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Margarita in the Spotlight
This middle grade story has it all: humor, heart, and country music—including original songs!
Margarita McCoy plays banjo and sings back-up in her stepsister Stephanie McCoy’s wildly popular country music band.
Margarita isn’t particularly passionate about music, but she loves Stephanie and would do anything to help her—and that includes being thrust into the media spotlight after an article in the New York Times calls out country music for its lack of diversity. Since Margarita’s father is Mexican American, the McCoy’s record label wants to use her to show that they aren’t as white-washed as the article says.
For Margarita, the media frenzy is overwhelming, and quickly has her considering how exactly she should define herself and her identity. How Mexican American is she? How should she use her 15 minutes of fame? And how come no one ever taught her about Selena Quintanilla?
*Margarita in the Spotlight* is a fun and empowering story about identity, family, music, and the power of finding your voice—featuring original music that will delight your ears and get your toes tapping!
Margarita McCoy plays banjo and sings back-up in her stepsister Stephanie McCoy’s wildly popular country music band.
Margarita isn’t particularly passionate about music, but she loves Stephanie and would do anything to help her—and that includes being thrust into the media spotlight after an article in the New York Times calls out country music for its lack of diversity. Since Margarita’s father is Mexican American, the McCoy’s record label wants to use her to show that they aren’t as white-washed as the article says.
For Margarita, the media frenzy is overwhelming, and quickly has her considering how exactly she should define herself and her identity. How Mexican American is she? How should she use her 15 minutes of fame? And how come no one ever taught her about Selena Quintanilla?
*Margarita in the Spotlight* is a fun and empowering story about identity, family, music, and the power of finding your voice—featuring original music that will delight your ears and get your toes tapping!
200 pages, Audiobook
Published September 16, 2021
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 17, 2023
This is gentle propaganda as most children's stories are. The difficult thing for parents to determine is whether they agree with the propaganda being foisted upon their children. (See the poem, The Gods of the Copybook Headings by Rudyard Kipling.) I prefer to give parents enough information so that they can make an informed choice.
This story is promoting the idea that a Mexican-American/Hispanic/fill-in-the-blank band member can sing country music, and that there is nothing wrong with riding on the coattails of a popular white singer. Also, a girl who is 1/4th Hispanic has every right to identify with other Hispanics even though she doesn't much look like them or even speak Spanish. (FYI, I actually agree with this sentiment. Really. You don't have to look Hispanic to identify with the Hispanic culture.)
Along the way lesbian and gay issues are introduced gently saying that at one time it was a big deal but now it is not such a big deal. Luckily, they didn't make a big deal out of it, other than mentioning it. The same went for interracial dating.
The audiobook ends with a big speech on love and tolerance for all. It was obvious and not so preachy that it made you want to barf.
The story is interspersed with brief clips of music and singing. These are the catchy beginnings of songs and not a full workup. Not bad though.
Some Spanish was spoken but it was easy enough to grasp the meaning of the words in context. The Spanish sounded natural and smooth except where it was meant to sound clunky and odd as when spoken by a non-native speaker.
There was a political aspect to this story toward the end. The government was arresting illegal immigrants for minor crimes and deporting them. One of the characters suggested that the only difference between herself and illegal immigrants was that she had papers and they did not. But that character speaking those words was a child! Children do not carry "papers" with them to prove they are American citizens. Immigration officials are not carrying off random 11 year old children simply because they cannot prove they are American citizens. This was a scare tactic by the author and while children might actually think such things, it was the responsibility of the author to correct those fears. Instead, the author fueled those fears. Luckily it was not a large part of the story. I'm making it seem large because it hacked me off.
I'm not sure I would want my kids to listen to this audiobook, but if they did I wouldn't be too upset.
FYI, I am Hispanic, straight out of Compton. Really. I am also an Orthodox Jew.
I doubt I will listen to this audiobook again.
