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Allie, First at last
This charming, heartfelt second novel by Gaby, Lost and Found author Angela Cervantes asks an all-important question: is winning top prize worth losing a friend?
Junko Tabei: The first woman to reach the top of Mount Everest.
Rita Moreno: The first Hispanic actress to win an Academy Award.
Gwendolyn Brooks: The first African American author to win the Pulitzer Prize.
Allie Velasco: ???
Allie Velasco wants to win. Something. Everyone in her family is a standout in some way and Allie is determined to make her mark.
When a prestigious school competition is announced, Allie knows this is her shot. There's just one problem--her biggest competition is her ex-best friend Sara.
Can Allie take top prize and win back a friend--or is she destined to lose it all?
Angela Cervantes deftly uses an appealing commercial voice to explore universal tween issues like making and keeping friends, dealing with family, and finding your place in the world.
Junko Tabei: The first woman to reach the top of Mount Everest.
Rita Moreno: The first Hispanic actress to win an Academy Award.
Gwendolyn Brooks: The first African American author to win the Pulitzer Prize.
Allie Velasco: ???
Allie Velasco wants to win. Something. Everyone in her family is a standout in some way and Allie is determined to make her mark.
When a prestigious school competition is announced, Allie knows this is her shot. There's just one problem--her biggest competition is her ex-best friend Sara.
Can Allie take top prize and win back a friend--or is she destined to lose it all?
Angela Cervantes deftly uses an appealing commercial voice to explore universal tween issues like making and keeping friends, dealing with family, and finding your place in the world.
200 pages, Paperback
First published March 29, 2016
60 people are currently reading
646 people want to read
About the author
Angela Cervantes
19 books148 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 - 30 of 115 reviews
April 3, 2022
3.5 stars
I found this at a book fair once and bought it because it had my name on the cover and isn't that cool? Well, I was 9 or 10 and I found it to be the boringest book I have ever read. DNFed.
But a few years later I picked it up again and decided to try it out. And I realized that it was actually kind of interesting. Still a bit boring though.
I am rereading this book yet again.
And...
How is this so boring?
Okay, there are some good points in this book and Angela does a good job showing Allie's emotions and making me feel mad.
But how come Book Allie is so nice? Well yeah, I guess I was like that 2 years ago, but not anymore. I don't forgive or forget if someone messed up my science project. Especially not if it has a chance to place!! I think this is a strictly 4th through 5th grades book and if you're past that, then you shouldn't try it.
Characters: 4 stars
Winning is so important to her. Her whole family is full of winners. She needs this so much. Her friendship with her best friend is falling apart. Her parents and siblings don't understand her and don't try. Only her grandpa and older sister cared.
Writing Style: 4.5 stars
Simple, easy to read style, slightly childish tone.
Pace/Plot: 3.5 stars
Realistic-fiction with a boring plot: Girl loses. Girl learns lesson. Girl realizes winning is not everything. (And just in case Girl didn't get that last part, Girl also gets a #1 Bestie medal so she isn't too sad.) Girl is more or less happy.
I remember why I DNFed this book. The plot was boring to me as a child and it still is. So bland. I've read contemporaries with similar plots, but the stories were more interesting.
No romance (at least, I don't think) or world-building.
Still, this is the only 2016 book I can find and I really do want to try rereading it. And anyway, this thing is taking up space on my shelf and I really hate that.
Edit:
Ack. I don't know what to do now. Donate it? Keep it? Force my brother to read it? Let it sit on that shelf for the rest of its life?
I can't believe her name is Allie. She needs more... I don't know. Character?
I found this at a book fair once and bought it because it had my name on the cover and isn't that cool? Well, I was 9 or 10 and I found it to be the boringest book I have ever read. DNFed.
But a few years later I picked it up again and decided to try it out. And I realized that it was actually kind of interesting. Still a bit boring though.
I am rereading this book yet again.
And...
How is this so boring?
Okay, there are some good points in this book and Angela does a good job showing Allie's emotions and making me feel mad.
But how come Book Allie is so nice? Well yeah, I guess I was like that 2 years ago, but not anymore. I don't forgive or forget if someone messed up my science project. Especially not if it has a chance to place!! I think this is a strictly 4th through 5th grades book and if you're past that, then you shouldn't try it.
