love. The two are very different, but they complement each other. Right away, Zeke could sense that Rosie was going to be important in his life, and I’ve always believed that soulmates don’t have to be platonic, so they are soulmates to me. Caro was grappling with realizing who her father really is and that her mother’s past is very different from how she made it seem. While Rosie was also shocked by what they learned about their mother, it really affected Caro since she has more of a strained relationship with her mother. Each one had a talisman that helped them navigate the problems going on in their lives, but it also got them into interesting situations.
I was very invested in learning more about their mother’s past, and I felt like more could’ve been explained. I do feel like the book could’ve been longer so we could also see how everything went down with the school and the principal. I like the ending the characters each got, but I just wish we could’ve seen more of it.
I’m not from Jersey City, but I am from NJ, so it was also cool reading a book that takes place there! And while I’m a little past my teen years now, the way the characters were written felt very accurate!
Overall, I give the book 4 stars and am looking forward to more of Camille Gomera-Tavarez’s work!
February 19, 2024
[I was provided an audiobook arc on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review]
The Girl, the Ring, & the Baseball Bat is YA magical realism book following three teenagers navigating the highs and lows of high school life. The book was very fun to read and I enjoyed the friendship between our three protagonists. Still, the excitement and freedom the kids got from these magical items made the book so fun and me smile! If the author ever choose to write a prequel story, I would eat it up!
The Girl, the Ring, & the Baseball Bat is YA magical realism book following three teenagers navigating the highs and lows of high school life. The book was very fun to read and I enjoyed the friendship between our three protagonists. Still, the excitement and freedom the kids got from these magical items made the book so fun and me smile! If the author ever choose to write a prequel story, I would eat it up!
March 15, 2024
“I don’t think there has ever existed another human being in the history of the world with as much on their mind as me.”
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I won’t lie. I was skeptical about this book. But the more I read it. It was great! It looks like Nala agrees with me too! I have a few friends that I believe would love this book!
Thank you so much @hearourvoicestours for sending me a physical copy of this book! Also thank you @cgomeratavarez for allowing this book to be part of the tour!
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I won’t lie. I was skeptical about this book. But the more I read it. It was great! It looks like Nala agrees with me too! I have a few friends that I believe would love this book!
Thank you so much @hearourvoicestours for sending me a physical copy of this book! Also thank you @cgomeratavarez for allowing this book to be part of the tour!
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