The Do-Over

by Jennifer Torres

From the author of Stef Soto, Taco Queen comes this story about sisterhood, friendship, and the intricacies of blended families.



Raquel and Lucinda used to be inseparable. But ever since their parents split, Raquel has been acting like editor-in-chief of their lives. To avoid her overbearing sister, Lucinda spends most of her time with her headphones on, practicing her skating routine.



Then a pandemic hits, and the sisters are forced to spend the lockdown at their dad’s ranch house. When their classmates suggest they bring their mom along, Raquel sees a chance to get back everything she has lost. They could get their parents to fall in love again and give their family a second chance, a do-over.



But neither of them is expecting to find their dads new family in their house. And when Lucinda finds she actually really likes them, Raquel gets even more desperate to fix things. As her schemes to get rid of her dad’s new girlfriend get more and more out of hand, Lucinda starts to wonder what they are really fighting for.



Trying to bring the Mendoza family back together, seems to be tearing everyone further apart.

Genres: Middle Grade, Divorce, Family, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Fiction

241 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 5, 2022

Reviews

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

6th graders Lucinda and Raquel Mendoza are twins who usually get along, but since the pandemic hit and the two have to stay home from school, they are getting on each other's nerves. This started when their parents got divorced and their father moved to the country. Their mother works in a hair salon, and has been able to keep a little business by selling product packages to customers, but when a neighbor in their apartment building becomes ill, moving the girls in with their dad sounds like a safer option. Lucinda is angry because she figure skates, but the rink is shut down. Raquel has thrown herself into online school and also has frequent meetings with her newspaper club. When the plans start to be made to send the girls to their dad's, she comes up with a plan of her own-- to get her mother to go with them and reconnect with their father. The catch? Dad's girlfriend, Sylvia, and her daughter Juliette are living with his because of the pandemic. When Juliette becomes ill and has to be isolated in the garage apartment with her mother, will it be enough to encourage their parents to get back together?
Strengths: It's interesting to see how families coped with the pandemic, and sending the children out to the country seems like a decent strategy. Raquel's connection with her peers on the school newspaper were interesting, and using the internet and conferencing to maintain a connection is something that we saw a lot when schools were remote. I loved that she had a daily schedule-- I would not have been able to function without my quarter sheet of Things to Do for the first ten months of lockdown. Lucinda's longing for skating was also realistic. I liked the fact that they didn't hate Sylvia as much as they just wanted their dad and mother to be together, and they were able to get along with Juliette fairly well. There should be many more books about blended families and step siblings, since this is a reality that isn't well represented in middle grade literature. This was a quick, interesting read about a specific period of time not that long ago. I would argue that this is historical fiction, since it took place in mid 2020.
Weaknesses: Aside from delivering groceries to neighbors and my dad, I didn't really see anyone during the pandemic, and I only got to talk to my neighbors and dad while standing ten feet away! Like Yang's New From Here or Ibura's When the World Turned Upside Down, Lucinda and Raquel see way more people than I could imagine. It was a little odd that while "pandemic" was used, "COVID" or "Coronavirus" was never mentioned.
What I really think: I loved Torres' The Fresh New Face of Griselda and Stef Soto, Taco Queen, but maybe it's too soon for me to really enjoy a pandemic tale. I'll probably purchase this for historical reasons, and younger readers will have more patience with cutting up Sylvia's perfectly good clothing to make masks than I had.

[Rhuby Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book.
It shows how siblings work together to get what they want but they also figure out what is right. It does not say directly anywhere but it is written during covid and takes place during an pandemic. I love how it shows family!

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

An awesome middle grade book about blended families.

[Kim Bautz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Modern take on parent trap with a twist.

[Laura Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raquel and Lucinda are twins who have been drifting apart in recent years. Raquel is bossy and obsessed with the school newspaper and Lucinda loves to ice skate, which she can’t do now that the COVID-19 pandemic has started. Raquel and Lucinda live with their mother in an apartment in Los Angeles, but the three of them move in with Raquel and Lucinda’s father Marcos in rural California to avoid contact with the virus. Kel and Lucinda’s parents have been split up for a while, but the two are hoping their parents will get a “do-over” and attempt to push their parents together Parent Trap-style. Complicating matters is Marcos’ new girlfriend Sylvia and her daughter Juliette who have also moved into the farmhouse. Cue pranks led by Raquel with Lucinda a mostly unwilling participants. Juliette even gets in on the action in an attempt to get her mom to move back to her hometown so she can rejoin morning outdoor track practice with her friends.

As time goes on, Lucinda and Raquel have to admit that Sylvia is actually pretty great and may be perfect for their dad. Is the do-over worth attempting or should the girls admit defeat and embrace their new family? Will the twins grow closer during this time of forced family togetherness or will their differences drive them even further apart?

Toilet paper hoarding, making face masks, sanitizing surfaces, home haircuts, and virtual school – it’s all here and will feel very familiar for readers. The book is also about a lot more than just the pandemic. Divorce and family issues like the ones Lucinda and Raquel face are timeless problems that are examined in depth in this book. The story flows nicely and both twins have well developed character arcs. Recommended for students grades 3 - 7.

[Sally Engelfried · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer Torres is so good at honestly portraying the nuances of family relationships! I loved this story of twins Raquel and Lucinda, who move to their dad’s farm in the country to safely wait out the pandemic (little did they know there’s no waiting out this thing!). Raquel is the bossy one who conceives of a plot to reunite their divorced parents; Lucinda is the one with a passion for ice skating who is mourning the loss of a skating competition and her practices at the rink. In alternating points of view, the two sisters adjust to rural life, Zoom school, and the presence of their dad’s girlfriend and her daughter. It seemed very realistic that Lucinda goes along with Raquel at first because it’s easier—Raquel is a bit of a steamroller--and then gradually realizes she actually doesn’t want to sabotage her dad’s relationship and so has to stand up to her sister. Raquel’s journey is equally interesting: she’s so sure of herself that her understanding of what she’s wrought comes suddenly and painfully, but the way she pulls herself out of the hole she’s dug herself into is sweet and believable. I also loved that this story took place during the pandemic but wasn’t centered on it—I think that’s how kids must experience it. Where we adults are shocked and amazed at this pandemic that has upended everything we know, kids don’t have that kind of context—it’s just another thing in life that comes along that they have no control over. Torres captures that nicely.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think my review of this book will be worth much to others, since I read this book in Spanish, which is decidedly not my first language. Not even my second. It was a good book for me to practice on, though.

The story itself is a bit of an altered retelling of "the Parent Trap", with a pair of twins trying to get their parents back together. This time, though, the other woman involved is not a gold digger but apparently a super nice, exceedingly patient woman. All of the parent, in fact, seem to be pretty much super parents, and the girls learn their lesson.

One of the most interesting things about this book is that it takes place during the Covid 19 pandemic, during the days of on-line school, sewing masks, and social distancing. As such it could serve children of the future as a window into what that time was like. I think that's a good thing. Already, even for those of us who lived through it, the memories are a little blurry, as if that time period were a dream.

[piper · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5!!!!
8+

This book is pretty good. I originally bought this book because its about two twin sisters who are going through the Covid-19 pandemic. I liked this book, but there were some reading concerns I had with it. First of all, the writing was beautiful, but the POV was hard to understand (EVEN AS AN ADULT). Sometimes I did not know who's head I was inside. Sometimes I would be like OH! I am in Lu's perspective but actually I was in Kel's POV. Otherwise the writing and plot was spectacular! At the end of the book, the end problem was not about the family, it was about covid and how it cancelled stuff, but the rest of the book was the family problems. Like what? That is why it is only 3.5 stars.

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming sister story with characters to love, including the supportive, loving parents that strive to make their growing group a family. Things never stay the same in life--a truth the world knows better than ever before after dealing with (and still dealing with) the pandemic setting of this contemporary middle grade novel. This book brings to light that it's how we deal with and react to these changes that is the most important part of living--we must learn to accept those things we can't control and adapt and find new and better ways to be kind and love others.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Raquel and her twin Lucinda will do anything to get their parents back together after they have been divorced for a year. What better time to do so then the " when this is all over" time. The country is the beginning of the pandemic and it is important to have family around. The girls however, are disappointed to arrive at their father's and find his girlfriend and her daughter have settled into their home. Plots and schemes are hatched to get the girlfriend to leave so it is just their family.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set during the recent lockdown, Raquel and Lucinda are determined to force their parents into a “do-over” to get them back together. When their Mom suggests they spend time with their father at the family ranch a few hours north, they convince their Mom to stay for a few days. When they learn that their Dad has a new live-in girlfriend who has a daughter who is also in 6th grade, they redouble their efforts. Things quickly escalate out of control and well beyond the “parent trap” they’ve envisioned.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 4 out of 5]

10/21/2022 ~ Set during a "pandemic," this is an exploration of "All This." Though the pandemic is a backdrop, it's really about sisters, a potentially blended family, and what happens when kids try to get their parents back together. The book references the movie Parent Trap (originally in the 60s(?) and redone in the 80s(?), and Raquel seems to know no limits as she attempt to end the nascent relationship between her dad and girl friend Sylvia.

I appreciated that Lucinda attempted to stand up to Raquel at times, but the difficulty seemed realistic.

[Missy Goodwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Raquel and Lucinda find their world abruptly halted when the COVID pandemic shuts down everything, leaving them with nowhere to go. However, their father invites them to help him on the farm, providing a silver lining. While Raquel and Lucinda view this as an opportunity to reconcile their parents, certain adults in their lives have alternative plans in mind.

Covid
Modern Day Parent Trap
Mexican Heritage

[Eleanora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because it goes into the reality of what some people are going through during this time. For instance they couldn't go to school and they had to do it online and the skating rink that Lucinda goes to also shut down and her performance was canceled.

[Elizabeth]

The story was fine, but I couldn't help but be annoyed with all the grammatical errors throughout the book. When a book goes through so many steps to get published and there are so many missed mistakes, the book gets knocked down a peg in my mind.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Will pass on this one since it’s about Covid and really not accurate about what happened, which is odd since it’s a recent historical event. I would like more books about blended families but the girls were so unlikable that I can’t spend the money on a shelf sitter.

[Allison]

A light and fun middle grade read set during pandemic times. Positive Latinx representation and Parent Trap vibes. Recommend!

[Jules Larca · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was awsome. i loved it so much.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twin sisters find their own way to get through the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and stay at home orders through a parent trap-esque plan.

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Selma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice book, but the ending could have been different.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good, it sorta reminded me of Covid. I enjoyed this book.

[Katelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an ok book, I didn't care for the characters at all. The plot itself was iffy. I doubt I'd re-read this.

[Yvonne O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this one aloud at bedtime. While the girls loved the story about twins who are quarantining at their dad’s ranch during COVID, I have to take a star off if only for the poor editing - I found at least five errors, which is just proof that this story was rushed-out in order to take advantage of COVID as a selling point for this.

The story is okay- twins whose parents are divorced go to stay with their dad at the family “farm” and the. Start plotting to get their parents back together when they meet the new girlfriend and her own daughter who is their age. There are the usual tired tricks and conflicts magically resolve, which is totally unrealistic.