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Raquel Reyes #1
Raquel Reyes Saves the Wedding (Girl of the Year 2026)
Fun family adventures at the beach and in an old mansion feature wild dolphins, a hundred-year-old diary, a pickleball tournament, and a wedding! Read all about American Girl's 2026 Girl of the Year, Raquel, in this all-new original novel!
Raquel is excited about a big family reunion and wedding. She's looking forward to reuniting with her cousin Sloan. But instead of being as close as sisters, Sloan is moody and standoffish. What's troubling her. Raquel wants to earn her cousin's trust, but how? A dolphin discovery, an ancestor's diary, and a pickleball tournament bring the girls closer. Sloan admits that a letter from her birthmother has left her wondering where she belongs. Raquel assures her that family isn't just about history or blood—it's about love, loyalty, and showing up for one another.
Raquel is excited about a big family reunion and wedding. She's looking forward to reuniting with her cousin Sloan. But instead of being as close as sisters, Sloan is moody and standoffish. What's troubling her. Raquel wants to earn her cousin's trust, but how? A dolphin discovery, an ancestor's diary, and a pickleball tournament bring the girls closer. Sloan admits that a letter from her birthmother has left her wondering where she belongs. Raquel assures her that family isn't just about history or blood—it's about love, loyalty, and showing up for one another.
144 pages, Paperback
First published November 4, 2025
3 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Angela Cervantes
19 books149 followersAngela Cervantes is the award-winning author of several popular children's novels including Lety Out Loud, which won the Pura Belpré Honor Award in 2020.
Her other novels include The Cursed Moon, which won Florida's Sunshine State Young Readers Award. Angela's other middle grade novels include the Frida Kahlo-inspired mystery, Me, Frida and The Secret of the Peacock Ring; Allie, First At Last; and Gaby, Lost and Found.
Her latest children’s novel is Anomalies 53: Into the Shadows which is book 1 of a two-book series published by Harper Collins.
Additionally, Angela authored the junior novelization for Disney/Pixar's animated-film, Coco and Disney's animated film, Encanto. She also collaborated with American Girl Dolls for the novel Maritza: Lead With Your Heart.
Angela’s short stories have been featured in Chicken Soup for The Latino Soul and the Young Adult anthology Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America.
Angela is a daughter of a retired elementary-school teacher who instilled in her a love for reading and storytelling. Angela writes from her home in Kansas City. When she's not writing, Angela enjoys reading, running, gazing up at clouds, and taking advantage of Taco Tuesdays.
To learn more about Angela and her books, visit her website at angelacervantes.com.
Her other novels include The Cursed Moon, which won Florida's Sunshine State Young Readers Award. Angela's other middle grade novels include the Frida Kahlo-inspired mystery, Me, Frida and The Secret of the Peacock Ring; Allie, First At Last; and Gaby, Lost and Found.
Her latest children’s novel is Anomalies 53: Into the Shadows which is book 1 of a two-book series published by Harper Collins.
Additionally, Angela authored the junior novelization for Disney/Pixar's animated-film, Coco and Disney's animated film, Encanto. She also collaborated with American Girl Dolls for the novel Maritza: Lead With Your Heart.
Angela’s short stories have been featured in Chicken Soup for The Latino Soul and the Young Adult anthology Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America.
Angela is a daughter of a retired elementary-school teacher who instilled in her a love for reading and storytelling. Angela writes from her home in Kansas City. When she's not writing, Angela enjoys reading, running, gazing up at clouds, and taking advantage of Taco Tuesdays.
To learn more about Angela and her books, visit her website at angelacervantes.com.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 26, 2025
If you're hoping for this to be a sequel to The Diary of Raquel Reyes (the book the doll is sold with) then you're going to be largely disappointed. The first half of this book is the exact same story that is covered in the diary, with the plot only diverging at the end of the diary's plot when the family reunion in Mount Bedford ends. While I really liked the diary version of this story, I found the proper novel more on the okay side. The lack of acknowledgement for Nellie O'Malley is far more jarring in this version of the story than the dairy (where it was already a large question mark hanging over the narrative) and the "saves the wedding" theme taken from Samantha's short story is lackluster in execution.
Another unfortunate part of this book is the fact it will absolutely become dated, and in other ways, already is. While American Girl's Girl of the Year collections are known for being a time capsule of sorts, they're stuff supposed to have stories that will be able to resonate with children who pick this up from their school's library in a decades time, just like the historical stories. But this book clings to different elements that will not stand the test of time. Raquel is a DJ and, surprisingly, it isn't a major offender on this front. The music she mentions playing are mostly Mexican classics... with a lot of Taylor Swift thrown in. Namely Shake It Off and a nebulous "latest hit" which conjures the image of Raquel playing The Fate of Ophelia. The true major contributor to this is the large role that pickleball, of all sports, plays in the plotline. A choice I am utterly baffled by, though that might be because the only pickleball players I have ever heard of are my stepfather's white, middle-aged co-workers. But even if there is a large population of little girls playing pickleball that I'm unaware of, I can't imagine that a current "trendy" sport will still be relevant enough for future readers to find any interest in that part of the plot. While I hope that this book is able to stand the test of time, I doubt it.
Another unfortunate part of this book is the fact it will absolutely become dated, and in other ways, already is. While American Girl's Girl of the Year collections are known for being a time capsule of sorts, they're stuff supposed to have stories that will be able to resonate with children who pick this up from their school's library in a decades time, just like the historical stories. But this book clings to different elements that will not stand the test of time. Raquel is a DJ and, surprisingly, it isn't a major offender on this front. The music she mentions playing are mostly Mexican classics... with a lot of Taylor Swift thrown in. Namely Shake It Off and a nebulous "latest hit" which conjures the image of Raquel playing The Fate of Ophelia. The true major contributor to this is the large role that pickleball, of all sports, plays in the plotline. A choice I am utterly baffled by, though that might be because the only pickleball players I have ever heard of are my stepfather's white, middle-aged co-workers. But even if there is a large population of little girls playing pickleball that I'm unaware of, I can't imagine that a current "trendy" sport will still be relevant enough for future readers to find any interest in that part of the plot. While I hope that this book is able to stand the test of time, I doubt it.
November 22, 2025
Very well laid out! I still don't understand why the entirety of the journal was rewritten and added to this book. We don't get to new content until about halfway through. I don't fully understand why AG has gone in the direction of duplicating the journals within the chapter book.
December 7, 2025
2.5 stars. Yeah yeah I read this because Samantha was the doll I had as a kid, I am not immune to nostalgia bait.
I didn't think I'd like this to begin with due to some pretty annoying tense switching at first and the VERY abrupt switching between topics in an attempt to get everything set up quickly. I don't think the book needs to be longer, per se--I'm sure AG has some pretty strict requirements on authors regarding length, among other things--but I do think the information could have been introduced at different times and in a different way that would have been as (or more) comprehensible for the intended audience of second-graders. That being said, I do think it found its stride and ended up tying together the things it rushed to establish at first. While I predicted the adoption storyline pretty quickly (not a bad thing), it was genuinely surprising and impactful to get the story about Sloan's birth mom reaching out to her, and I think the way her behavior manifested prior to that reveal was pretty realistic and a little heartrending. There was development of side characters that I didn't expect, even if it was necessarily a little rushed. The characters were mostly enjoyable, even if I found myself wishing that some of their personalities were distinguished more--they essentially all talk the same way. Basically, I liked the characters and like that everything worked out for them, and isn't that what you're looking for out of a Girl of the Year book?
As far as what we're all here for, the Samantha content: yes, I enjoyed seeing my girl, I enjoyed the multiple references to her actual accessories even while knowing that they were essentially merch plugs ("I had that as a kid!"), I enjoyed the way her diary entries were written and got excited to read them every time. I was a bit surprised by the lack of references to Nelly, but the entries that were present were clearly there for a reason, so I can't really complain.
In other things that are not problems with the book itself as much as problems with reading AG for the first time in over 15 years as a 28-year-old: really kind of jarring to see an American Girl, even a modern-day girl of the year, use terms like "legit" and "deejay goals." Of course she would be taking a selfie, because the kids of today are taking selfies and it's perfectly normal to them; I was just personally thrown off. However I did love the introduction of the antagonistic girliepop pickleball team with their Barbie-pink pickleballs. I wish I could be them.
I didn't think I'd like this to begin with due to some pretty annoying tense switching at first and the VERY abrupt switching between topics in an attempt to get everything set up quickly. I don't think the book needs to be longer, per se--I'm sure AG has some pretty strict requirements on authors regarding length, among other things--but I do think the information could have been introduced at different times and in a different way that would have been as (or more) comprehensible for the intended audience of second-graders. That being said, I do think it found its stride and ended up tying together the things it rushed to establish at first. While I predicted the adoption storyline pretty quickly (not a bad thing), it was genuinely surprising and impactful to get the story about Sloan's birth mom reaching out to her, and I think the way her behavior manifested prior to that reveal was pretty realistic and a little heartrending. There was development of side characters that I didn't expect, even if it was necessarily a little rushed. The characters were mostly enjoyable, even if I found myself wishing that some of their personalities were distinguished more--they essentially all talk the same way. Basically, I liked the characters and like that everything worked out for them, and isn't that what you're looking for out of a Girl of the Year book?
As far as what we're all here for, the Samantha content: yes, I enjoyed seeing my girl, I enjoyed the multiple references to her actual accessories even while knowing that they were essentially merch plugs ("I had that as a kid!"), I enjoyed the way her diary entries were written and got excited to read them every time. I was a bit surprised by the lack of references to Nelly, but the entries that were present were clearly there for a reason, so I can't really complain.
In other things that are not problems with the book itself as much as problems with reading AG for the first time in over 15 years as a 28-year-old: really kind of jarring to see an American Girl, even a modern-day girl of the year, use terms like "legit" and "deejay goals." Of course she would be taking a selfie, because the kids of today are taking selfies and it's perfectly normal to them; I was just personally thrown off. However I did love the introduction of the antagonistic girliepop pickleball team with their Barbie-pink pickleballs. I wish I could be them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 10, 2025This reeeeeeally should have been in third person. It had the feeling of having been written that way and then forcibly rewritten into first but with a lot of awkward narrative lines that work better in a third person voice than pretending to be a ten-year-old. I also felt like there was waaaaaay too much going on for something as short as this was, and I'm sorry, but do children even play pickleball? I've never met anyone under 50 who plays it and never met anyone under 35 who even expressed an interest in it.
Having read the journal, I also don't understand the point of these miniseries being basically an abridged journal when you buy the doll and then the full novel later, but then again, I don't understand most choices Mattel makes with Pleasant's brand, and I'm convinced now that I'm on an actual blacklist with them.
Anyway.
I was mad at the way adoption was handled in the journal and I don't love it here either, and again, it's because American Girl has a policy of mostly choosing cultural accuracy consultants who aren't actually cultural insiders (I know this for a fact because someone there who once hired me to do a sensitivity edit on an American Girl project then told me that they were no longer going anywhere but to a white woman's DEI company for those consults in the future, so suuuure, Jan). I don't believe for a second that any of the ways Sloan responds and reacts and talks about her adoption were Cervantes' choice, I think they were dictated by the woman from the adoption organization that is anti-adoptee and pro-Quiverfull white saviorism, pro-adoptive parent, because that's who they chose as an adoption consultant instead of an actual fucking adopted person.
Having read the journal, I also don't understand the point of these miniseries being basically an abridged journal when you buy the doll and then the full novel later, but then again, I don't understand most choices Mattel makes with Pleasant's brand, and I'm convinced now that I'm on an actual blacklist with them.
Anyway.
I was mad at the way adoption was handled in the journal and I don't love it here either, and again, it's because American Girl has a policy of mostly choosing cultural accuracy consultants who aren't actually cultural insiders (I know this for a fact because someone there who once hired me to do a sensitivity edit on an American Girl project then told me that they were no longer going anywhere but to a white woman's DEI company for those consults in the future, so suuuure, Jan). I don't believe for a second that any of the ways Sloan responds and reacts and talks about her adoption were Cervantes' choice, I think they were dictated by the woman from the adoption organization that is anti-adoptee and pro-Quiverfull white saviorism, pro-adoptive parent, because that's who they chose as an adoption consultant instead of an actual fucking adopted person.
January 12, 2026
Thank you PRHAudio for the gifted copy.
We can either feel paralyzed by so much need around us and do nothing or decide to do good where we can.
I credit American Girl books as one reason I love historical fiction. They made learning about the past fun and relatable with girls my age living through real events. My favorite (and the only doll I owned) was Samantha. When I saw the new girl of the year was related to Samantha, I was excited to see how they incorporated the older dolls into the doll of today. Raquel Reyes Saves the Wedding follows Raquel as she goes from Kansas City to New York for a cousin’s wedding. Spoiler: they stay in Samantha’s old house and Raquel finds Samantha’s diary, letters, and some childhood items (her hat, her teddy bear and pram, etc). Harper works with a dolphin rescue and teaches Raquel and her cousin, Sloane about dolphin rescues. The two end up saving a mother and calf and then decide to raise money to help the dolphin rescue. Raquel also must help out when Harper’s veil goes missing.
The audio was enjoyable and would make a great car playlist if you have elementary school kids. I felt like the storyline was relatable – Raquel likes to DJ, learns how to play pickleball, navigates her family relationships, etc. The storyline regarding Sloane’s birth mother wanting contact and how Sloane is still a part of her adoptive family, while not super detailed was a nice reminder that families are made all different ways.
There was enough tie-in to the past books for older American Girl fans to find this enjoyable. I only wish, I got to see the illustrations!
We can either feel paralyzed by so much need around us and do nothing or decide to do good where we can.
I credit American Girl books as one reason I love historical fiction. They made learning about the past fun and relatable with girls my age living through real events. My favorite (and the only doll I owned) was Samantha. When I saw the new girl of the year was related to Samantha, I was excited to see how they incorporated the older dolls into the doll of today. Raquel Reyes Saves the Wedding follows Raquel as she goes from Kansas City to New York for a cousin’s wedding. Spoiler: they stay in Samantha’s old house and Raquel finds Samantha’s diary, letters, and some childhood items (her hat, her teddy bear and pram, etc). Harper works with a dolphin rescue and teaches Raquel and her cousin, Sloane about dolphin rescues. The two end up saving a mother and calf and then decide to raise money to help the dolphin rescue. Raquel also must help out when Harper’s veil goes missing.
The audio was enjoyable and would make a great car playlist if you have elementary school kids. I felt like the storyline was relatable – Raquel likes to DJ, learns how to play pickleball, navigates her family relationships, etc. The storyline regarding Sloane’s birth mother wanting contact and how Sloane is still a part of her adoptive family, while not super detailed was a nice reminder that families are made all different ways.
There was enough tie-in to the past books for older American Girl fans to find this enjoyable. I only wish, I got to see the illustrations!
November 5, 2025
ok i preordered this with my adult money and haven’t shut up about it and how i just knew we’d find out more about nellie and other important figures to samantha. i guess not. which as an adoptee i appreciate them bringing in an advisor but without more on this story they just left out a huge connection to adoption in the family which would make the connection with sloan more rich. i’m not sure if we’re supposed to make comparatives on our own but it felt missing. i liked the raiding of the attic and really do like raquel overall but this did leave me wanting more and finishing the book like “where’s the rest of ye”.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2025
I really loved that they finally made a girl of the year doll that is a descendant of the original historical characters and I really hope that they keep creating characters that are descendants of the original historical characters
November 22, 2025
It's been at least a decade since I aged out of American Girl as a brand, but those stories and those dolls (especially the historical ones) were integral to who I am today, so this was really nostalgic. Raquel being Samantha Parkington's great-granddaughter probably helped, but I think even without that, I would have felt that sense of nostalgia. This story weaves together so many different things: family, adoption, cousin relationships, dolphins, marine conservation, pickleball, family history, and paletas, but it works, and I am very satisfied with this tale. I actually learned something about pickleball as a lifelong Washingtonian, that might be shocking, but I didn't know anything about our state sport...I am not a sporty person. I liked how Samantha's tale was woven into Raquel's, and I wouldn't be mad if they did this with other historical figures, because it's so much better than having Courtney, the 1980s historical character, have her own Molly doll or there being dolls that are worried about Y2K. My one question is, what about Nellie and her sisters, didn't Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia adopt them? Honestly, this is making me want to do a deep dive into more of the AG stories, because this was lovely! If you see me reading more AG books, mind your business!
Thank you to Libro FM and Penguin Random House for the Advanced Listening Copy
Thank you to Libro FM and Penguin Random House for the Advanced Listening Copy
December 27, 2025
The first book in a new American Girl series featuring the Girl of the Year 2026: Raquel Reyes.
💍
Raquel is thrilled for a big family reunion and wedding, but reconnecting with her cousin Sloan isn’t as easy as she hoped. When a surprising letter from Sloan’s birthmother brings up big questions about belonging, the girls find unexpected ways to grow closer through wild dolphin encounters, a century-old diary, and a lively pickleball tournament. Set against beach adventures and an old mansion, this heartwarming story celebrates family, identity, and the bonds we choose.
👰🏽♀️
I love Angela Cervantes’ ability to connect with readers in her solo novels and this new chapter book adventure featuring a Latina American Girl doll was no exception. We are rooting for Raquel throughout the entire story and including a descendent of the American Girl dolls made it very nostalgic. This is a great addition to any elementary library.