Characters: 4 stars
Winning is so important to her. Her whole family is full of winners. She needs this so much. Her friendship with her best friend is falling apart. Her parents and siblings don't understand her and don't try. Only her grandpa and older sister cared.
Writing Style: 4.5 stars
Simple, easy to read style, slightly childish tone.
Pace/Plot: 3.5 stars
Realistic-fiction with a boring plot: Girl loses. Girl learns lesson. Girl realizes winning is not everything. (And just in case Girl didn't get that last part, Girl also gets a #1 Bestie medal so she isn't too sad.) Girl is more or less happy.
I remember why I DNFed this book. The plot was boring to me as a child and it still is. So bland. I've read contemporaries with similar plots, but the stories were more interesting.
No romance (at least, I don't think) or world-building.
Still, this is the only 2016 book I can find and I really do want to try rereading it. And anyway, this thing is taking up space on my shelf and I really hate that.
Edit:
Ack. I don't know what to do now. Donate it? Keep it? Force my brother to read it? Let it sit on that shelf for the rest of its life?
I can't believe her name is Allie. She needs more... I don't know. Character?
April 6, 2017
I thought that this book was very funny and interesting because it shows how badly Allie wants to win something,while her great-grandfather a war hero is telling her she doesn't have to win a trophy,but she still wants to because the rest of her family is already special in some sort of way -her little sister is a rising TV star,her older brother is an amazing soccer player,and her older sister made a program at school ,Sendak Elementary to teach kids subjects or tutor them,all Allie wants to do is win a trophy and make her family happy!But,when she enters a trailblazer competition ,her ex-best friend,Sara does the same trailblazer as her,her great-grandfather,Rocky Velasco.Anyway,my favorite part of the book was when Allie makes her presentation better at last minute,and gets disqualified,because even though she doesn't have a trophy,she still feels like a winner and that very same day she makes up with her new best friend Victor!
January 9, 2016
I was so excited to get an advance copy, and this book did not disappoint! Full of extremely vibrant and lovable characters, readers of all ages will be able to relate to Allie's frustrations as she strives to be #1 at something. I laughed, I cried, I loved it. I can't wait to share this book with every middle grade reader I know.
July 18, 2017
This is such a sweet story for kids who are obsessed with winning. I love the emphasis on family and friends. I also love the Spanish words interwoven into the story. I got teary eyed at the end of the story, the ending was great. I look forward to recommending this book to my third graders when I return to school.
Read
September 4, 2015Read early drafts of this and it was already a wonderful, funny, and heart-warming story so I can't wait to read the final version. I think readers who enjoyed Gaby, Lost and Found are going to like this one just as much!
March 7, 2024
I think I was ten or eleven when I first read this book. It's a simple read that some might call boring but I remember liking it a lot. Good memories are linked with it. I love her grandpa and the relatable school setting. It's a cute read
May 14, 2016
Great kid appeal, for middle grade readers who love realistic fiction. Try this out with your Dork Diaries-obsessed readers.
September 16, 2017
Loved this book. Was reading it with my nine-year-old twins. It was a book the whole family could enjoy. It was heartwarming and had a good moral.
June 19, 2017
I actually looked toward to reading this yes it is very sweet but it just was not what I expected the summary was very misleading and I thought this book was a waste of paper! Everyone who reviewed this book said oh it is awesome well not so awesome to me.
June 3, 2018
I liked that in the beginning of the book all Allie wanted was to have a trophy, but at the end of the book she did not care anymore.
September 18, 2024
I love how victor Garcia gave her a number 1 best friend medal and how she wants to make her mark at sundeck and how at the end she realizes that medals aren’t everything
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2017
It an amazing book I love the characters and you see the main character grow and it gives you drama,sadness, and happiness
Read
February 28, 2017A sweet and charming story about a girl who is the only person in her family never to have been "first" in something and the lengths she will go to accomplish that. She's a little sharp around the edges in a way that's perfectly 5th grade, with excellent explorations of friendship and family.
I'm on a panel with the author for the Tucson Festival of Books about girls in middle grade and YA fiction and am so eager to hear what she has to say because I love how complex and un-smooth Allie is in this story.
I'm on a panel with the author for the Tucson Festival of Books about girls in middle grade and YA fiction and am so eager to hear what she has to say because I love how complex and un-smooth Allie is in this story.
March 15, 2016
Allie has never won anything in her life. Her entire family though has a shelf of trophies. Her older sister is a national debate champion. Her brother is a star soccer player. Even her little sister is a rising star as an actress. Allie is almost certain she is going to win the science fair, but it ends up a disaster instead of a win. That’s thanks to “help” from Victor, a new boy at school. When another opportunity to win an award comes up, Allie knows that she has to try hard. She decides to do a photo essay on her great-grandfather who is a decorated World War II veteran. But her ex-best friend who won at the science fair has also decided to use Allie’s grandfather as the subject of her entry. When is it going to be Allie’s turn to shine?
This is a very accessible book, written with a light hand and a friendly tone. That lightness allows this book to deal with deeper truths without getting caught up in darkness. It is a book that speaks to the importance of doing well, healthy competitiveness and the pleasure of a job well done. It also looks deeply at how that healthy competition can twist and become something that is no longer positive in one’s life. Allie’s entire family tries to teach her this in different ways, some by being more competitive and others speaking to her intrinsic worth whether she has trophies or not.
While Allie was a great protagonist, two secondary characters really stand out in this book. First is Victor, a boy who is from a poor family and someone that Allie assumes is being tutored. It turns out that Victor is incredibly smart and is doing the tutoring. Victor though is less concerned with acclaim than with his future. Allie’s great-grandfather is another amazing character. He offers sage advice and a point of view that is particularly filled with grace and compassion. The fact that almost all of the characters in the novel are Hispanic and offer a wide array of points of view about life makes this book all the more winning.
A charming story with strong characters and a clear message that winning is not everything. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
This is a very accessible book, written with a light hand and a friendly tone. That lightness allows this book to deal with deeper truths without getting caught up in darkness. It is a book that speaks to the importance of doing well, healthy competitiveness and the pleasure of a job well done. It also looks deeply at how that healthy competition can twist and become something that is no longer positive in one’s life. Allie’s entire family tries to teach her this in different ways, some by being more competitive and others speaking to her intrinsic worth whether she has trophies or not.
While Allie was a great protagonist, two secondary characters really stand out in this book. First is Victor, a boy who is from a poor family and someone that Allie assumes is being tutored. It turns out that Victor is incredibly smart and is doing the tutoring. Victor though is less concerned with acclaim than with his future. Allie’s great-grandfather is another amazing character. He offers sage advice and a point of view that is particularly filled with grace and compassion. The fact that almost all of the characters in the novel are Hispanic and offer a wide array of points of view about life makes this book all the more winning.
A charming story with strong characters and a clear message that winning is not everything. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
April 11, 2017
I thought this book was okay. It wasn't the best though. But wasn't necessarily the worst either. Here is the preview. No better feeling exists in the world than stepping to the top of a winner’s podium and hoisting a trophy high in the air. At least that’s what Allie thinks; she’s never actually won anything before. Everyone in her family is special in some way; her younger sister is a rising TV star, her brother is a soccer prodigy, and her great-grandfather is a Congressional Medal of Honor winner.
With a family like this, Allie knows she has to make her mark or risk being left behind. She’s determined to add a shiny medal, blue ribbon, or beautiful trophy to her family’s award shelf. When a prestigious school contest is announced, Allie has the perfect opportunity to take first, at last. There’s just one small snag: Her biggest competition is also her ex-best friend, Sara. Can Allie take the top prize and win back a friend, or is she destined to lose it all?
With a family like this, Allie knows she has to make her mark or risk being left behind. She’s determined to add a shiny medal, blue ribbon, or beautiful trophy to her family’s award shelf. When a prestigious school contest is announced, Allie has the perfect opportunity to take first, at last. There’s just one small snag: Her biggest competition is also her ex-best friend, Sara. Can Allie take the top prize and win back a friend, or is she destined to lose it all?
August 19, 2016
Themes:
family
doing your best
winning, but winning isn't everything
friendship
siblings
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2015
This is an adorable MG book about a girl who is misguidedly focused on coming in first instead of just doing her best and enjoying her friends.
February 17, 2016
Great story about friendship and figuring out what really matters in life.
July 30, 2017
I got ALOT if books from the library and the only one I could think of was this one. It is such a awesome book with a really big message. You will not be disappointed!!
July 12, 2017
"The best rewards in life don't fit on a shelf."
Allie (Alyssa) Velasco is obsessed. She feels that she's had "Five epic years of failure" at Sendak Elementary. In this, her last year, she must be first at something, if only to fit in with her high-achieving family. There's Adriana, her older sister, who is a debate champ and Harvard bound. When she was at Sendak, she started the It Takes a Village tutoring program and was awarded the Mayor's Youth Power award. Her older brother, Aiden, is a soccer star and her younger sister, Ava, is a budding actress, already starring in local commercials. Even her bisabuelo (great grandfather) is famous. He was the recipient of the Medal of Honor during World War II.
Nothing is more important to Allie than earning some kind of award that no one else has won ... except for maybe trying to figure out why her best friend, Sara, is suddenly avoiding her and hanging out with Hayley instead. "One day she's a fuzzy kitten and then the next day she's a snake." She even leaves her table at the Science Fair to try to comfort Sara, who seems like she's down after her time with the judges. That's Allie's first mistake.
While she's talking to Sara, new student Victor Garcia puts some of his goo into Allie's volcano, hoping it will make the results even more epic for Allie. But instead, it causes a problem with the mixture and Allie's volcano does not erupt at all. And though Allie is angry, Victor and his family apologize profusely and she sees that he truly meant no harm.
See, Allie and Victor have something in common. Victor has pressures of his own. He is trying to be the first person in his family to graduate from college and his first step is to do well enough at Sendak to earn a spot at Bishop Crest Middle School (where Allie will be heading.) But things aren't easy for Victor because of who his family is. He confides in Allie that he even had to retake the entrance exam for Sendak because he scored so high the administration thought he had cheated. But while Allie stresses and focuses mostly on herself, Victor is more relaxed and gives himself to others in need, including Allie.
Things come to a head when Allie and Sara both want to use Allie's Bisabuela as the subject for a contest about Trailblazers. Allie can't believe that Sara could be so conniving. But as she works on her project, she is so focused on Bisa's award that she is missing the bigger picture. Is it really the award that makes her Bisa a trailblazer? Or is it the life he has lived? His work with veterans of other wars? His love for family and strong desire for education. His wisdom. "You can't just quit when it's tough. You don't want to make walking away when things get hard a habit."
At first I thought this was just going to be another girl drama, friendship story, but this is so much more! Allie's journey of self discovery is well-written, slow but profound when she finally sees the light. The secondary characters are wonderfully rich. I love Victor and his family. His model of friendship and familial love and respect are beautifully conveyed. Adriana and Bisa are strong supports for Allie with wonderful lines of encouragement, such as "in life, your word is your character." There's just so much here to love. I'm anxious to share this one with my students this fall.
Allie (Alyssa) Velasco is obsessed. She feels that she's had "Five epic years of failure" at Sendak Elementary. In this, her last year, she must be first at something, if only to fit in with her high-achieving family. There's Adriana, her older sister, who is a debate champ and Harvard bound. When she was at Sendak, she started the It Takes a Village tutoring program and was awarded the Mayor's Youth Power award. Her older brother, Aiden, is a soccer star and her younger sister, Ava, is a budding actress, already starring in local commercials. Even her bisabuelo (great grandfather) is famous. He was the recipient of the Medal of Honor during World War II.
Nothing is more important to Allie than earning some kind of award that no one else has won ... except for maybe trying to figure out why her best friend, Sara, is suddenly avoiding her and hanging out with Hayley instead. "One day she's a fuzzy kitten and then the next day she's a snake." She even leaves her table at the Science Fair to try to comfort Sara, who seems like she's down after her time with the judges. That's Allie's first mistake.