This story is promoting the idea that a Mexican-American/Hispanic/fill-in-the-blank band member can sing country music, and that there is nothing wrong with riding on the coattails of a popular white singer. Also, a girl who is 1/4th Hispanic has every right to identify with other Hispanics even though she doesn't much look like them or even speak Spanish. (FYI, I actually agree with this sentiment. Really. You don't have to look Hispanic to identify with the Hispanic culture.)
Along the way lesbian and gay issues are introduced gently saying that at one time it was a big deal but now it is not such a big deal. Luckily, they didn't make a big deal out of it, other than mentioning it. The same went for interracial dating.
The audiobook ends with a big speech on love and tolerance for all. It was obvious and not so preachy that it made you want to barf.
The story is interspersed with brief clips of music and singing. These are the catchy beginnings of songs and not a full workup. Not bad though.
Some Spanish was spoken but it was easy enough to grasp the meaning of the words in context. The Spanish sounded natural and smooth except where it was meant to sound clunky and odd as when spoken by a non-native speaker.
There was a political aspect to this story toward the end. The government was arresting illegal immigrants for minor crimes and deporting them. One of the characters suggested that the only difference between herself and illegal immigrants was that she had papers and they did not. But that character speaking those words was a child! Children do not carry "papers" with them to prove they are American citizens. Immigration officials are not carrying off random 11 year old children simply because they cannot prove they are American citizens. This was a scare tactic by the author and while children might actually think such things, it was the responsibility of the author to correct those fears. Instead, the author fueled those fears. Luckily it was not a large part of the story. I'm making it seem large because it hacked me off.
I'm not sure I would want my kids to listen to this audiobook, but if they did I wouldn't be too upset.
FYI, I am Hispanic, straight out of Compton. Really. I am also an Orthodox Jew.
I doubt I will listen to this audiobook again.
October 1, 2021
This audiobook brought me so much joy. The narrator really nailed Margarita's voice, as well as those of the people around her. This is an audiobook-only book, meaning the only way to enjoy it (to my knowledge) is via Audible. But it reads just like any other audiobook adaptation of a print book--with one notable difference: there are a handful of original songs included throughout the story.
That's kind of perfect, given this is a book about a Latinx artist/back-up singer to her white step-sister's popular country band who gets flung into the spotlight when people start lamenting the lack of artists of color in country music.
I loved the gentle approach to this subject, and really appreciated the inclusion of queer secondary characters throughout. At the very end of the recording, they've also included all the songs and song snippets you hear throughout the reading so you can enjoy them as their own playlist.
Really great story, lovely production work and execution in audiobook format. Give this one a listen.
That's kind of perfect, given this is a book about a Latinx artist/back-up singer to her white step-sister's popular country band who gets flung into the spotlight when people start lamenting the lack of artists of color in country music.
I loved the gentle approach to this subject, and really appreciated the inclusion of queer secondary characters throughout. At the very end of the recording, they've also included all the songs and song snippets you hear throughout the reading so you can enjoy them as their own playlist.
Really great story, lovely production work and execution in audiobook format. Give this one a listen.
October 25, 2021
Good book. Margarita is forced to become more self aware. It's not to deep, but it's a really good start.
August 24, 2023
This was such a fun audiobook experience! I really enjoyed it and the original songs elevated the story so much. Margarita was very likable and the whole McCoy family had such a sweet dynamic. I wonder if the themes might be a little over a middle grade reader’s head, but as an adult I loved it. And I think any middle grader would still enjoy the listen even if they don’t get the nuances of identity that Margarita deals with.
September 24, 2021
Nice Cute read
December 27, 2021
Particularly good and of the moment. I sympathize with Margarita's questions of her space in Latinx culture. While I am old enough to be her (grand)mother, this feels like my struggle, too.
May 8, 2022
Just not really my genre, otherwise very nice book.
June 23, 2022
Super cute story about finding out who you are and figuring out what is important to you
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews