Rosa by Any Other Name

by Hailey Alcaraz

In this Romeo and Juliet–inspired retelling set during the civil rights era, a Mexican American girl is driven to join a movement for justice after her white classmate and best friend from the barrio are tragically murdered.

*PURA BELPRÉ YOUNG ADULT AUTHOR HONOR BOOK
*TÓMAS RIVERA BOOK AWARD WINNER
*YALSA BEST FICTION FOR YOUNG ADULTS SELECTION
*CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY SELECTION FOR BEST TEEN FICTION
*A BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATION BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
*ILA NOTABLE BOOK FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY
*NCSS-CBC NOTABLE SOCIAL STUDIES TRADE BOOK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
*2026 AMÉRICAS AWARD COMMENDED TITLE

Rosa Capistrano has been attending posh North Phoenix High School to boost her chances of a college education and a career in journalism, thanks to the groundbreaking Brown v. Board of Education verdict for desegregation. But though she's legally allowed to be there, it's still unsafe for Mexican Americans. That’s why she's secretly passing as Rosie, a white girl. All she has to do to secure her future is make sure her Mexican home life and her white school experience never intersect.

However, Rosa's two worlds collide when her best friend, Ramon, and classmate Julianne meet and find themselves entangled in a star-crossed romance. Rosa is terrified about what their relationship could mean for her and them . . . and her worst fears are soon realized in an unspeakable tragedy. Rosa is thrown into the center of a town-wide scandal and her true identity is put in the spotlight. With the help of Marco, Ramon's brooding and volatile brother whose passion ignites hers, Rosa must choose what is more important to her—protecting her fragile future or risking everything to help her friends find justice.

Rosa by Any Other Name is a harrowingly beautiful coming-of-age tale that shines a light on an important and often overlooked facet of US history. An extensive author's note with research details and a further reading list are included.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Retellings, Historical, Audiobook, Fiction

Audible Audio

First published August 5, 2025

About the author

Hailey began her writing career in the sixth grade as a kid reporter for Time for Kids magazine, and has been addicted to storytelling ever since. Born in California and raised in Arizona, she's a Southwest girl through and through who loves stories about fellow multicultural girls finding their way in the world.

She currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband, two daughters and precocious German Shepherd. Connect with her online at haileyalcaraz.comand @alcarazbooks on both TikTok and Instagram.

Reviews

[annes_mesmerizing_books]

Actual rating 4.5 stars.

Rosa By Any Other Name is inspired by Romeo and Juliet. But this isn’t a tragedy. It’s a murder. I clenched my fists while reading.

The story digs into the supposed integration of Mexican Americans in the 1950s. Supposed, because even though Mexican kids have been allowed into white schools for two years, it’s still dangerous. So Rosa becomes Rosie. A white girl, at least on paper.

This story grabbed me by the throat. Not just because the Romeo and Juliet thread is gut-wrenching. Or because Rosa watches, caught in the middle, unsure what to do. Until she finds her voice and starts pushing back. It hit me just as hard because of what’s happening in the US right now. The feeling that a story like this could be real again. Unthinkable not long ago. Now, it feels frighteningly close.

So yes, this story is raw, infuriating, and heartbreaking. But there’s a sliver of hope in it too. Not everything is solved by the end, far from it. And that feels right for a story like this.

If you’re expecting a romance, this isn’t it. Marco is the love interest, and there’s a hint of enemies-to-lovers, but that part shifts quickly. Above all, Rosa By Any Other Name is a contemporary story that left a brick in my stomach.

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[Krystal]

What’s in a name? For Mexican American teen Rosa Capistrano, it’s everything— college, opportunity, her future. In ROSA BY ANY OTHER NAME by Hailey Alcaraz, it’s staying at her school as Rosie, where she has a chance of achieving the life she wants, one that will make her and her family’s sacrifice worth it. But when one of her classmates falls in love with her best friend, Rosa’s delicate balance of separating school from her barrio is upended. Against the backdrop of civil rights demonstrations and school desegregation, Alcaraz deftly explores identity and the pressure to assimilate in this Romeo and Juliet-inspired retelling. The characters are full-bodied and familiar. The prose is captivating and honest as it confronts racism, discrimination and the real fears that can be met when revealing your true self. Brave and determined, Rosa is a chameleon, cautiously blending into the background—until she can’t. ROSA BY ANY OTHER NAME is a smart, engaging call-to-action complete with star-crossed lovers, tragedy, and hope where “separate is not equal” and one voice in the crowd can make a difference.

Thank you, Viking, for an advance copy!

[Melany]

This was moving, eye opening and tragic. Yet it was also hopeful and showing 1 voice can stand up and make a difference. I loved this one! The characters moved me, the story truly was alot to take in how they were treated and the normalcy of that back then, the unfairness. This book will sit with me for a while!

[Cece ✿]

3⭐️
My opinion: I don’t often read historical fiction, so I wasn’t too engrossed in this book, but I would still recommend it if you enjoy books about racial justice. This book was pretty good along the lines of historical accuracy, I did catch a couple slips, but hopefully they’ll get fixed before the final publication. This book was not my cup of tea, but I didn’t not like it either. I don’t really have anything bad to say about it and I do think that this book has the potential to be really enjoyed by someone who likes this genre more than I do. The one thing that I particularly did not like was the similarity between the book characters’ names (Ramón Montoya and Julianne Callihan) and Romeo and Juliet’s names (Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet). I can appreciate a play on words, but this was a little much, just because a book is forbidden romance doesn’t immediately make it Romeo and Juliet. Yes, both couples have a similar love story that ended tragically, but Romeo and Juliet died as result of a misunderstanding, while Ramón and Julianne were murdered. So, in my mind, I don’t think there’s enough of a similarity between the two stories to make their names so similar sounding.

Genre: historical fiction (1950s)
POV: first person, past tense
Trope: forbidden romance

Age rating: 13+
Violence: murder (semi-descriptive), gunshots, blood, a fist fight between a couple of boys at school
Romance: some non-descriptive kissing, the whole book revolves around the forbidden romance of Rosa’s two best friends
Drinking/drugs/smoking: a character smokes frequently (not uncommon for the time), mentions of alcohol and an alcoholic father
Language: 1 f***ing, 1 sh!t, 2 g0dd@mn, 2 d@mn, 5 h3ll, multiple derogatory terms for Mexican-Americans that are mostly used by the same side character

Trigger warnings:
- racism
- gun violence
- death
- police brutality

Publish date: 5-August-2025
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Cassandra]

*An ARC was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Sometimes you read a great book, an outstanding book, and wait almost a year to write the review. My bad, everyone. Grad school is a bear.

My mutuals know that I’m a hard sell on historical fiction. Nothing against the genre, or at least nothing I can confidently articulate, but it’s just not my favorite.

I almost missed this one because of that prejudice. This is my PSA to all historical fiction haters to get it together and read this.

A Romeo & Juliet retelling set to the beat of 1960s school segregation in Phoenix, Arizona, with a smattering of Nella Larsen’s Passing, this book has it all. I would kill for Rosa and her friends.

Perfect for fans of The Hate U Give or anyone brighter than me who understands that historical fiction can be fantastic. I’m still thinking about this one all these books later.

[Amy]

2⭐️
Absolutely, not, I could not do this book, anymore, I got at least over 60% and even then I was struggling hardcore. Honestly, there were so many things that literally irritated me to no end with this book. Some of the characters were great. I think most of them I did not care for at all. I'm sorry if you love this book. It's just not for me.

[lydia {67} ୨ৎ {lynn painter era}]

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review
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thank you to netgalley and penguin group penguin young readers group for providing an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review


✨✨✨ ~ 3.5 rounded to 3


i honestly am not sure how i felt about this book. it had its ups and downs. i didn't like it so much at the beginning and honestly thought about dnf-ing, but since it was an arc, i wanted to power through and finish it. it did get better towards the end, but i think what i was looking for was the romance. i requested this arc almost a year ago and while i had requested a lot of other books that day, what stuck out to me about this one was that it was (supposedly) a romeo and juliet retelling. and yes, i'm not saying it wasn't, but it wasn't in the way i initially thought it would be. it was more a really really distant cousin of r&j, like there were parts of it that followed the original script, but the play on the names (ramon and julianne) was lwk giving try-hard and their love story was not following the same lines as shakespeare's.
now what i found weird was that i used to absolutely love historical fiction. i would read ruta sepetys' books all the time and for awhile i was obsessed with finding other books like hers. this was one i had found on netgalley and it sounded really good, but it wasn't my kind of book. the racial injustice rep was really interesting to read about, but idk something about this book wasn't it for me. i think someone who genuinely enjoys the historical fiction genre more than i do would have been more invested in the plot of it.

tws:
- racism
- gun violence
- death
- police brutality




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pre-read
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gotta top these violent delights with a (hopefully) better romeo and juliet retelling!! 🤭

[Kimberly (Bookblurbist)]

Vibes:
➤ Romeo/Juliet Inspired
➤ 1950s Phoenix Setting
➤ Mexican American Civil Rights
➤ Political Activism

Thoughts:
Such a powerful and relevant story to today’s political climate. The setting was the greatest highlight of this novel. Newspaper clippings, radio broadcasting, relevant landmarks — there was so much attention to detail that went into making sure that the 1950s Phoenix, Arizona setting was brought to life. Not only that, but specifically the setting that Rosa may have experienced as a Mexican American attending an all white high school. Speaking of which, Rosa is the perfect character to lead this story, as she is often conflicted by her duty to self, family and community. Her naivety and lack of political involvement at the start of the story made sense for a young woman with high hopes and dreams for herself. Her coming of age is both heartbreaking and profound. I found her to be such an easy character to root for. Would highly recommend this book to anyone!

[Brett Schnebelt]

My coworkers read this book for our work book club selection, in honor of Hispanic heritage month. One of our colleagues is sisters with the author, and it is very relevant in Arizona, specifically with Hispanic culture. It is also very relevant to what is going on in America today

[Ashley Scow]

(3.25 rounded down) The themes of social justice and challenging segregation were incredibly well done, albeit a bit mature and long-winded considering the youthful audience this is marketed towards. Other than the ‘forbidden’ romance from socially segregated sides, I don’t see as many parallels to Romeo and Juliet as I had expected.

[Sugarpop]

I think there was a good idea in this but it could have done more with it.
The setting was interesting and worth exploring.
Rosa's romance does not feel very fleshed out.

[Christina]

I really enjoyed this YA novel and finished it quickly. The narrator is compelling, and the setting- 1950s Arizona, is not a common book for a coming of age novel. (Usually everything is set in NYC or another big city, but Phoenix was a new one for me!).

I was expecting more parallels to Romeo and Juliet, but I liked how subtle they were. A really enjoyable novel that teaches many lessons and creates lovable characters who are facing realistic challenges. I'm recommending it to all my teacher friends and will suggest to some students.

[Mella aka Maron]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!!

Have you ever read a book where the words flowed so smoothly that it felt easy to read but comprehending and embracing the words was so heart wrenchingly difficult due to the subject matter?

That’s this book.

Typically, I do not like historical fiction, but I enjoyed Alcaraz’s first book, Up in Flames, so I requested this one. There is something so compelling and inspiring about the way Hailey Alcaraz writes. Her words just flow so eloquently. From the very first pages, I was engaged with this story. I adored Rosa and I thought her character was particularly powerful. She is not a starry-eyed optimist. She is a realist with hope. She wants, needs to believe in something greater but also understands the difficulties that await her and her family and friends.

I want you all to go into this story blind - so I can’t discuss the plot much. I will say that this book reminded me of The Outsiders; I’m not quite sure why, to be honest. 😂 It feels like a book that should be read in junior high or late elementary school - fifth graders could read this and comprehend everything and also have in-depth discussions about everything within. It could be a staple in curriculums. The way it’s written to be easily read but also suggests more? Insanely amazing.

I’d recommend this to everyone: I think young YA readers could read this book without difficulty. I think parents could read it and discuss the topics with their children. I think everyone should give this one a shot, even readers who don’t normally like historical fiction like me. If I can enjoy it, I’m sure you will too!

[Deanna]

4.5⭐️
I read this book because it was suggested by Goodreads for Hispanic Heritage Month. The cover is cute but not one that I would typically pick up to read as it looks like more of a rom com. But my interest was piqued with the Romeo and Juliet reference but I felt that could be hit or miss because it is one of my favorite plays/movies (90s remake one).
Anyways, I loved it more than I expected. The R&J nods were subtle but would pop out to me intermittently and gave some hints of mood that I could feel. While not as poetic as Shakespeare, his version was obviously an old dude talking about teens. This one felt like it was from the teen perspective, which did make it feel juvenile and naïve at times, but felt fitting. With that said, there was less of a plot overlap than I expected, this book had its own plot centered around civil rights for Latinx people which feels important at this point in history.

[Drew Hoffmaster]

A retelling of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Hailey Alcaraz's novel reimagines the tragic romance in a whole new light. Following young Rosa, a highschool Hispanic girl during racial integration of the 1950s, this story shows the tragic doomed romance of Ramon and Juliette, who are an interracial couple at North Phoenix High School. Stuck between optimism and pessimism on the racial tension between Mexican Americans and white Americans, Rosa is forced to put her thoughts into action when her friends are murdered.

Hailey Alcaraz writes very emotinally complex and compelling characters. You can feel their inner turmoil through the pages, and you will often find yourself wishing you could talk to them in real life.

If you are a fan of tragic romance, historical fiction, or the original Romeo and Juliet story, I implore you to give this book a try.

[Cèleste]

Rosa By Any Other Name is a powerful and important story, one that tackles meaningful themes with care and honesty. It’s the kind of book that makes you stop and think and I’m genuinely glad I picked it up.

That said, it didn’t have quite as strong of an emotional impact on me as I’d hoped. While I appreciated what the author set out to do and respected the message, something about the delivery kept me at a bit of a distance. Still, it’s a story that deserves to be read and discussed and I’m grateful I took the time to experience it.

[Nicole]

What a WONDERFUL historical read! I was hesitant to read this book because of the Romeo and Juliet inspo (my least favorite Shakespeare play - that I've read three times thanks to three separate high school and college classes), but I wish I wasn't because this book was incredibly well-done and helped me learn even more about the Mexican-American historical struggles in a wonderful and really well-developed way. While Rosa's motivations as a writer/journalist were weaker than I would've liked, overall, this book was so well developed, with good pacing, excellent emotional responses of the characters, and overall just great writing.
contains romance, kissing, allusions to characters drinking (overage), racial violence, murder

[Ylenia Damiani]

4.4//



Comfy read and then absolutely tragic and then back to comfy.. repeat..repeat.

Imagine Romeo and Juliet meets Hispanic civil rights movement during the 50s.

There is historical information shared — I’d consider this historical fiction!

Rosie is the historical tour guide of this story. Marco her companion

Rosie passes as white, so does her friend— suddenly her friend falls in love with their friend who does not pass. This is the story of a community unsure what to do when worlds collide… a community never the same because of one simple act of love.

[Yolanda]

This book is incredibly important. Rosa is known by her classmates at her non integrated school as Rosie wants to get into college. However, she's a Mexican American teen growing up in 1955 Arizona. The tension between people of color and whites is at a peak. In a time of civil unrest, Rosie has yet to understand how that applies to her. Then, her best friend Julianne, the blond beauty of her school, falls in love with her best friend Ramon. The perfect Romeo and Juilet. Until one fateful night when Julianne's father finds out and in a racist fit of rage, he guns them down. This event leads to chaos in Rosie's life and others. Ramon's mom loses a son, Marco lost a brother, and Roise lost two of her best friends. Rosie knows she must stand up for what's right. She's fearful and at times weary of it all, but she knows she can do it. She has Ramon's brother Marco at her side, Veron a local activist to count on as well as her parents and sister.
As a Mexican American growing up in a time that in many ways mirrors the 1950s, I felt seen. I recognize the power of my voice and how I can use it for good. I know that issues with racism and people of color have always been an issue. Now more than ever, we see how it plagues our society. We can not go back in time, but speaking up stands the test of time. Alcaraz has given readers a book of love and revolution, and I'm here for it.
*trigger warning this book contains topics of gun violence and racism/prejudices

[jordyn]

Absolutely loved this book. Although heartbreaking, Rosa's story gives hope that change is possible when we come together; it reminds us that we have to try and stand up for what we believe in. I also appreciated this book highlighting Mexican American history, especially with regards to segregation (I was expecting Mendez v. Westminster to be mentioned, that would have been cool) but I did learn a lot.

[Allison Wheeler]

This book was fantastic. A Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1955, in the midst of civil rights movements. The historical struggles of Mexican Americans were tough to read knowing my own family members likely struggled with the same battles. Highly recommend!

[Amber Wessies Owrey]

I enjoyed this novel set in the 1950s with Romeo and Juliet vibes. I appreciated that the novel showcased the hardships and racism Mexican-Americans faced after desegregation and trying to find their place in society (not really white but not black either).
It had some similar themes and concepts to Ashley Hope Perez's Out of Darkness, but I much perferred Rosa By Any Other Name.

[Katelyn Trout]

Docking one star just for some slow parts and filler I think could have been removed, but overall really enjoyed this book. A story heard far too often, but beautifully documented.

[Tori G]

The best YA I’ve read in recent memory. Top to bottom I loved this.

[Julia]

I’m not usually one for historical fiction but damn was this amazing

[aubrie]

i'm loving it so far but am SCARED for everyone. oh and i'm eating up the minuscule crumbs of romance were getting but tbh I'm so much more invested in the story and can't wait to see what happens next.

[Adriana Scabilloni]

This kind hits differently. I find it hard to find books that give the Mexican view of segregation. This book brought out beautiful and tragic moments that Mexicans experience during a time in the US that held so much hatred. Great story.

[Meghan]

Such a beautiful and fierce young adult novel about a Latinx teen growing up facing inequity and finding her voice. Multi-faceted plot with an interesting historical setting: Phoenix in the 1950s. Hailey’s writing makes the characters come alive- a wonderful read!

[Helen Freire]

I was incredibly excited when I got my hands on this ARC because the plot immediately caught my eye. Rosa by Any Other Name is a powerful and emotional historical fiction novel that left a lasting impression. Inspired by Romeo and Juliet and set against the backdrop of the civil rights era, it explores the deeply personal and political journey of Rosa Capistrano, a Mexican American teenager navigating the difficult choice to pass as white in order to pursue her dreams of a college education and a career in journalism.

What makes this novel so impactful is how it delves into the complexities of identity and the consequences of assimilation. Rosa’s internal conflict is palpable — the pressure to fit into a white world while knowing it means erasing a vital part of herself. Her journey from silence to finding her own voice is both heartbreaking and empowering. Hailey Alcaraz crafts Rosa’s character with such nuance and emotional depth that you can’t help but root for her as she steps into her truth, even when it comes at a cost.

The parallel love story of Julianne and Ramon adds another layer of tension and tragedy. Their relationship, born out of innocence and defiance, is doomed from the start, yet you can’t stop hoping they’ll find a way through. The unraveling of their love mirrors the conflicts at play — the deep-seated racism and prejudice that defined the era.

Alcaraz doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of racism and injustice, but instead confronts them head-on, showing both the heartbreak and resilience of those who dared to fight back.

The end was the only thing that left me with a bittersweet taste, I was hoping to find more of the repercussion of Callahan and how it marks in the fight of injustice.

Rosa by Any Other Name isn’t just a story about forbidden love or self-discovery — it’s a raw and necessary exploration of race, privilege, and the courage it takes to reclaim your identity. This book will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.

[Kim Aguilar]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!!

Wow I honestly did not expect this book to be the way it was. It definitely started off slow, but this book resonated with me so much especially with what is happening in the US this week. And towards Mexicans none the less, it was a very good hopeful story of how things changed from the 1960s to know, but it is also a good reflection of what hasn’t changed. I really enjoyed this book and it broke my heart reading it, but it was definitely a necessary read.