While she's talking to Sara, new student Victor Garcia puts some of his goo into Allie's volcano, hoping it will make the results even more epic for Allie. But instead, it causes a problem with the mixture and Allie's volcano does not erupt at all. And though Allie is angry, Victor and his family apologize profusely and she sees that he truly meant no harm.
See, Allie and Victor have something in common. Victor has pressures of his own. He is trying to be the first person in his family to graduate from college and his first step is to do well enough at Sendak to earn a spot at Bishop Crest Middle School (where Allie will be heading.) But things aren't easy for Victor because of who his family is. He confides in Allie that he even had to retake the entrance exam for Sendak because he scored so high the administration thought he had cheated. But while Allie stresses and focuses mostly on herself, Victor is more relaxed and gives himself to others in need, including Allie.
Things come to a head when Allie and Sara both want to use Allie's Bisabuela as the subject for a contest about Trailblazers. Allie can't believe that Sara could be so conniving. But as she works on her project, she is so focused on Bisa's award that she is missing the bigger picture. Is it really the award that makes her Bisa a trailblazer? Or is it the life he has lived? His work with veterans of other wars? His love for family and strong desire for education. His wisdom. "You can't just quit when it's tough. You don't want to make walking away when things get hard a habit."
At first I thought this was just going to be another girl drama, friendship story, but this is so much more! Allie's journey of self discovery is well-written, slow but profound when she finally sees the light. The secondary characters are wonderfully rich. I love Victor and his family. His model of friendship and familial love and respect are beautifully conveyed. Adriana and Bisa are strong supports for Allie with wonderful lines of encouragement, such as "in life, your word is your character." There's just so much here to love. I'm anxious to share this one with my students this fall.
June 19, 2023
Allie, First At Last by Angela Cervantes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another chapter book pick from Rosalie for bedtime .
I hate cats, but I love anything Angela Cervantes writes. That's how good it is. The way she hits the diversity within the Latina experience is real and right on target. Also the family story just makes you want to give this book a hug. Every upper elementary classroom should have a copy of an Angela Cervantes book -- I'm serious.
Allie Velasco is a fifth-grader trying her best to discover her identity and make her mark on the world around her. For Allie, that means being the best at something – not that she’s sure what that something is. While her siblings excel at acting, soccer, and community service, her mother has been voted Best News Anchor of the Year, and her great-grandfather is a war hero, Allie is keenly seeking out her niche and putting a lot of pressure on herself to “succeed.”
Frankly, I wish Allie, First at Last had existed when I was in fifth grade. Although it’s been a couple of decades since I experienced my own tween tribulations, it was almost therapeutic to revisit that stage of my life through Allie. And I’m certain there are plenty of young readers out there today who will relate to her as well. This book is sure to appeal to kids who are “finding themselves,” having friend problems, or feeling eclipsed by siblings.
But don’t go thinking that this book is all sadness and doubt! Angela Cervantes fills the pages with humor that’s sharp with hints of snark and sarcasm, but never mean. For example, Allie and her best friend write a song about her cat called “It’s Not Easy Being Fluffy.” I approve. Also, although Allie faces challenges and insecurities, she still demonstrates strength and self confidence by assertively confronting rude kids in her class, nurturing a loving relationship with her sister and bisabuelo, and demonstrating a deep, natural appreciation for her Mexican-American roots. A great role model indeed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another chapter book pick from Rosalie for bedtime .
I hate cats, but I love anything Angela Cervantes writes. That's how good it is. The way she hits the diversity within the Latina experience is real and right on target. Also the family story just makes you want to give this book a hug. Every upper elementary classroom should have a copy of an Angela Cervantes book -- I'm serious.
Allie Velasco is a fifth-grader trying her best to discover her identity and make her mark on the world around her. For Allie, that means being the best at something – not that she’s sure what that something is. While her siblings excel at acting, soccer, and community service, her mother has been voted Best News Anchor of the Year, and her great-grandfather is a war hero, Allie is keenly seeking out her niche and putting a lot of pressure on herself to “succeed.”
Frankly, I wish Allie, First at Last had existed when I was in fifth grade. Although it’s been a couple of decades since I experienced my own tween tribulations, it was almost therapeutic to revisit that stage of my life through Allie. And I’m certain there are plenty of young readers out there today who will relate to her as well. This book is sure to appeal to kids who are “finding themselves,” having friend problems, or feeling eclipsed by siblings.
But don’t go thinking that this book is all sadness and doubt! Angela Cervantes fills the pages with humor that’s sharp with hints of snark and sarcasm, but never mean. For example, Allie and her best friend write a song about her cat called “It’s Not Easy Being Fluffy.” I approve. Also, although Allie faces challenges and insecurities, she still demonstrates strength and self confidence by assertively confronting rude kids in her class, nurturing a loving relationship with her sister and bisabuelo, and demonstrating a deep, natural appreciation for her Mexican-American roots. A great role model indeed.
August 11, 2017
Allie has never won a trophy. She's never come in first at anything. And her time at Sendak Elementary is almost up. All her brothers and sisters have their achievements proudly displayed, but Allie feels like she has never been quite good enough. She is desperate to come in first at something and when the Trailblazers contest is announced, she knows it's her last chance. But what will Allie sacrifice for her trophy? And will it be worth it in the end?
So, I think the portrayal of friendship in the book is very realistic. In addition to her quest for first place-dom, Allie is also dealing with a best-friend-deserter in Sara, her best friend who has now befriended a kind of mean girl. Allie's feeling left out and she can't seem to find the words to try to make things right with Sara.
I particularly loved how Mexican-American culture is portrayed in the book. Allie's family and most of her friends are Latino and there are lots of details about their culture, but race isn't the focus of the book.
My main issue was that I really didn't like Allie until the very end of the book. And I don't *think* she's supposed to be so unlikeable. Yes, she's a little misguided in her attempts to win a trophy and she tries and fails with Sara several times, despite advice from her family. But she just came off as SO bratty and entitled that it was hard for me to root for her. This is not a FLAW per se, but just I had trouble wanting to read about Allie because I didn't like her very much.
That said, kids who are struggling with competitive feelings or having issues with friends may get a lot out of this book. And it is so, so nice to read about Latino kids. More stories, please!
So, I think the portrayal of friendship in the book is very realistic. In addition to her quest for first place-dom, Allie is also dealing with a best-friend-deserter in Sara, her best friend who has now befriended a kind of mean girl. Allie's feeling left out and she can't seem to find the words to try to make things right with Sara.
I particularly loved how Mexican-American culture is portrayed in the book. Allie's family and most of her friends are Latino and there are lots of details about their culture, but race isn't the focus of the book.
My main issue was that I really didn't like Allie until the very end of the book. And I don't *think* she's supposed to be so unlikeable. Yes, she's a little misguided in her attempts to win a trophy and she tries and fails with Sara several times, despite advice from her family. But she just came off as SO bratty and entitled that it was hard for me to root for her. This is not a FLAW per se, but just I had trouble wanting to read about Allie because I didn't like her very much.
That said, kids who are struggling with competitive feelings or having issues with friends may get a lot out of this book. And it is so, so nice to read about Latino kids. More stories, please!
June 10, 2019
This book is very good and I rated it 5 stars because it teaches a valuable lesson that winning isn’t everything. Friends are more important than winning and sometimes the best prizes are the ones that you can’t physically get. I would recommend this book because I really enjoyed reading it and I think that a lot of people would too. I also really liked how the main character changes throughout the book, she realizes that because of her determination and desperate desire to win a trophy, she has been taking out her anger out on her ex best friend and her new friend just because she didn’t know how to deal with the anger. In the end, she realizes what she does wrong and sacrificed her big poetry project in dedication to her new friend, Victor.
If I had to change something about this book I would want the grandfather who was soldier that fought for their country to be younger. In the book he was in the hospital because he was dying and was quickly getting sick which was sad to read. Also, I don’t like her ex best friend, Sara’s new best friend because all she did was cause drama with the main character Allie. She also love to judge people and make people feel worse about themselves. I also don’t like how Sara chose her over Allie when clearly Allie is a way better person even though her determination to win can get in the way of things.
If I had to change something about this book I would want the grandfather who was soldier that fought for their country to be younger. In the book he was in the hospital because he was dying and was quickly getting sick which was sad to read. Also, I don’t like her ex best friend, Sara’s new best friend because all she did was cause drama with the main character Allie. She also love to judge people and make people feel worse about themselves. I also don’t like how Sara chose her over Allie when clearly Allie is a way better person even though her determination to win can get in the way of things.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2025
Yo leí este libro llamado “Allie, Ganadora por fin”. A mí me gusto bastante el libro, ya que era realista y divertido. Es una historia de ficción, pero habla de cosas reales y que pasan (problemas entre amigas, querer ganar, etc.). El libro me hizo preguntarme…
¿Necesitamos una mejor amiga? Allie perdió a la suya antes de que terminara su último año de primaria, con lo que le costó poco, ya que quería que ella y Sara volvieran a ser amigas, aunque, también se sentía algo ofendida porque Sara ahora solo estaba con Hailey. Yo le doy 4 estrellas porque, aunque es bastante realista, siento que tal vez pudiera ser más largo y un poco más creativo, pues ese tipo de historias hay bastantes, aunque hay que admitir que el libro es muy entretenido y uno se siente relacionado con los personajes. Este libro se relaciona a mi Hero 's Journey porque me sentí relacionada con algunos personajes en algunas partes del libro, como cuando Allie se enoja porque Sara compartió la tradición que tenía Allie con Hailey. Este libro me ha hecho querer pensar un poco más sobre las amistades. ¿Son importantes? ¿Por qué? ¿Las necesitamos?
Yo le recomiendo este libro a niñas de 9 a 10 o 11 años, ya que es un poco corto pero muy bonito.
¿Necesitamos una mejor amiga? Allie perdió a la suya antes de que terminara su último año de primaria, con lo que le costó poco, ya que quería que ella y Sara volvieran a ser amigas, aunque, también se sentía algo ofendida porque Sara ahora solo estaba con Hailey. Yo le doy 4 estrellas porque, aunque es bastante realista, siento que tal vez pudiera ser más largo y un poco más creativo, pues ese tipo de historias hay bastantes, aunque hay que admitir que el libro es muy entretenido y uno se siente relacionado con los personajes. Este libro se relaciona a mi Hero 's Journey porque me sentí relacionada con algunos personajes en algunas partes del libro, como cuando Allie se enoja porque Sara compartió la tradición que tenía Allie con Hailey. Este libro me ha hecho querer pensar un poco más sobre las amistades. ¿Son importantes? ¿Por qué? ¿Las necesitamos?
Yo le recomiendo este libro a niñas de 9 a 10 o 11 años, ya que es un poco corto pero muy bonito.
August 24, 2017
What does it mean to be first? That is Allie Velascoe's burning question. Well, actually, that is what becomes Allie's burning question. Allie is a member of an extraordinary family. Her great-grandfather is the first soldier from their home town to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Her mother is a prize-winning news anchor; her older sister is the current high school national debate champion; her older brother is the community soccer star; her sister a year younger than she is has already made her name in the world of drama--winning the starring role in the elementary school's play a year before she should even be able to try out for a lead and starring in numerous commercials. And Allie is. . . just Allie.
Competition is at the heart of Allie's life. She is the only member of her family who has not won major awards while still in Sendak elementary school. As a 5th grader--this is it. She has this year to win or she will be the first member of the current generation of the Velascoe family to not win a major award or competition during her years at elementary school. The pressure and drive to win has changed Allie, and not necessarily for the better. She must negotiate friendships and family and winning.
The book is catching and engaging. Intermediate and middle grade students will find the book to be a fun read. The challenges Allie faces may be familiar to them all. The characters ring true, and I think most people will be able to identify those characters with people from their own lives. The book will be a good individual or class read--it would be a good choice for literature circles. I think many readers will find it appealing. I recommend it to classroom teachers and librarians.
(17: 0, 1, 0)
Competition is at the heart of Allie's life. She is the only member of her family who has not won major awards while still in Sendak elementary school. As a 5th grader--this is it. She has this year to win or she will be the first member of the current generation of the Velascoe family to not win a major award or competition during her years at elementary school. The pressure and drive to win has changed Allie, and not necessarily for the better. She must negotiate friendships and family and winning.
The book is catching and engaging. Intermediate and middle grade students will find the book to be a fun read. The challenges Allie faces may be familiar to them all. The characters ring true, and I think most people will be able to identify those characters with people from their own lives. The book will be a good individual or class read--it would be a good choice for literature circles. I think many readers will find it appealing. I recommend it to classroom teachers and librarians.
(17: 0, 1, 0)
November 14, 2018
Do you always want to be number one? Allie Velasco has always wanted to be number one at something but, something always goes wrong for example her friend, Sara, hates her or green goop ruins her volcano. So, Allie enters a contest, hoping to be first, where she will write a poem about her famous great grandpa and will also attempt to fix her friendships problems. Then she figures out that her grandpa doesn’t have his award she keeps writing about war and then realizes that it isn’t enough about her grandpa. She changes her poem after becoming a finalist to tell the truth and fixes her friendship problems between her and Sara. All that Allie wants is a chance to be number one just like everyone else in the Velasco family. Through the whole book Allie is always thinking I need to be number one until she realizes that being number one isn’t everything. I highly recommend Allie First at Last by Angela Cervantes because it is very good at describing the emotions of the main character which makes it easy to follow. I recommend it to girls from 4th- 5th grade, and to those who like to hear different sort of family backgrounds.
June 29, 2018
This was such a great book. Allie is a 5th grader who is trying to make her mark the last year of her elementary days and she has a lot of competition being born into a family of champions and trophy winners. She is the only one who has not won anything yet, but her great gramps reminds her that trophies aren't the most important thing in life. She looks up to him a lot because he was a trailblazer and war veteran. That's when she sees her chance, during a contest at school where she will write about her own trailblazer, her great gramps. Wanting to win isn't the only problem Allie will face. She has her siblings, her ex-best friend and the snotty girl she has now been replaced by, a boy who tries to help but seems to only make Allie feel worse, and of course this final contest that she has to win. You will love this book! I highly recommend it. I have to admit though, there were some words I had to skip because they were in Spanish, but its great for young kids who are learning new languages.
May 19, 2017
Allie, First at Last by Angela Carvantes is a booka bbout hopes, dreams, and knowng that the real awards annot fit on a shelf. The main caracter, Allie (Alyssa) comes from a really popular and appreciated family. Which leaves her behind in the dust with little to no recongnization. She notices this and it kind of puts her down but it also wants to make her strike for gold. Allie wants a beautiful trophy but every year, somethig spoils her chances. Friends. Her friend Sarah has stopped talking to her and Allie wonders why. Allie needs to somehow get her trophy and get back her friend. Only if she knew what her Bisa was telling her this whole time,“The real rewards you can’t put on a shelf.” She works blindlessly on two things, getting top marks and getting her friend back. This is a sweet story also about frienships and reality, life is hard. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a sweet book about a tough risktaker girl, Allie Velasco.
May 28, 2018
Fun, realistic book about Allie, her family, her friends, her school projects, and what all of these teach her about herself. I loved that her family was actually healthy, with two excellent parents, some siblings, and an amazing grandpa. And they're Mexican American, which added a great layer to the book. I also loved that it was about normal life, not completely traumatic situations like so many books. And the kids have cellphones, which definitely makes it more true to today!
Allie comes from a family of "firsts", people who are exceptional in some way--except she isn't. And it bugs her --a lot! So much so that she is super driven to win something--anything--at any cost. From science fair projects to art contests, she tries it all. Working through her emotions and ambitions takes some time, effort, and input from others--and maybe a few blowups along the way--but eventually she comes to terms with herself in a healthy way.
Great book for realistic fiction fans!
Allie comes from a family of "firsts", people who are exceptional in some way--except she isn't. And it bugs her --a lot! So much so that she is super driven to win something--anything--at any cost. From science fair projects to art contests, she tries it all. Working through her emotions and ambitions takes some time, effort, and input from others--and maybe a few blowups along the way--but eventually she comes to terms with herself in a healthy way.
Great book for realistic fiction fans!
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