Ghoststalking

by L. King Pérez

For their school science project, Emilio and his friend Chuy hunt for the elusive ghost woman, La Llorona.

55 pages, Library Binding

First published June 1, 1995

About the author

L. King Pérez has won many awards for her fiction and poetry. In addition to writing, she accompanies visiting authors to their appearances in Dayton, Ohio, where she and her husband live. Pérez based First Day in Grapes on her husband’s experiences growing up as a migrant child. She says, “My husband began picking grapes in the first grade, and picked his way through UCLA, where we met. His stories of life in the camps fascinated me, and there is no greater inspiration than knowing someone whose perseverance led them to success.” In addition to writing, Pérez enjoys reading, gardening, photography, and cooking.

First Day in Grapes has won numerous awards and honors, including the Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor, a “Choices” selection from the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, a Smithsonian magazine Notable Book designation, and the Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Masterlist. “Chico’s success story is cheering,” said Kirkus Reviews, and School Library Journal praised the book for “shed[ing] light on the life of migrant children in a poignant, balanced manner.”