CW: adoption (theme)
💍
Raquel is thrilled for a big family reunion and wedding, but reconnecting with her cousin Sloan isn’t as easy as she hoped. When a surprising letter from Sloan’s birthmother brings up big questions about belonging, the girls find unexpected ways to grow closer through wild dolphin encounters, a century-old diary, and a lively pickleball tournament. Set against beach adventures and an old mansion, this heartwarming story celebrates family, identity, and the bonds we choose.
👰🏽♀️
I love Angela Cervantes’ ability to connect with readers in her solo novels and this new chapter book adventure featuring a Latina American Girl doll was no exception. We are rooting for Raquel throughout the entire story and including a descendent of the American Girl dolls made it very nostalgic. This is a great addition to any elementary library.
CW: adoption (theme)
December 30, 2025
I was disappointed to see that the first half of the book was the exact same story featured in Raquel's diary book. The second half delivered much more Samantha Parkington nostalgia, even echoing 'Samantha Saves the Wedding', but... where were the mentions of Nellie, Bridget, and Jenny? Diary entries from Samantha in 1906 mention her cousins, but not her adopted sisters? This was not only disappointing but also a missed opportunity with Sloan's storyline.
Continuity questions and even the relation to Samantha aside, I thought this was a cute story and the first Girl of the Year concept in a long time that didn't feel completely recycled. I would love to see at least one more book added to the series.
Continuity questions and even the relation to Samantha aside, I thought this was a cute story and the first Girl of the Year concept in a long time that didn't feel completely recycled. I would love to see at least one more book added to the series.
December 9, 2025
Raquel is excited to visit her mom's family for her cousin Harper's wedding, and ends up discovering things that belonged to her great-great grandmother Samantha Parkington at their family's home in Mount Bedford. As an OG AG fan from the 80s, I was excited to learn more about Samantha's future, and to have the clothes and furniture I remember so well be described. It's a sweet story, I like Raquel and her cousin Sloan, and I hope we learn more about Sam in the second book.
It's interesting how the dolls have become popular with younger kids, but the book are much more complex and long now than they were originally.
It's interesting how the dolls have become popular with younger kids, but the book are much more complex and long now than they were originally.
Read
January 8, 2026Kanani, Samantha, and all the AGs whose dogs have trope-ily run away or gone missing did it first—and they did it better.
The book feels incredibly derivative with the only attempts to modernize (Taylor Swift references, DJing, and pickleball) feeling like silly trends that don’t interest me personally.
I also feel that references to the AG world work better when the world exists in the book (for example with Courtney Moore and Nicki Hoffman). It makes the characters more relatable and also doesn’t implicitly kill the historical characters.
The book feels incredibly derivative with the only attempts to modernize (Taylor Swift references, DJing, and pickleball) feeling like silly trends that don’t interest me personally.
I also feel that references to the AG world work better when the world exists in the book (for example with Courtney Moore and Nicki Hoffman). It makes the characters more relatable and also doesn’t implicitly kill the historical characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2025
So cute to take a look into the lives of Samantha’s family so many years later. Raquel and her cousins were likable characters and I loved the nods to Samantha’s diary and her clothes and accessories left behind at the Mount Bedford house.
The only piece I think was missing was the mention of Nelly and her sisters as part of the adoption story and theme. That would have added one more tie to the original stories.
The only piece I think was missing was the mention of Nelly and her sisters as part of the adoption story and theme. That would have added one more tie to the original stories.
January 5, 2026
Very cute, if you're looking for a more in depth story, I would say read this one over the diary one. I do wish there was more Samantha and I wish they mentioned Nellie as she was an important part to Samantha's story but it's still a sweet book, perfect for young kids with a sweet message.
January 7, 2026
Raquel Reyes Saves the Wedding is a fun, heartfelt story about family, responsibility, and finding confidence under pressure. As the 2026 Girl of the Year, Raquel shines with determination and warmth, showing that even when things go wrong, teamwork and kindness can make things right.
November 19, 2025
I’m hoping for more Girls of the Year who connect to the historical characters.
November 24, 2025
My 9 year old and I loved reading this one together. I have been a fan of Samantha for years and it was very nostalgic to see how her posterity and some of their adventures.
December 8, 2025
The Nellie erasure is why this book rates so low for me. I like the ideas of this book but it was poorly executed.
January 12, 2026
Nostalgic - I miss Sam!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews