Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2021)

The story of Tejano legend Selena Quintanilla is made accessible as the tale of a young girl who works hard to share her musical gifts with the world.In relating Selena's biography, some mythologizing is hard to avoid. The late singer, who was killed at the age of 23 in 1995, has become inseparable from her fame. Corpus Christi native López smartly focuses on the road that got Selena to her success and all the work and study that went into overcoming genre, racial, and gender divides in the music industry. She gets the details and tone right, whether it's in capturing her subject's passion for performing or simply sprinkling in Spanish words and phrases without overexplaining them. ("Papel picado hung from the ceiling [of the family restaurant] and the scent of caldo and charro beans filled the air.") The story is told chronologically, but it never feels like an A-to-B-to-C list of achievements. Instead, it works better than most biographies of Selena to explain her connection to audiences and to humanize the young singer. Martinez's illustrations capture the Quintanilla family's loving moments and convey extra information with the layering in of postcards, banners, street signs, and lyrics. A Spanish-language edition, translated by Carmen Tafolla, is equally on target, with careful phrasing and a warmth in tone. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)A worthy, sparkling addition to the long list of Selena Quintanilla biographies. (author's note, discography) (Picture book/biography. 5-8)

School Library Journal Starred Review (Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2021)

K-Gr 4 Young Selena Quintanilla (197195), a groundbreaking Mexican American singer from Texas, "turned everything into a microphone: spoons, crayons, toothbrushes." When she was nine, her family formed a band, Selena y Los Dinos, and performed at their restaurant. When the family lost their house and business due to the recession of the early 1980s, they moved to Corpus Christi to live with relatives. They bought a bus and went on the road to perform at weddings, parties, and rodeosoften for a pittance. Selena loved to sing, but she wished she knew the Tejano songs her audience enjoyed. She longed to connect with them, so she taught herself Spanish. When the male-dominated Tejano music world was less than welcoming, she persisted. In 1986, she won her first Tejano Music Award at age 15. Selena studied fashion magazines and helped to design and create her own stage outfits. She eventually opened a chain of boutiques. The text ends on a high note, with Selena's historic performance at the Astrodome in Houston. An author's note mentions the star's untimely death at age 23. The energetic, bright cartoon illustrations depicting Selena and her family in various venues, decorated with rainbow notes, stars, hearts, and flowers will appeal to young readers. VERDICT This inspirational rags-to-riches biography, released on the heels of a Netflix miniseries about the singer's life, will inspire anyone who dreams of a career in the performing arts. Barbara Auerbach, Cairo P.L., NY

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

The story of Tejano legend Selena Quintanilla is made accessible as the tale of a young girl who works hard to share her musical gifts with the world.In relating Selena's biography, some mythologizing is hard to avoid. The late singer, who was killed at the age of 23 in 1995, has become inseparable from her fame. Corpus Christi native López smartly focuses on the road that got Selena to her success and all the work and study that went into overcoming genre, racial, and gender divides in the music industry. She gets the details and tone right, whether it's in capturing her subject's passion for performing or simply sprinkling in Spanish words and phrases without overexplaining them. ("Papel picado hung from the ceiling [of the family restaurant] and the scent of caldo and charro beans filled the air.") The story is told chronologically, but it never feels like an A-to-B-to-C list of achievements. Instead, it works better than most biographies of Selena to explain her connection to audiences and to humanize the young singer. Martinez's illustrations capture the Quintanilla family's loving moments and convey extra information with the layering in of postcards, banners, street signs, and lyrics. A Spanish-language edition, translated by Carmen Tafolla, is equally on target, with careful phrasing and a warmth in tone. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)A worthy, sparkling addition to the long list of Selena Quintanilla biographies. (author's note, discography) (Picture book/biography. 5-8)